Your words matter

By Shana Danielle

Hey Rising Family!

July seems to have come and gone pretty fast. We have a bonus week this month and I would like to take this time to share a bonus tip in selfcare. So far, we have talked about the importance of sleep, healthy eating, exercise, and conscious breathing.

Now I want to discuss the power our words really have.

Our words matter.

Life and death lie in the power of the tongue, but do you really understand the impact your words have in creating or destroying your destiny? I want us all to prosper and take care of ourselves so we can be strong enough to take on this cold, cruel world.

Before continuing, I want to go over the definition of compassion. A Google search will give you the definition as follows, “Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others”. I believe compassion is so much more than that: it is to feel deeply for another person and to place yourself in their shoes. Being able to relate and support people in situations that you may have never gone through.

Compassion is empathy. Compassion is charity. Compassion is love.

I have a poem entitled “Shoes” in which I elaborate on the importance of being empathic towards others. I included it in my book Rise that will be available for pre-order next month.

You may have done some things in your life you are not proud of, but we are all flawed. We must forgive ourselves and express compassion toward ourselves to effectively show compassion to others.

Having self-compassion is a requirement before extending compassion to others.

To become a better parent, a better lover, a better friend, and a better person, I have learned it is imperative to do as the Bible says and love God, love yourself and then love others as you love yourself.

Let me say that again: love God,

love yourself and then love others as you love yourself.

If you do not truly love yourself you cannot correctly love other people.

I want to share a simple mantra I started using at home that has made me and my family better. Look in the mirror or use your camera phone in selfie mode and say the following:

I love me.

I have joy.

I have peace.

I am healthy.

I am strong.

I am safe.

I control my destiny.

After you have mastered that you can then extend it to people you love like your family and friends, spouse and children.

You have joy.

You have peace.

You are healthy.

You are strong.

You are safe.

You control your destiny.

Your thoughts, words and actions should promote peace, not stress. Practicing these simple mantras daily will have a positive impact on your life and the lives of those around you.

Rise, make a difference in your life, then makes a difference in the lives of others.

You were born for this.