Many of you have heard this:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

John 1 tells us that words are divine, eternal, powerful, and real, tangible things.

How about this?

"Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world."

Attributed to Buddha, this quote reminds us that we can have a good and/or bad effect on our world with the words we speak.

Everything starts with a word. Words are powerful. Words are our most important tool. They can encourage or discourage, and they shape our realities. Without words, our thoughts can never actually become reality. We decide which words we use.

The power of language extends far beyond mere communication. Words mold our thoughts, emotions, and perspectives, ultimately shaping the world in which we live. Our thoughts influence what we create in our lives. Don't believe me? Well, we all know this to be true on some base, subconscious level.

One small example (of many): if you are a parent, think of the times you worry about what your kids are thinking, reading, writing, and who they are hanging around with. Why do we do this? Because we know how much thoughts are influenced by outside sources. We also know our thoughts influence what we do and what we become. That's why parents worry about these things.

The words we use create our inner thoughts and express how we perceive others, our lives, and ourselves to the world. When we readily share our misfortunes and problems (using negative words), we are essentially giving voice to our perceptions of events, people, and ourselves, which brings those perceptions into existence. When we complain about our lives to others, we're essentially using negative words to shape our reality. We are creating a negative world for ourselves.

When you repeatedly verbalize something, those words become your truth and the truth in the minds of those who hear them. Considering this, ask yourself: Do you truly want to affirm to yourself and to everyone around you that you are unlucky, miserable, or bored—or whatever else it may be? The words you use determine how others perceive you and how you perceive yourself.

Your words are the colors with which you paint your reality. They mold your life. Choose them wisely and optimistically to craft a reality that aligns with your aspirations. Practice avoiding words like can't, shouldn't, need, and won't. When you catch yourself using them, focus and reframe. Instead of saying, "I'm unhealthy and overweight," rephrase it positively: "I am in the process of becoming healthier, and each day I move closer to my ideal weight."

Affirmations are a simple but very effective tool for harnessing the power of words to manifest positive change in our lives. By consciously choosing to speak words of encouragement and self-belief, we can reshape our attitudes and behaviors, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life. Affirm who you are, your dreams, your hopes, and your successes with two of the most powerful words a person can ever utter: I am.

These two small but incredibly powerful words should be considered the most precious words in your vocabulary. How we end the sentence, "I am…" defines who we are to ourselves and everybody around us. So, when you say, "I am fat, lazy, shy," or "I am beautiful, confident, successful, happy," this is the exact truth you are creating for yourself. It doesn't even matter if there is any truth at all in the words you are saying.

How you finish those two little words is how you define your reality. So why not choose a higher expression for yourself? Remind yourself of what you are and what you wish to be by starting each morning with an affirmation that begins with those magical words: I am. It works!

Take a moment, take a deep breath, and finish this sentence:
"I am . . ."

*Note: These are from my notes and thoughts based on a podcast or video I listened to about a year ago. For the life of me, I cannot find it again to cite the source.