POWER OF THE TONGUE

BY IMANI HENDRICK

In this new era of self-love, something that I have come to cherish is the practice of affirming. I’m sure you have heard it all before that you should watch what you say, and that there is power in the tongue and I’m here to tell you that this is no myth. Within the past year or so, as I’m transitioning into womanhood, I have realized that no one has your back as you do especially in this money-hungry world. I’ve faced challenges with self-identity as well as self-doubt which oftentimes lead me into depressions. But I am an overcomer.

I’ve found that ever since I’ve started incorporating positive word affirmations into my daily routines, I have begun to show up as better versions of myself even on my worst days. When saying them, I make it a point to place my affirmations near or around mirrors in my house through the simple act of looking into my own eyes and feeding my soul positivity, I get a jolt of encouragement and even more empowerment. By saying them OUT LOUD daily, I can say that I have started believing these things and they have been coming to fruition. You are what you speak. Take some time out and speak life into yourself.

A few that I love are:

1. I am not perfect and I do not have to be; I am enough

You are allowed to fall and get up and fall again. Every time you fall you are forced to examine the roots whether that be something you could improve on or something that is dead and needs to be cut off. In life, we go through great change daily but you are enough and you don’t have to be anyone else but yourself. “No one is you and that is your power.” - Dave Grohl

2. I am compassionate, I am loving, I am understanding

As I said earlier, I like to speak things into existence. My goal while I’m here on this earth is to be a compassionate person full of love and understanding. You get what you put out. One saying that I love is “In order to be understood you must understand” and I try to live by this.

3. I am in alignment with my journey; I am right on time

So often we get caught up in the why’s and what ifs but you must remember everything is for a reason and necessary. We live in a society so caught up in having a plan that sometimes you can get engulfed in achieving at the same rate as others. This is so unhealthy because it makes happiness and success a measurable entity (which it is not.) The truth is you never really know what happens behind closed doors and as crazy as it seems, you can’t predict when your breakthrough will come. So, stay the course. I am a firm believer that as long as you stay diligent and authentic in YOUR dreams they will turn to reality. God’s timing is the best timing.

4. I am here for a purpose

Life is so beautiful because not one person is here to fulfill the same task. We were all created to do one specific thing and if you are still here you still have work to do. Show up.

5. I am history in the making

Each and every one of us are some of our ancestors’ wildest dreams breaking barriers daily. I believe that keeping their legacies alive requires a lot of commitment and dedication in order to sustain. Like I said, “ I am here for a purpose” and my story will go down in history even if I’m not here to see it.