What That Mouth Do?

Here are some interesting facts about the mouth:

• The average person in western civilization eats up to 50 tons of food and drink 11,000 gallons of liquid during their lifetime.
• It takes food an average of seven seconds to go from the mouth to the stomach
• A sneeze zooms out of your mouth at over 100 mph
• The mouth contains various objects such as your teeth, uvula (the dangling thing at the back of your throat) and the palate (roof of the mouth)
• Three pairs of salivary glands are in your mouth.  They are responsible for putting saliva in your mouth.  That helps to lubricate your food, as well as contain the enzymes that break down your food before they get to your stomach.
• Humans have unique tongue prints, just like we all have different fingerprints.
• Relative to its size, the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body, and it is also the only muscle that is attached on only one end.    (source: softschools.com) 

Now I know quite a few of my peers saw the original subject and their minds possibly went to a certain place.  I may even get a few raised eyebrows by even the very thought of it, but hey, I'm grown! As amazing as some good ol' fashioned "WTMD" is, I want to concentrate on the opposite end of the spectrum and concentrate more on what I have determined is the the ultimate weapon of mass destruction....Our words

If we all knew how powerful our words were, we would be more careful and selective in what we would allow to escape our mouths.  I am quite sure many of us have fallen victim to some of the most cruel words in the human language.  I know I have.  Growing up, I was always picked on for being the skinny kid with the big head.  The kids in school said the only reason I was smart was because I had extra room in the back of my head for my brain.  

In a book entitled "Words Can Change Your Brain" (written by Dr. Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman), they write the following:

"A single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress."

They say that positive words, such as "peace" and "love" can alter the expression of genes, strengthening areas in our frontal lobes and promoting the brain's cognitive functioning.  However, hostile language can disrupt specific genes that play a key part in the production of neurochemicals that protect us from stress.  We as humans are hardwired to worry because an integral part of our brain's function is to protect us from any threat to our survival.

However, a single negative word can increase the activity in our amygdala (the fear center of the brain). This releases dozens of stress-producing hormones and neurotransmitters, which in turn interrupt our brain's functioning.  Newberg and Waldman further writes that "Angry words send alarm messages through the brain, and they partially shut down the logic-and-reasoning centers located in the frontal lobes."

Below is what they contend as to how using the right words can transform our reality...

"By holding a positive and optimistic [word] in your mind, you stimulate frontal lobe activity.  This area includes specific language centers that connect directly to the motor cortex responsible for moving you into action.  And as our research has shown, the longer you concentrate on positive words, the more you begin to affect other areas of the brain. Functions in the parietal lobe start to change, which changes your perception of yourself and the people you interact with.   

A positive view of yourself will bias you toward seeing the good in others, whereas a negative self-image will include you toward suspicion and doubt.  Over time the structure of your thalamus will also change in response to your conscious words, thoughts and feelings, and we believe that the thalamic changes affect the way in which you perceive reality."

(Source: psychcentral.com)

So for those who didn't feel like reading everything above (lol), here is a brief synopsis of what we have learned so far...

• Relative to its size, the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body
• Humans have unique tongue prints, just like we have different fingerprints.
• One single word has the power to influence the genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.
• How you view yourself is reflected in the way you look at and treat others

The reason why so many of us are stressed out and miserable is because of the words that we choose to focus on.  In the world of social media, it is quite common to see some of the most venomous interactions between people.  In our own personal lives, we have the tendency to beat our inner man/woman down, versus encouraging and lifting ourselves up.  It's powerful how just ONE WORD is able to dictate your entire mood and focus.  ONE WORD...just let that sink in a little.

How are you using your words?  What are your conversations like with other people?  Are you an expert at building people up?  Or are you an absolute wizard at tearing them down?  The reason why many people have the ability to tear people down so easily is because they themselves are so miserable within.  The kids who picked on my big head and skinny body were trying to mask their own insufficiencies and chose to focus on what they saw as shortcomings. 

Let us be more mindful of the words that we allow to escape our lips.  The attempt of taking back our words is just as hard and meaningless as trying to put toothpaste back in its original tube.  

Our ultimate healing will happen within ourselves.  If it seems like nothing is going right, you may have to look at how you view yourself.  We are all at an age where what anyone thinks about us should be the furthest thing we should be concerned about.  Walk in front of the mirror and just speak positive things into your own life.  

You are smart...you are beautiful...there is nobody on this earth who can be you better than you can...You will be successful...You are a walking and breathing millionaire...You don't have to be second-place to anyone or anything...

You've got this...just keep speaking it!