From the time you can hear words formed, even before you know what they mean, your mind can differentiate between negativity and positivity. Part of that is due to the way we say negative words versus the way we say words that are positive in nature. What is clear about these words is that negative words can affect your whole life in a bad way.
Acknowledge the Past
If you’ve experienced or spoken a lot of negative words in your lifetime, it’s possible that today, you have issues that are still affecting you today. Childhood is very powerful and can affect your entire life. Looking at and exploring the past isn’t so that you can focus on the negativity but instead so you can practice turning negativity into positivity.
Stop Name-Calling Yourself or Others
To let go of negative words start with name-calling. Even if it starts out as a joke these types of things can really get under a person’s skin and affect them for life. If you were called “chubby” or “fat” or anything else that society deems harmful, even if it was meant as a term of endearment, it could cause negative emotions.
Redirect Self-Depreciating Words and Self-Talk
If you tend to think negative things like “my hair sucks” or “I’m too ugly” or anything else that is negative about yourself as you go through your day, learn to change those words into positive words. Redirecting that self-talk can make a big difference for you.
Do Not Gossip
Even good gossip is wrong unless you’re planning a surprise party. Talking about people behind their back in any way is harmful. It can lead to misunderstandings and even more gossip, and if you did say something negative even if you meant it in a well-meaning way, it wouldn’t be taken that way.
Let Go of Negative Thoughts
It depends on your personality, but even if you think first of the negative thing, you can turn it around to train your brain to look on the bright side. If you wake up and it’s raining, but you wanted to go for a walk, instead of being upset just change your plans and do something else without getting cynical about it.
Use More Positive Words
As you move through your day, find new words to describe things. For example, if you go out to dinner and the dinner is good, instead of saying it’s good, try finding more positive words to describe it and blow the description out of the water with the positivity you use.
Finding ways to surround yourself with positivity and positive words can uplift you and everyone around you more than almost anything else. Even if you don’t initially feel it, it’s just like when you smile to try to make yourself feel better. After a moment of smiling it starts working, and you do feel a little better. The same thing can be said about accepting the damage from negative words and thoughts, and then focusing on turning that around will make you feel a lot happier and self-confident.