Sepia Prime Woman Digital Magazine March 2014 | Page 13

Your Words continued from previous page words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors. Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits.” Although research returns mixed results about the power of words, some studies show that words can stimulate the brain. In a Psychology Today article entitled, Words Can Change Your Brain, by Andrew Newberg, M.D. and Mark Robert Waldman, they note that just seeing a list of negative words for a few seconds will make a highly anxious or depressed person feel worse. Also, “If you verbalize negativity, more stress chemicals are released into your brain, not only in your brain, but the listener’s brain too, undermining trust and cooperation.” They also found when using positive words there is little change to the brain although, they did see that “patients experienced enhanced sense of happiness, well-being, and satisfaction.” March is Women’s History Month, a time where we celebrate women of courage and dedication. So I challenge you to celebrate you by making a commitment to regularly engage in speaking positively. I ask you to take this journey of being a nicer you to you. Use your inner-voice to speak more kind and loving thoughts. Activate the motivational centers of your psyche. When that old critical voice begins to speak, shut it down by reframing it with a more compassionate and understanding tone. Sepia Prime Woman Choose your words wisely and speak them slowly so they can resonate. Surround yourself with support systems. Employ an honest feedback mechanism to keep yourself in check. Create a method of accountability by telling someone about your commitment to help you on your journey. Friends are usually good for this. Seek a higher power for strength and direction. And most of all, believe in you and that you are worthy of living a life that you ought to be living. Remember, “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” Keeping it moving! Janice Rankin is Director and Program Designer of Everybody Is A Star. If you would like to share your journey or comments with her send an email to [email protected] Do one thing every day that scares you. Eleanor Roosevelt March 2014