By Christine Darg,
Jerusalem Channel
Cardiologist Afshine Emrani recently shared wisdom concerning our words, and how words shape our mood and ultimately our health.
A patient came to Dr. Emrani complaining, and as he listened to her speak— 11 times she uttered the phrase “I can’t seem to…” “I can’t seem to focus.” “I can’t seem to remember.” “I can’t seem to feel like myself,” etc.
She was not describing her condition. She was prescribing it.
Dr. Emrani wrote, “A single negative utterance lands with a weight that a dozen affirmations cannot counterbalance.”
Autoimmunity is a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy cells, tissues and organs, rather than protecting against foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria.
Think of negativity, Dr. Emrani suggested, as verbal auto-immunity: self attacking the self through our words. He observed that the patient who says “I’m falling apart” is in effect issuing a command. The body can’t distinguish metaphor from instruction, so begins to comply.
In short, we can become fluent in our own destruction.
What, then, can be done to change this pattern?
First, make a deliberate effort to notice words and expressions that habitually tumble out of our mouths.
Second—and this is harder— catch destructive utterance before it crosses from thought into speech. When a negative thought is denied its usual pathway, it begins to loosen its grip.
“Unfired, the neural circuit weakens,” wrote Dr. Emrani. “Starved of repetition, negativity begins to atrophy. You see, silence is not empty. It’s a form of editing.”
A patient recovering from a stroke told Dr. Emrani he felt he’d been given a second chance—not just to communicate, but to choose his words wisely. He realized he’d spoken carelessly all his life. But through affliction he’d stumbled upon an ancient truth expressed in one of my favorite verses, Proverbs 18: 21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” This verse affirms that our words have immense power to create positive or destructive outcomes, to bring blessings or curses, healing or harm.
Ultimately we experience the consequences of our speech.
So let’s learn to treat our words like medicine. Some words heal. Others poison.
In fact, the Harvard Medical School’s Journal of Psychosomatic Research recently described how verbal suggestions and negative narratives impact our immune function. The journal also affirmed that words and mindset matter biologically.
Shifting from negative self-narratives like “I’m always tired” to positive ones (such as “I’m resting and recovering”) can help support better health. It’s not magic, of course, and severe issues still require special attention.
But if you’re the type of person to constantly repeat “I feel bad,” “I’m exhausted,” or “I’m old,” science is now describing that speech as “neuro-biological programming!”
You see—our cells don’t have ears, but they have chemical receptors that pick up every signal sent by our brain.
If we speak lack or disease, we’re sending a direct order to our system. And our bodies are simply wired to obey our voice.
Just as positive thinking can heal, constant negative affirmations release an immediate cascade of stress hormones that work against our immune shield.
Negative language is, in practice, a self-administered poison that withers vitality from within. The Harvard article confirmed the notion that normalizing phrases of defeat or weakness trains your nervous system to operate in a state of constant survival.
Ignoring the power of negative words is why so many medical treatments fail. But the Harvard journal also affirmed that we can rewire our biological response by changing our narratives.
This’s why it’s vital to speak the Word of God constantly to initiate cellular repair functions.
Research from Harvard University confirmed that using constructive language improves mood, optimizes heart rate and strengthens inflammatory response.
So, to summarize, how do we reprogram ourselves?
First of all, the research says, identify the poison: become aware of your speech habits like saying “this is killing me.” For example, I refuse to buy any food or drink in the grocery store packaged with the word “death,” like restaurants serving “death by chocolate” deserts.
Next, change phrases like “I feel terrible” to something like, “my body is working on healing and repairing itself!”
Amazingly, research has labeled something called the Wake-Up Window: your first words of the day program your morning chemistry!
So as you open your eyes, avoid complaining which can shoot a spike of unnecessary stress hormone.
Upon awakening, a practicing Jew is taught immediately to offer a prayer of thanks expressing gratitude to God, affirming faith in a new day.
Also surround yourself with people that add vitality, because research shows that even negative words of others can affect your internal chemistry.
And stop saying “it runs in the family!” The Lord has given us authority and power to break generational curses.
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