Introduction
I'm Lucie Fernandez, and for the past 10 years, I've been helping energize companies. As the founder of Workzenergy and a wellness coach, I wanted to share this article that I think you'll find interesting.
It explains how words impact our brains and how they can change our lives. It also shows how negative words can generate stress. Workzenergy
Preamble
Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist at Thomas Jefferson University, and Mark Robert Waldman, a communication expert, collaborated on the book "Words Can change Your Brain ".
"One single word can influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress."
When we use words filled with positivity, such as ‘love’ and ‘peace’, we can change the way our brain works by increasing cognitive reasoning and strengthening the areas of our frontal lobes
Boosting the brain's motivational centres
Using positive words more often than negative ones can boost the brain's motivational centres and propel it into action.
At the other end of the spectrum, when we use negative words, we prevent the production of certain neurochemicals that contribute to stress management. Each of us is primarily preoccupied with survival; this is how our primitive brain protects us from situations that are dangerous to survival.
So when we let negative words and concepts into our thoughts, we increase activity in the fear centre of our brain (the amygdala) and cause our system to be flooded with stress-inducing hormones.) et provoquons l’inondation de notre système par les hormones génératrices de stress.
These hormones and neurotransmitters interrupt the brain's logic and reasoning processes and inhibit normal functioning.
Newberg and Waldman write:
‘Angry and distressing words send alarm messages through the brain and partially shut down the logic and reasoning centres located in the frontal lobes’.
An extract from their book explains how using the right words can literally change our reality:
"By keeping a [positive] word in your mind, you stimulate frontal lobe activity. This area has specific processing centers that connect directly to the motor cortex responsible for action. And as our research has shown, the longer you focus on positive words, the more you begin to impact other areas of the brain. The functions of the parietal lobe start to change, altering your perception of yourself and the people you interact with. A positive view of oneself will lead to seeing the good in others, while a negative image will cause suspicion and doubt. Over time, the structure of your thalamus will also change in response to your conscious words, thoughts, and feelings, and we believe that thalamic changes affect how you perceive reality."
A study carried out by Positive Psychology takes a closer look at the effects of using positive words.
A group of adults aged between 35 and 54 were given a nocturnal task consisting of writing down three things that went well for them that day, including why.
The following three months showed that their level of happiness continued to increase and their feelings of depression continued to decrease. By concentrating and reflecting on positive ideas and emotions, we can improve our general well-being and increase our brain's functionality.
Which words do you choose to focus your energy on?
If you notice that your life isn't exactly ‘happy’, try keeping a diary to see how often you use negative words.
You may be surprised at how the simplest solution for a better life is change your words, change your life.
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