January 18th is National Thesaurus Day and it’s a great day to remind ourselves that the words we use have extraordinary power.
Compare these two lists of words:
Amazing vs. Average
Astonishing vs. Fair
Astounding vs. Okay
Awesome vs. Acceptable
Breathtaking vs. Adequate
Extraordinary vs. Decent
Fantastic vs. Admissible
Marvelous vs. Common
Phenomenal vs. Alright
Spectacular vs. Copacetic
If you had to pick one list and that would determine the quality of your life, which list would it be? Okay or Astounding? Acceptable or Awesome? Decent or Extraordinary?
We can probably all remember as kids when our teachers showed us the Dictionary and the Thesaurus and told us how important our vocabulary would be in life. And we probably remember saying to ourselves that it wasn’t that big of a deal.
But words have power. They are the keys to our emotions.
They are also pivotal to our ability to influence and persuade others – a skill used by parents, teachers, businesspeople and politicians alike.
“Your thoughts become your words, your words become your behaviors, your behaviors become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
Words also have the power to make someone’s day or destroy their mood, in an instant.
A kind word can lift someone’s spirits when they need it most.
Words can give strength – or take it away (en-courage vs dis-courage).
An un-kind word spoken in haste can leave a painful scar that can last a lifetime.
A kind and loving word spoken at the right moment can save someone’s life or change it for the better, forever.
Words move hearts. And hearts move limbs.
Your words have power. So speak words that are kind, loving, positive, uplifting, encouraging, and life-giving – to yourself and others.
And remember, even our selection of positive words has an impact.
Which would you rather be?
Happy or Ecstatic? Glad or Elated? Contented or Delighted?
The quality of our words determines the quality of our emotions and the quality of our emotions determines the quality of our lives.
Chains of habit are often too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken
How we spend our day is how we spend our lives.
We first make habits. Then habits make us.
The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.
So decide to take command of your words.
Pick up a thesaurus – or go here https://www.thesaurus.com/.
Find a few choice words that you would like to add to your life and start using them every day.
