“The use of the right word, the exact word, is the difference between a pencil with a sharp point and a thick crayon.” -Peter Marshall

Let’s step back to high school, specifically to physics class. You might remember two important concepts we learned: potential energy (stored energy) and kinetic energy (energy in motion). A glass of water on a kitchen counter has potential energy because it took effort to put it there. If it falls, that potential energy would convert into kinetic energy as it would shatter. Choosing empowering language works in much the same way. Words store emotional energy, and when released, they shape how we think, how we feel, and what we do.

Language is no different. Words have potential energy within them, and they release that energy as kinetic emotion. The words we choose can either be empowering or defeating. Choosing language that matters may be one of the most overlooked, yet powerful, life skills.

Have you ever gone berry picking? I enjoy visiting U-pick farms during summer because there’s something primitively satisfying about eating what you’ve gathered—something our hunter-gatherer ancestors did, and we’re now far too removed from. So what can berry picking teach us?

Just as food stores energy that our bodies convert through digestion, our brains transform language into energy as emotions. Words are emotional fuel. If we can pick our own berries, we can definitely go hunting for our own words.

When exploring our brain’s structure and how it functions, many studies show how it evolved for survival. For instance, a nearly universal human trait is fear of snakes. That response offered an evolutionary edge. It makes sense that language, too, evolved as a survival tool. In fact, it probably was our biggest advantage over other Homo species roaming the world. The ability to communicate threats, risks, and all sorts of potential dangers became critical to survive.

Language became an emotional amplifier of sorts. Over time, words captured intentional energy. The right words could trigger quick reactions—just like empowering words can activate reflection, resilience, and resolve today.

Thankfully, we’re no longer facing saber-toothed tigers or mammoth-hunting dangers. The challenges we face today require a different kind of language—and we need to rethink the way we use it. The tricky part is, evolutionarily speaking, it’s still easier to imagine, feel, and express ourselves negatively than constructively.

How we choose to label an experience and tell ourselves a narrative shapes how we react to it. The words we choose can give us the grit we need to move past obstacles. Imagine making a setback at home or work. What words would you use to describe that moment? Was it disastrous or was it revealing? Could the right words turn it into a learning opportunity? Our deepest fears often begin in the stories we tell ourselves. The antidote? A ritual of empowering language.

Learning happens at the intersection of discomfort, action, and interpretation. The words we choose either help us grow, or leave us stuck in helplessness.

We live in an age of abundance and opportunity. But to cross the emotional hurdles, we need to ritualize using language that energizes us—choosing language that strengthens our attitudes and emotions, rather than drain them.

This doesn’t mean ignoring economic risks or pretending every experience is pleasant. It means acknowledging that our challenges exist in a world where we can now choose how we describe them. While we’re no longer roaming in the savanna, we still need to channel the appropriate narratives, reframing the way we interpret our personal challenges in a more constructive direction.

So, here’s a practical reflection:

• Think of your last difficult experience.
• What words shape that narrative?
• What emotions did they carry?
• Could you reframe that event using empowering language?

Pain + positive mindset = drive. Anxiety + optimism = anticipation. Loss + reflection = growth.

Words alone aren’t magic—but they carry momentum. By choosing the right words, we can shape how we see ourselves and propel us toward who we can become. Fuel your experiences with the language it deserves. Not all experiences are positive, but there are always hidden lessons in them.

So pick the words that carry the energy you need. Because choosing empowering language is your best ally, strategy, and tool to help us shift from reaction to intention, from hesitation to confidence, and from feeling drained to feeling empowered.