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Feb 13 in General discussion
Chose your words carefully!
I am sure you heard the phrase: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
A study published in 2020 shows that words have the power to influence our lives and our well-being, well beyond their immediate meaning.
According to the study, people who possess a broader range of positive words associated with emotions tend to have a much better mental health.
Those who naturally use words like Optimistic, Hopeful, Grateful, Inspired, Cheerful are also likely to be in better physical health.
The inclusion of a broader range of positive emotion terms was also evident in personality traits: using cheerful vocabulary was associated with higher levels of extroversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.
On the other hand, individuals who possess a broader vocabulary of negative emotions tend to exhibit increased levels of neuroticism and depression. Moreover, they are more inclined to experience poorer physical health.
Dr. Vera Vine, the study’s first author, said:
“Our language seems to indicate our expertise with states of emotion we are more comfortable with.
It looks like there’s a congruency between how many different ways we can name a feeling and how often and likely we are to experience that feeling.”
The study was the result of stream-of-consciousness essays written by 1,567 students and an analysis of over 35,000 public blogs.
TIn short, the language people use is directly reflected in their mental state.
Those who used more words for sadness grew sadder, and people who talked about fear became more fearful.
People using many different words for positive emotions, though, tended to show more linguistic markers of mental well-being.
They talked about achievements, leisure activities, and being part of a group.
Dr. Vine said:
“There’s a lot of excitement right now about expanding people’s emotional vocabularies and teaching how to precisely articulate negative feelings.
While we often hear the phrase, ‘name it to tame it’ when referring to negative emotions, I hope this paper can inspire clinical researchers who are developing emotion-labeling interventions for clinical practice, to study the potential pitfalls of encouraging over-labeling of negative emotions, and the potential utility of teaching positive words.”
The study shows how language is crucial to our daily life. It's not just about talking to others, but also about expressing our feelings to ourselves.
Professor James W. Pennebaker, study co-author, said:
“It is likely that people who have had more upsetting life experiences have developed richer negative emotion vocabularies to describe the worlds around them.
In everyday life, these same people can more readily label nuanced feelings as negative which may ultimately affect their moods.”
To make it even easier for you, I've put together a list of 100 positive words that you can start using right now
1. Joyful
2. Happy
3. Content
4. Blissful
5. Optimistic
6. Hopeful
7. Grateful
8. Inspired
9. Cheerful
10. Ecstatic
11. Excited
12. Enthusiastic
13. Satisfied
14. Relieved
15. Proud
16. Elated
17. Thrilled
18. Uplifted
19. Amused
20. Delighted
21. Serene
22. Peaceful
23. Energized
24. Confident
25. Loving
26. Passionate
27. Charmed
28. Refreshed
29. Rejuvenated
30. Fulfilled
31. Radiant
32. Jubilant
33. Appreciative
34. Moved
35. Fascinated
36. Intrigued
37. Comforted
38. Hopeful
39. Engaged
40. Affectionate
41. Warm
42. Empowered
43. Free
44. Curious
45. Adventurous
46. Amazed
47. Awe-struck
48. Contented
49. Secure
50. Valued
  1. Animated
  2. Enchanted
  3. Exhilarated
  4. Gracious
  5. Invigorated
  6. Lively
  7. Nurtured
  8. Open-hearted
  9. Peaceful
  10. Refreshed
  11. Spirited
  12. Vibrant
  13. Welcomed
  14. Zestful
  15. Appreciated
  16. Blessed
  17. Calm
  18. Delighted
  19. Eager
  20. Fortunate
  21. Gleeful
  22. Heartened
  23. Inspired
  24. Joyous
  25. Kindled
  26. Light-hearted
  27. Motivated
  28. Optimistic
  29. Playful
  30. Quickened
  31. Relaxed
  32. Stimulated
  33. Thankful
  34. Understood
  35. Vivacious
  36. Wholesome
  37. Exuberant
  38. Yielding
  39. Zealous
  40. Admired
  41. Brave
  42. Compassionate
  43. Daring
  44. Earnest
  45. Flattered
  46. Generous
  47. Humble
  48. Intuitive
  49. Jovial
  50. Keen
Each word reflects a unique shade of positive emotion, from the quiet contentment of feeling secure to the vibrant energy of feeling adventurous.
What should you do now?
  • Add more positive emotion words to your vocabulary
  • Get better at expressing your feelings for improved mental and physical health.
  • Notice how the words you use affect how you feel.
  • Try learning and using different emotion words to feel better overall.
Make sure to use this in your sessions with your clients, or your family and friends :)
4
2 comments
Eugen Popa
4
Chose your words carefully!
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