Why My Word for This Season is SAVOR
and how you can use the power of words for your own expansion
Expansion
Savor
Love
Joy
Abundance
These are all words that resonate with me currently.
As I grow increasingly pregnant, I’ve started to experience a slight apprehension. A slight hesitation. A slight bit of worry.
The ruminations unfold—what will my life look like after baby? How will I handle everything? What if I’m not ready? How will it change my relationship with my husband?
These questions are in juxtaposition with how I’ve mostly been feeling—grateful, expansive and excited. Therefore these new thoughts and feelings come as a bit of a surprise and illicit a sharp intake of breath rather than the prolonged exhales I have been experiencing.
As my belly (and baby) grow, I’ve started to feel more uncomfortable. Besides the decrease in my bladder and lung size, my ribs ache with the pushing of the belly and I’ve started to get more and more heartburn. The mental discomfort seems to grow in direct proportion to the physical.
It’s an interesting mindset to be in, that’s for sure. (non-pregnant people stick with me, we’re getting somewhere).
During this time, I am reminded of the power of words.
The language that we use has a direct influence on the life we experience. Simple changes in the words we choose to use have a profound impact on our lives. If you’ve ever worked on eliminating complaining (as I suggest in my believe in yourself course), then you’ve seen this in practice.
What we focus on, expands.
This is due to the reticular activating system or RAS in the brain. The job of the RAS is to filter information. We are bombarded with tens of thousands of bits of information throughout a single day and our subconscious brain works to filter the most important bits (as deemed by us/our beliefs/our thoughts) to make it easier to operate in the world.
The RAS is at work when you buy a shiny new Tesla and then all of a sudden you see Tesla’s EVERYWHERE. Or you’re thinking about having a baby and all of a sudden it seems like everyone is pregnant. 🤰🏽
If we’re focused on everything that could go wrong, or everything that is negative in our lives, our RAS naturally deems those things to be important and continues to filter information to deliver up those things that reinforce that.
It’s a deadly self-fulfilling prophecy.
The power, and opportunity, lands in our words and what we choose to focus on.
The Four Agreements says to “Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love”
Don Miguel Ruiz goes on to say that “whatever you believe is creating the emotions that you experience” and to “be impeccable with your word”. Furthermore “to be impeccable with your word, means to never use the power of the word against yourself…your happiness is up to you and how you use the word”.
I was discussing the power of words and language with a client the other day and we chatted about how simple phrases can help us reframe our perspective and the stories we are telling ourselves.
Examples include:
Incorporating “yet” at the end of sentences to encourage a growth mindset
Saying “Even though” to validate your experience and also allow for expansion. Ex) Even though I’m feeling uncomfortable I’m grateful that I’m healthy and that my baby is growing.
Try replacing “ever” and “always” with “up until now”. Instead of “I’ve never earned that much”, say “up until now, I’ve settled for less than I am worth”. From the Decision Umbrella deck by my friend Holly.
Finally, that brings us to the intention setting.
Setting intentions is a practice that I utilize regularly. Before going into a situation, I try to think about how I want to feel, and what my reasoning for doing the thing is. How do I want to show up? What’s the energy that I want to bring?
Taking one minute to set my intention for the upcoming period or moment serves to ground me in the most important work of all—being in and experiencing the present.
After I realized that I was spinning out about the birth of my baby, I took the time to set an intention for how I wanted to feel during the next few months.
The word that came through was SAVOR. ☀️
I want to savor this precious time when our baby is in my body.
I want to savor this experience of pregnancy.
I want to savor this special time with my husband.
I want to enjoy this process.
Now it’s easy to set an intention but it’s hard to put into practice, therefore my commitments to myself are to:
Spend time each morning in gratitude
Place sticky notes around my house with “savor” on them
Journal at the beginning of each day on “what can I get excited about today?” and at the end of each day on “what brought me joy today?”
I hope this serves you. My invitation is to think of an intention for the upcoming month, week or day. See how it shifts your perspective.
Go out and be awesome. You’ve got this.
🫶🏽
Sensi
If you’re interested in learning more about this work, I’m continuing to take clients through the end of June.