Watch Your Words, Change Your Life

One thing that radically changed my life—and I mean RADICALLY—was understanding how our mind works. See, our mind is always listening to us. It’s always responding to the pictures we create and the words we speak. Every time you say something, you’re sending a message—not just to your mind, but also to your body.

That’s why words matter.

And here’s the problem: we’ve become too casual with our language. We use intense words to describe regular, everyday experiences, and those words are shaping our reality. Without realizing it, we’re programming our minds for stress, exhaustion, and frustration—just by the way we speak!

Let me give you a few examples.

How many of you have ever said something like:

• “My commute was hell.”
• “This meeting was torture.”
• “This weather is killing me.”

Come on, be honest! I know I’ve said it!

But here’s the thing: when you use words like “hell,” “torture,” or “killing me,” your mind takes those words seriously. It doesn’t go, “Oh, they’re just being dramatic.” No—your mind listens, processes, and responds accordingly.

So, if you say, “This job is a nightmare,” your mind creates that exact picture—a nightmare.
If you say, “I’m drowning in work,” your body reacts as if you’re truly overwhelmed and in danger.

Let me break it down. When you use these words, your brain creates mental pictures to match them. And those pictures? They affect how you feel.

For example: Imagine a butterfly landing gently on your hand.
Peaceful, right? Beautiful even.

But now imagine a cockroach crawling up your arm. Totally different feeling, isn’t it? Same action—something landing on your hand—but the picture in your mind changes everything.

Your body responds to those pictures with emotion. Your heart rate might go up, your stomach tightens, or your skin crawls. It’s automatic. Your body is just following the picture your mind has created.

And here’s the kicker: We create these pictures all day long with our words.

When you say something like “I’m exhausted,” you picture yourself drained, slumped over, out of energy—and your body obeys. It makes you feel exactly how you’ve described.

But if you say, “I’ve got energy for this,” your mind pictures strength and vitality—and suddenly, you stand up a little straighter, you breathe a little deeper.

This is why it’s so important to watch your language.
And I don’t just mean avoiding curse words—I’m talking about the everyday language we all use without thinking.

Have you ever noticed how dramatic we are? We don’t just have a lot to do, we’re buried under a mountain of work.We’re not a little uncomfortable, we’re dying of heat.
We’re not slightly inconvenienced, we’re about to lose it.

No wonder we feel stressed out and overwhelmed! Our words are creating mental pictures that are intense, catastrophic, and way out of proportion. And our body follows every single one of those pictures.

Here’s a little neuroscience for you: your brain can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what’s vividly imagined. If you imagine something vividly enough, your body will react as though it’s really happening.

Think about this: 30% of chemotherapy patients experience nausea before they even receive treatment. Why? Because they’ve pictured the experience so vividly that their body reacts to the image in their mind.

Or take a lemon. If I describe a juicy, sour lemon in detail—how it smells, how it tastes when you bite into it—your mouth will probably start watering. Just thinking about it causes a real, physical reaction.

Your mind is that powerful.

So if thinking about a lemon can make your mouth water, what do you think happens when you spend all day thinking, “I’m overwhelmed, I’m stressed, I’m exhausted”? Your body takes those thoughts and runs with them.

This is why the Bible tells us, “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’” Not because it’s denying reality, but because your words can shift your reality.

When you start speaking strength, your mind creates a new picture—one of resilience, confidence, and energy.

And here’s what’s amazing: once you start creating better pictures, better feelings follow.
You start to feel energized. You feel stronger. You feel ready.

And the more you practice it, the more natural it becomes.

Let’s get practical. Next time you catch yourself saying something dramatic, stop. Replace it with something true and empowering.
Instead of:

• “This traffic is a nightmare,” try: “This drive is giving me time to think.”
• “I’m drowning in work,” try: “I’m making progress, one task at a time.”
• “I’m so exhausted,” try: “I’m recharging and getting stronger.”

It might feel awkward at first, but trust me—it works.
Your mind will respond to the new language. You’ll start creating better pictures, and those pictures will change how you feel and how you show up in life.

Think about athletes. They don’t say, “I hope I don’t fail.” They see themselves winning. They speak words of victory. And you know what? Their body follows their mind.

You can do the same thing. See yourself succeeding. Speak life over yourself.
Say:

• “I’ve got this.”
• “I’m strong and capable.”
• “God is with me, and I’m ready.”

When you fill your mind with life-giving words and pictures, there’s no room for negativity to take over. Your mind can’t hold two opposing beliefs at once.

And here’s the truth: you were created to thrive. You were made in God’s image, with the ability to create and shape your reality through your words and pictures.

So, What Are You Going to Say?

Are you going to keep speaking drama, negativity, and defeat? Or are you going to start speaking strength, life, and victory?

It’s your choice. Your words and your pictures are shaping your future.
So why not make them good ones?