Words are Just Words

Goal

To understand that words are just words.

Words are Just Words Exercise (pp. 73-75)

When you understand the idea that words are just words, it becomes easier to understand and modify the words’ relationship to your pain and to your life.

Instructions: Complete the following phrases with whatever comes to mind:

Blondes have more ________________________
Eeny, meeny, miny, ________________________
There’s no place like ______________________

We are creatures of our histories and our every moment adds to that history. Words just rumble around in our minds and typically stay there; but when we try to get rid of them, they stick to us like sticky tape we’ve grabbed with the intention of throwing it away, but it won’t let go.

If the words rumbling around in our minds were as innocent as the phrases you just completed, maybe that would be fine, but words are not always so harmless. For example, complete these phrases:

I’m not a good person, I’m ________________________________
I’m so sad I think I will just ________________________________
The worst thing about me is that I’m ________________________

Words that can hurt you are in your history too somewhere and come out from time to time. But it could make all the difference in the world to you if, when you struggle with your darkest thoughts, you were able to also see the words that hurt as just words.

Reflection (Optional)

Write your thoughts down to better understand this concept.