Words

Agile. Beauty. Calm.
Determination. Energize.
Feel. Gratitude. Health.
Integrity. Joy. Kevin.
Living. Merriment. New.
Overcome. Praise.
Quietness. Revel. Success.
Transform. Unify. Victory.
Wonder. Xanadu. Yes. Zen.

Alone. Berate. Cold.
Depressed. Evil. Fail.
Gall. Hell. Invisible.
Judge. Kevin. Lie.
Misuse. Never. Obese.
Putrid. Quell. Revile.
Stupid. Tiny. Unloved.
Vilify. Wretched. X. Yell. Z.

Which list would you guess was easier for me to compile?

Which list would you rather have going through your head?

I've always loved words. I've always found them to be powerful.  I'm learning that I have spent 40 years underestimating that power.  In just this little exercise I could feel a reaction within me dependent on which list I worked on.  And I found that when working on the second group I had far more words come to mind and in rapid succession too. 

That was revealing. 

To paraphrase a well known saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words destroy within."

I encourage you to think of good words, uplifting words right now.  Keep them with you in a special place (I imagine mine in a special folder just behind my eyes--but that's just me).  Words mean things, and the words you tell yourself shape how you see yourself and the world around you.

I'll end this with my favorite three words:

Hope

Joy

Friend

What are yours?