The reason why I love words is because they have the potential to create impact beyond their size.
If we see words just for their little size, we will miss out on an opportunity.
Let me explain...
Words have a hidden quality to reflect our expressions and experiences - our thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
To further understand the power of a word - let's use a parallel with the power of colours. Think of the colour red, then the colour blue. What comes to mind when you think of the two colours. Think of what you feel when you see red and blue? If you're anything like me, when I see red I feel heated and angry and blue makes me feel cool and relaxed. Rather than seeing just the colour, I have seen the colour for it's greater use - it's abstract qualities that induce feelings.
Now use this same thought process for the words mountain and beach. How do they make you feel? Likely, without thinking, you will be able to quickly connect expressions and experiences and thus thoughts, feelings and emotions that relate to these singular words.
Why is this? It is because our brain has created a neurological connection between our expressions and experiences with the specific word. It has created the essence (we talked about earlier) of that word based on our own perception - in a sense, we have moulded that word to our own thoughts, feelings and emotions. How ego centric, right? Everything evolves around you...
You could say that, but you could also say... how powerful!
Let's break this down further. So, when you see a word, you have the choice to let it pass you by or you can imprint your expression and experiences onto it. This means acknowledging the word in the moment and your interaction with it. From there you can pack the word with the thoughts, feelings and emotions you express and experience when we see the word - which creates the chance for deja vu moments every time we see the word, because we have a distinct memory of it. So the more you see that word and strengthen those connections of thoughts, feelings and emotions with it, the more your brain will remember it.
That's why quotes are so powerful. Ever wondered why you feel a certain way when you hear M.L.K's "I have a dream..." quote? It's because your brain has connected your unique expression and experience to those words, and because we hear the quote so often - it has become heavily rooted in our brains, so that feeling is quickly accessible.
Imagine if we could find a quote (or we may already have one) and imprint an expression or experience onto it and always rely on it to feel the thoughts, feelings and emotions that we desire? If we were smart we could choose a quote that made us happy every time we read it's words and read it every time we were sad. I myself have a quote that makes me feel a desired way when I read it:
There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium, and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression.
Martha Graham
This quote changed my life because I noticed that these words had power beyond just being words - they ignited an expression of empowerment when I read them, and I experienced an urge to write, this translated into feelings of joy and worthiness. The result was this blog. Without words like this I would never have had the courage to write the words you are reading today.
When most people see a quote they like, the wear it on t-shirts and hang it on walls (like I have done) because they think it is cool, but then they stop there. They don't take notice of the power in the words. We must understand that even-though they are little, words can reflect our expressions and experiences and ignite the feelings we desire - this is a power for us. You can change your thoughts, feelings and emotions by using just some words.
You do not need much, just a pen and a piece of paper. Write down a quote you like or some words that resonate with you - when you read them think of your expressions and experiences of it and the thoughts, feelings and emotions it creates. If it creates feelings you desire - make this quote your go to when you want to feel more emotional power. Mould them to your life and acknowledge those words daily to enjoy the thoughts, feelings and emotions you desire in the blink of an eye.
Words are a not so little thing.