Eating Our Words

America has really become conscious of what it eats. We know what’s good for us, bad for us, causes cancer, and makes us live longer. And that is truly a wonderful thing that allows us to honor and respect our bodies more. But what if I told you that no matter how careful you are at the grocery store, there’s a really good chance you are still ingesting large amounts of poison every day anyway?

I would like you to consider that language is a form of food and that we are feeding all day long everyday. While we only eat an average of three meals a day, we are constantly grazing upon words—those we think, speak, and hear. Have you ever considered the impact that certain words, phrases, or thoughts have upon your energy, your creativity, and the overall quality of your life? Have you ever noticed how a few kind words from someone can linger like honey on the mind? Have you ever paused to question whether listening to someone else’s gossip is really serving anybody or more like a mold growing on bread? Did you ever walk away from a conversation feeling sick to your stomach? Or have you ever had a chat with someone to find yourself feeling lighter and happier and completely satisfied as if you’d just had a light, refreshing meal?

These experiences clue us into the nutritional value of our language, and awakening to the diet of our language can bring about great shifts in our mind, body and spirit. Doesn’t it, then, make sense that we should give just as much attention to our diet of language as we do our diet of food?

What’s on Your Menu?

So, what can we do to become as conscious of our words as we are of our groceries? It begins with building awareness. Here are five simple exercises you can do now:

• Start keeping track of what you are “eating.” When you hear yourself saying “I can’t do that” or “I’m so sick of…” it may go down nice and easy out of habit, but does it really taste good? If your thoughts to yourself were a food, would they be a super food like spinach or an over-processed box of macaroni and cheese? How are you with receiving compliments? Do you choke on them? Maybe you just need to acquire a taste for them. How often do you allow yourself to enjoy that high-cacao-content chocolate of “Wow, I look beautiful today!” ?

• Go ahead and watch TV, but as you do, bring your awareness to it. What’s the nutritional value of the language you are hearing? Are you watching a drama in which people are slinging insults and angry words back and forth? Why would you want to eat that? Or are you watching the news and getting all fired up about the latest political scandal? Would you eat that if it really came on a plate? Bringing your attention to the passive activity of television will astound you. Begin to question whether what you are watching is of high enough quality to be considered nutritional or if it’s just meaningless packaging that says “all natural”. And may I remind you, manure is natural.

• I know everyone is just crazy about cleanses—you know, juice fasts, colonics—nwith some programs costing a small fortune. Well, I’m suggesting another kind of cleanse…one that won’t cost you a dime or have you running for the nearest bathroom. Silence. That’s right. Take three days of silence. Put a message on your answering machine that says, “I’m on retreat. I’ll call you back.” When you need to communicate with others, write everything down. Suddenly you’ll have energy for a different kind of conversation, an inner one. “Why was I just going to say that? Was it important? Would it have helped or hindered the situation? I’m so angry…why am I having this reaction? Why do I feel like I’ll burst if I don’t share this! Wow, it’s amazing how little I really need to speak.” Watch your awareness of language go through the roof.

• Consider ways in which you tend to binge with words. Do you often exaggerate stories to get reactions out of others? Or perhaps you are more anorexic and tend to deny what is true for you as an avoidance mechanism. You may even find yourself down right toxic, spinning things to always make yourself look better, making excuses for your actions, and saying things to manipulate others. Or you may discover someone in your life is force-feeding you a load of bull, telling you what you can and can’t do or bringing you down with their words! Now, this isn’t about beating yourself up for all the things you notice. Just observe without judgment. Once you see it, you can change your diet!

• Celebrate Thanksgiving now! You won’t need to cook a turkey with all the trimmings. This treat will be one of words. Express gratitude for all the blessings in your life. Be generous with those you love by offering words of encouragement and thanks. Be generous with yourself by showering yourself with kind thoughts and sweet expressions. Notice what language inspires you. Open up to receive the beauty of language…read poetry that stirs your heart.

You may be shocked at what you discover. And just like changing the foods we eat can be a great challenge, changing the words we use presents an even greater one. It takes desire, courage, and self-discipline. But the rewards are a healthy mind and spirit to keep your beautiful, healthy body company. Now that’s eating right!