Words are just words until you define them: So who’s been defining the words you use?

Think of certain words (or phrases) that affect the way you live your life, words in which their definition have been instilled in your mind in a way that you feel there’s no other way to define them other than what’s been taught to you. Words such as think positive, fall in love, God, spirituality, work hard, let go, get real and so on. What do these words really mean?

If you were to ask around, you can be sure to get many different interpretations or definition for each of these words. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Don’t be so sure that you’re right and anyone who doesn’t agree with you is wrong.

Each person may define certain words a little differently based on their upbringing, and life experiences. Sometimes the meaning of a word that you’ve adopted can actually trigger a strong negative reaction or add more stress to your life. If this is the case, perhaps you could redefine those words in a way that brings more pleasure to you than pain.

When it comes to the “true” definition of certain words, you may be surprised to learn that there are many “truths” out there. And it’s not for you to judge them right or wrong but simply for you to look at all the options and choose the one that works best for you.

Just understand that there isn’t one way of doing anything as surely as there isn’t one way to define a certain word. What works best for you might not necessarily work best for another – and that’s okay. This doesn’t make anything or anyone right or wrong.

Life is full of opposites to offer you balance and give you an array of options to choose from. So if there are words you’ve been using in which their definition have not served you well, perhaps it’s time for you to redefine those words according to your taste.

Think about words for a moment… words are really nothing more than just words until you apply a definition to them. Once defined, that word (its definition) can encourage either more joy or more pain. Sometimes if you don’t define certain words according to your ideal, you will end up conforming to other people’s definition, which may not necessarily be in your best interest.

When you truly understand the power of words, you will recognize that even the most simple definition can cause peace or war.

Let’s take the word “God” for example. Even though this word revolves around a similar theme for most, due to the many different cultures, religions, and spiritual believers, this word can mean different things to different people all around the world.

This word and its many different definitions has led to everything from love to hate, from peace to destruction, war and killing of innocent people. Again, maybe it shouldn’t be a question of who’s right or wrong. Choosing who’s “right” and “wrong” is like taking sides. Taking sides would just cause more divide between humankind and cause more harm, don’t you think?

Maybe the real question should be: Which definition creates more peace in this world? Shouldn’t the definition that we choose to adopt be one that inspires unity?

What if we start defining certain words in a way so that they don’t cause a divide between humankind, but instead, inspire humankind to come together?

For instance, if a person claims to be a son or daughter of God, depending on your definition of God, this could either make you angry, or it could make you feel peace.

This state of anger or peace is the point I’m trying to make about the power of a word. The definition you choose to adopt is the very thing that will cause either more harm in your life, or more healing.

Let’s entertain this idea for a moment: what if your definition of God was defined as “the divine source of goodness and balance of life that surrounds us”?

Or what if you adopted a meaning that suggests God may not be one gigantic person that hovers over us as He/She rules the world, but instead, God may be the very essence of divinity that lives within each of us if we choose to recognize it.

This very essence of divinity is a glorious energy that is boundless and eternal, peacefully everywhere and lovingly in every moment – it is the God-center that exists within each and every single one of us, if we choose to tap into it. Ever heard the popular phrase “All you need is within you”? This phrase certainly supports the definition I’m suggesting here.

My point here is to raise awareness that a single word can be so powerful as to cause harm or healing. Perhaps it’s time to think of some of the things you’ve been taught. Things you never questioned but only obliged because fear was instilled in your mind that if you didn’t do this or that, then something bad would happen.

When you believe in something long enough, it becomes your truth. You may not have even consciously chosen it to be your truth while you've allowed it to remain your truth, even when it hasn’t served you well. Perhaps it’s time to question these “truths” and redefine certain words and phrases in your life that have been burdensome to you.

You can begin a new chapter of your life today: coin new phrases that work for you, assign new meaning to words that have held you back from a happy, healthy life – a life filled with great relationships, love and abundance. After all, you are the words you use… so choose your words carefully and define them well, for your sake and the sake of the greater good.