I came across this topic in The Daily Wellness newsletter recently, and since it applies so well to those of us who are trying to both feel, and do, better in life, I wanted to share part of what I read, plus a few personal thoughts and an exercise I’ve used for years.
Here’s the study:
TLDR: When comparing the writing of 36,000 people, researchers discovered that when a wider variety of negative emotion words are used in their everyday language (like “devastated”, “furious”, “anxious”, “stressed”), they tend to report a higher level of depression, anxiety and poorer physical health.
On the other hand, those who had more Emotional Granularity (Read more here) with positive emotion words (like “excited”, “calm”, “hopeful”, “joy”) showed better overall well-being and mental health.
😊 😀 😃
Here’s an exercise I’ve used for many years that shows how our brain is influenced by the words we use:
Imagine an upcoming event that you feel “nervous” about. 😬 😟 😥
It might be a doctor’s visit, presentation at work or school, or a difficult conversation you need to have. Notice how that makes your body feel — maybe your heart starts to beat faster, your breathing becomes more shallow, or you feel flushed…
Now, take a deep breath and tell yourself, “I’m so EXCITED about _____! I’m really hoping to ______!” 😀, and breathe into that emotion instead.
How do you feel now? You might notice that instead of weighing you down, the butterflies in your stomach energize you, and you feel lighter.🦋 You might even start to feel a pleasant tingling or vibration in your body. Isn’t that better?
Our brains truly don’t know the difference between feeling “nervous” and feeling “excited”! So, we can DECIDE how we WANT to feel, and use the appropriate words
Please try this mindful exercise today, and let me know how it goes:
Notice what words you use today to describe how you feel. Just notice without judgement. You may choose to write them down, and place a checkmark beside the word every time you think, or speak it.
If it seems that you use more words to describe uncomfortable emotions, then perhaps you can try to notice, and focus on, the happier emotions. They may only last for a split second at first, but the more you notice them, the more your brain is being trained to notice them. 😊
This is a life-long practice, but can be started with this baby step today, and built on little by little. It won’t make the challenging things in life go away, but it just might change your perspective.
If, however, you still feel stuck in the cycle of heavy thought, feelings, or body sensations, please know that just one hour of Aroma Freedom can be a huge leap forward in dissolving those sticky ties! 🐸 Don’t believe me? Please read the experiences of real people like you on my main webpage under the heading “Testimonials”.
If you prefer a Private Group session with your friends, family and/or workmates, we can schedule an hour that is convenient for your group.
Or, if you prefer to work with me one-on-one, so that I can incorporate other amazingly powerful techniques along with AFT, please go here to pay and fill out the intake form. Then we can choose a date and time that works best for both of us.
I look forward to hearing from you!
It describes so much of what I truly believe that to have a positive attitude we need to talk to ourselves with gratitude and positivity.
May Jehovah send you many beautiful blessings.
I feel this is sent to me from my loving sister and Jehovah is inspiration.
May Jehovah bless your loving and supportive spirit.