Feasting on Words

by Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC

As much as I love enjoying delicious food, I cherish the joy of savoring words even more. Words, both written and spoken, have the power to lead us into rich sensory experiences, bringing a raw energy that reverberates long after we devour them. Words can be mighty, leaving flavorful legacies and hallmark aromas that can take our imagination and joy to that next level. Words, the beautiful ingredients we use to communicate, have the capacity to be cherished for a lifetime.

Just like delicious comfort food, words can nourish us, or tickle our taste buds. I often feel a coziness deep in my bones when my eyes gaze upon words like “welcome,” or “wondrous,” or “woman!” Some words are tantalizing; some bring distinct scents to mind. Imagine, for example, the pleasant smell of “lemon-infused olive oil” or “fresh- picked basil.” Or the suggestion of a “goddess” afternoon soak in a “rich, warm, and luscious” lavender-infused bubble bath. Intoxicating!

THE ENERGY OF WORDS

Words hold energy. Words hold power. It’s crucial to be aware of this. Be mindful when writing or speaking, and select your words carefully. They contain energy capable of healing, hurting, humbling, shocking, helping, or uplifting others. Words, in other words (ha!), can deeply move us in both heart and mind. Additionally, the energy of certain words can cause echoes and reverberations, good or bad, harsh or gentle, near or far. So, dear friend, stay conscious. Write and speak with intention. Calibrate your words to have the effect that you desire. Appreciate the fact that your words have an impact, for better or worse. This is the lusciousness of language!

WORDS CAN EXPAND OUR EXPERIENCE

Particular words instantly make us feel, think, see, or hear things differently. Attending to certain words can help change our emotional state. For example, if I’m preparing to attend an event and I’m feeling a bit anxious beforehand, I might pick a key word to organize my thoughts around. Staying emotionally centered on a word such as “ease” or “joy” helps me begin to embody that state. Concentrating my focus on these terms and states of being is more empowering than flailing around in the buzz of free-floating anxiety. This is just one of many ways you might use words to help uniquely craft your experience.

Declaring something with authority and conviction is another way to curate your reality through the use of language. Speaking your desires out loud paves the way to bringing them into existence. Taking full ownership of our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and words can be transformative and life-changing.

Words are equally mighty tools for helping you capture your experience. Clarity in your words helps others understand you, which directly impacts your experience. The scope of our ability to choose our words and be conscious of how we use them is profound. Choose words that are significant to you. Choose words that matter. Embrace them. You have the capacity to take what is within you and bring it forward in the form of written or spoken words. Talk about magnificence!

Think about a time, for example, when you structured your thoughts in a journal. This creative writing, you later discovered, helped bring your dream to fruition. The written word can manifest through the power of intention. My upcoming trip to Italy, the land that holds my heart, came into existence, in part, through the act of my putting pen to paper. How magical!

BE A MASTER OF YOUR WORDS

We all have, I believe, a responsibility when it comes to words. Our tongues are capable of flying in many directions. Stop, think, and feel before you speak. Take reflective, responsive charge of your energy. Remain awake, aware, and inclined toward thoughtful consideration when communicating. Deliberate care is called for. Kind words, for example, can be a transformative force in the world. One kind word can change everything for someone. Imagine focusing there.

Be ever-committed to upgrading your operating system! Stay conscious of picking the right words for each moment or situation. Why not? It feels good! Your words can change moods. Can lift spirits. Can touch souls. Let your speech be pure and wholesome.

And of course, be prepared to edit or delete that which does not serve your highest communication intentions. Let your language be an exquisite, creative banquet of your unique expression, care, and desire to manifest new potentialities. Let what emerges from your mind or lips serve the greater good. Refrain from merely mundane statements or ones that leave a bad taste in your, or another’s, mouth. Speak or write in the direction of your longings and dreams. Let your language help move you, and others, forward in positive ways. Let your soul feast on all of these possibilities.

Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC is a certified Life Coach in Ann Arbor, MI who loves empowering adolescents, adults, and couples to live from the HEART of what really matters to them so that they can bring their fully expressed, vibrant selves into the world. She has a special gift for helping women reclaim their feminine power, and embrace their radiant, sensual, sexy spirits. Their lives transform. They soar into their mid-life magnificence! www.lifeempowermentcoaching.com Instagram: @life_coach_maria Facebook: www.facebook.com/LifeEmpowermentCoaching