Life can be incredibly unfair and unkind to us at times, which makes it difficult for us to process. Sometimes it can feel like someone controls your life with the rolling of a dice to determine your next journey. If you’re lucky, the dice could roll on a 7 but alternatively, the outcome could be disastrous. One thing I’ve learned is that you will definitely see both sides of that luck at some point in your life. As difficult as it may be, I think it’s important to treat both sides of that luck as equally as possible. By that I mean outputting the same amount of energy when things are going well, as when things are going not-so-well. I believe the energy you invest into your life can affect the outcome of a situation. It is up to us to unlock and channel that energy, so that we may be in complete control of what lies ahead of us. One powerful way to do this is with positive reenforcement through the concept of rephrasing. Rephrasing is a simple, yet meaningful way to unlock the power of words, light, and positivity on your life in the midst of darkness. Let’s talk about it.

We underestimate the power of words. I became intent on becoming a writer because I wanted to express myself in a way that feels natural. Words are how we communicate with one another. Words are the beginning of research that leads us to great discoveries. Words gives us reasoning to our commonalities. And.. words have the power to control what happens to us. Yet despite these great things, words can often be easily misused and misguided. And a lot of times, words are misused subconsciously more than they are consciously – especially in reference to ourselves. We sometimes use our words to speak darkness over ourselves and I’m not afraid to say I’m guilty of such either. The thing about words is that it is often a mechanism we use to cope with things that happen to us in both a good way and bad. And when something “bad” happens to us, we use words that are associated with being bad to assimilate the two. But what if we did the opposite? What if we used “good” and positive words at all times? What if we rephrased the way we looked at these bad things that happen to us?

Because we can sometimes take life for granted, we easily forget the great things that are happening in our life. For example, if you get into a bad car accident there are a number of new concerns and challenges you may have to face such as, financial burdens, medical burdens if you are injured, and a possible newly developed fear of driving. It’s easy to think, “Man why’d this have to happen to me? I will never be in a better place mentally, physically, or financially ever again.” The use of those words control what happens to our future selves. We can’t control the things that happen to us directly, but what we can do is use words to control how we react to those circumstances. The words you speak on yourself is relayed to your brain. Because we are complex beings by nature, our brain uses chemical processes to associate these words in a way that could convince us the words are true. It may be a form of manipulation, but if used correctly, it could be the very thing that changes your life.

It is imperative to rephrase our way of thinking. Rephrasing doesn’t have to be a long drawn out process where you’re changing entire sentences. It could be as simple as replacing one or two words. Instead of saying, “I don’t see how things will get better”, rephrase it and say instead, “I know things will get better.” You may be thinking it couldn’t possibly be that simple, but it is. A short and simple routine adds up over a period of time. Rephrasing, reassuring, and refocusing can result in the revitalizing of your life. We are the authors of our own life, how will your story unfold?

-Bri ✌️

Photo by Anne-sophie Parent: https://www.pexels.com/photo/view-of-mountain-2105416/