Some of us are in the habit of repeating negative words and not realize their effects. The problem is that the more we hear, read, or speak a word or phrase, the more power it has over us. The brain uses repetition to learn, searching for patterns and consistency as a way to make sense of the world around us. Only after being burned a few times do we understand that fire is always hot. I’m sure you’ve experienced having a song stuck in your head all day long, and try as you might, you just can’t get the melody out of your head. Repetition is the most powerful tool to imprint something into our minds and keep it there. So, let's program positive messages in this way.

This is of particular concern when we consider a phenomenon called the Illusion of Truth Effect, which proves that any statement we read, see, or speak regularly is seen as more valid than one we’re exposed to only occasionally. Amazingly, it makes no difference whether the information is true or false. The only thing that matters is how often we’re exposed to it. Research from the University of California at Santa Barbara clearly shows that a weak message repeated twice becomes more valid than a strong message heard only once. Even one repetition has the power to change our minds. The same goes for pictures, which are just thoughts and ideas concentrated into an image. Repetition increases our mental validation of anything we’re exposed to, which is why it works so well in political propaganda.

If we’re not fully conscious of what we’re exposing ourselves to, then consistency will trump truth every time. Now consider how many times you’ve called yourself stupid, untalented, ugly, or anything else. You begin to understand how your internal propaganda shapes your self-image. Your words and actions make a statement about you. What do you want to convey now?

I highly recommend that you put affirmations on sticky notes around your home and office that say wonderful things about you, your family, or your goals. Wear clothes that have positive messages on them. Imagine the kind of positive energy you’ll be generating for yourself when wearing positive messages all day long. As you keep doing these things, you use the power of repetition in a highly effective way for your benefit. You have the power to change your world, and using words consciously is one of the quickest ways to shift the energy you bring into your life. Let me demonstrate how your words have affected you and give you new messages to replace them.

The Effects of Words in Our Life can be discussed in person, via telephone, or Skype.