Navigating life’s challenges requires more than just strength and determination—it requires resilience. This resilience is significantly influenced by the words we absorb from others and the ones we tell ourselves. Let’s delve into how we can harness the power of language to foster a resilient, strong mindset.
The Impact of Words
Can you remember the last compliment you received or a negative comment that stuck with you? It’s often easier to recall the criticisms, isn’t it? This isn’t just a quirk of human nature; it’s a reflection of how powerful words can be. Words can stick “into the wallpaper” of our minds, influencing how we see ourselves and our abilities.
Maya Angelou, a master wordsmith, profoundly understood this. She knew that words could “get into your clothes and into you.” Her experiences and wisdom teach us the deep impact of language on our resilience.
Object and Declare: A Strategy for Resilience
One transformative approach to building resilience is to learn how to object to negative language and declare positive truths about ourselves. This method isn’t just about ignoring negative inputs; it’s about actively rejecting them and reaffirming our value and strengths.
For instance, consider the difference between saying, “I have to do this,” and “I get to do this.” That single word change shifts the perspective from burden to privilege, influencing our emotional and motivational states.
My Own Journey
My own journey echoes the significance of words. At a critical point in my life, despite being in a soul-crushing situation, I chose to nurture resilience. Nightly, amidst tears, I would write declarations in my journal about my inherent worth and my purpose. This practice of declaring helped me navigate through and emerge stronger.
Similarly, neuroscience supports this approach. Studies by Dr. Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman have shown that positive words can enhance frontal lobe activity, which is crucial for maintaining an optimistic outlook and motivating action.
The Role of Community and Intentionality
Maya Angelou’s resilience was also nurtured by her community. From her grandmother affirming her potential to friends who introduced her to the world of literature, Angelou was surrounded by voices that countered the negative ones. This support network played a crucial role in her development and her ability to overcome silence imposed by trauma.
Practicing Object and Declare
To foster resilience, start by identifying words that hurt and words that heal. Which words have you internalized that you need to object to? Which affirmations need to be declared more loudly in your life? Write them down, say them aloud, and share them with someone you trust. Create a ritual around these declarations, similar to how Angelou did through her poetry.
Cultivating Resilience Every Day
The journey of building resilience is continuous. It involves regularly objecting to demeaning words and declaring empowering ones. As we practice this, we not only enhance our ability to cope with present challenges but also prepare ourselves for future hurdles.
By integrating the strategy of objecting and declaring into our daily lives, we can transform our approach to challenges and reshape our realities. Let’s embrace the power of words to not only survive the difficulties we face but to thrive and grow through them.
Connect with Michele on LinkedIn or read more of her articles on Plaid.
