The Power of Words

I never really understood the power of “I am.” Maybe my mom tried to explain it once, but I didn’t pay attention or just couldn’t understand back then. I remember her saying, “Don’t call yourself dumb, or your brain will believe it.” I thought to myself, “It’s not serious; I know I’m not dumb.”

I kept acting like it didn’t matter, thinking it was all just a game. I didn’t realize how much words really meant—how important they were. Then, for theater class, we got to choose a character to play, and I decided to be a queen. I spent hours learning my lines. Inside, I felt ready for the stage, but the closer the performance got, the more nervous and scared I became.

A few days before the show, I caught myself saying things like, “I can’t do this” and “I’m going to forget my lines.” The day before the performance, I went to my teacher and said, “Why am I doing this if I’ve never acted before? I’m not even that good…”

She stayed quiet for a moment, then finally said, “From what you’re saying, it sounds like you don’t really want to do this anymore. By saying you’re not good, you’re already hurting your chances of doing well on stage.”

I was confused. “What do you mean?” I asked.

She smiled. “What character are you playing?” she asked.

“A queen,” I said.

“Yes, that’s the role you chose. But the words you’ve been using are building something else too. Now you’re not just a queen. You’ve become a queen who doesn’t believe in herself, a queen who’s scared to be on stage because she thinks she’s not good enough. You’re using the power of words, but in a way that’s hurting you. Imagine if, instead, you said, ‘I can do this. I am a great actress, and I will remember my lines. I will surprise everyone with my performance!’ When you believe you’ll fail, you probably will. But if you believe you’ll succeed, you’re already closer to success.”

Her words made me think. Deep down, I really did want to perform, so I decided to take her advice. I started using the power of words to build myself up. I went to sleep thinking like a queen, ready to rule the stage.

The next day, when I stepped onto the stage, I realized something. I was more than just my costume. The words I used had built who I was. I told myself, I AM an excellent actress. I AM capable of remembering my lines.

With the power of words, I wasn’t just pretending to be a queen—I was an excellent actress, full of confidence. Everyone was amazed, including me! By choosing my words wisely, I became what I wanted to be. Words helped me create my reality.

Challenge: Use the Power of words! Write down three things you want to become, decorate your paper with your own magic, and keep it next to your bed to remind you of the incredible things you can achieve and become.