Our words and thoughts matter in how we perceive ourselves and how we behave. They matter all the way down to a subatomic level. It even matters to other people and our relationships. Words matter so much that our choices in how we use them can have an incredible impact on the generations that follow us. So if you're wondering if a negative perception, bad habits, and patterns of unhealthy behavior have the potential to impact your friends and family, including kids, now or in the future--the answer is a resounding yes.

When I was in high school, I loved learning about psychology. I took a few classes, read a bunch of books, and almost studied it in college. Most of everything I learned, I quickly embraced and tried to put into practice. I'm sure I even tried to psychoanalyze my family and doled out unsolicited psychological advice to anyone who bothered to listen. But there was one thing I balked at and never really gave the time of day--the notion of self-affirmation.

If you are a bit older, you might remember the 1990s Saturday Night Live skit, Daily Affirmations with Stuart Smalley (if you're too young, you can find it on YouTube. You won't be disappointed). The skit featured comedian and satirist Al Franken. Stuart, played by Franken, was famous for his gaze in a mirror and repeating the phrase, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me." So just imagine learning about the idea of self-affirmation while Stuart Smalley was gaining in popularity.

But it turns out Stuart might have been on to something.

You and I were actually created to be our own kind of brain surgeon.

We have already been pre-wired to make the necessary changes to our minds. Author and cognitive neuroscience expert Dr. Caroline Leaf put it this way: "Through our thoughts, we can be our own microsurgeons as we make choices that will change the circuits in our brains. We are designed to do our own brain surgery and rewire our brains by thinking and by choosing to renew our minds."

This is otherwise known as neuroplasticity--the science behind how our brain changes itself from mental activity.
This is precisely what Stuart Smalley was doing. He was creating a narrative of positive affirmation to train his brain to think differently, therefore behaving differently.
While the science may sound confusing, it's really very simple. What we think impacts how we behave. The good news is that no matter your predisposition to any number of harmful behaviors and habits, those predispositions don't have to become your destiny.
Your brain has the capacity and energy to do the work of changing how you think and live--all the way down to a molecular level.

I know, the idea of looking into the mirror and saying positive things about yourself sounds weird and feels even weirder. But you simply can’t ignore the science. It creates the right conditions for your mind to do its own internal brain surgery.

So today, go in the bathroom, close the door and look in the mirror and consider how you see yourself. What’s one positive thing you can say to yourself right now? Go!