{"id":2799,"date":"2026-03-28T10:53:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T15:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/?p=2799"},"modified":"2026-03-28T10:54:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T15:54:01","slug":"the-power-of-your-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/28\/the-power-of-your-words\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Your Words"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When I was 19 years old, one conversation changed the direction of my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was a college sophomore studying TV broadcasting, dreaming of becoming a morning show anchor. (Think Jane Pauley and Joan Lunden\u2014I wanted to be just like them!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At a choir party, I met a man named Cal Thomas, a well-known journalist who had worked nationally with NBC News. During our conversation, I shared my dream\u2014not just to be on TV, but to make a positive impact and reflect my faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He gave me advice I never expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He suggested I change my major from broadcasting to political science or history\u2014because, in his words, the real influence comes from the writers, not the people in front of the camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And just like that\u2026 I did it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I changed my major to political science and kept speech as a minor. That one decision led me to internships on Capitol Hill and opened doors I never would have imagined. Eventually, my path took me into interior design and professional speaking\u2014far from the morning shows I once envisioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All because of a few words spoken in a casual conversation\u2014words he probably doesn\u2019t even remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-pale-pink-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-pale-pink-background-color has-background is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Words Matter More Than We Think<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>That memory came back to me recently, and it reminded me just how powerful our words really are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every single day, we have the opportunity to influence, encourage, and even redirect someone\u2019s life\u2014with something as simple as what we say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So before we speak, here are a few gentle questions to guide us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is it true?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Are we sharing facts, or just opinions dressed up as facts? A small shift in wording can make a big difference in clarity and kindness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is it helpful?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if something is true, is it useful in the moment? Our words should support, not stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Does it build up and expand someone\u2019s vision?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is one of my favorites. How often do we have the chance to lift someone higher\u2014and instead, say nothing? Let\u2019s be people who call out potential and inspire bigger dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can I offer encouragement?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Encouragement is surprisingly rare, and <em>incredibly<\/em> powerful. A kind word can change the entire tone of someone\u2019s day (or even their life).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-pale-pink-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-pale-pink-background-color has-background is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>And One More\u2014The Most Important One<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What am I saying to myself?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The words we speak to ourselves matter just as much, if not <strong>more<\/strong> than what we speak to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you telling yourself the truth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you building yourself up?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you speaking life, hope, and possibility over your own story?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-pale-pink-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-pale-pink-background-color has-background is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>You have more influence than you realize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So today, why not use your words to make a difference\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>in someone else\u2019s life\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2026and in your own. \ud83d\udc9b<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-pale-pink-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-pale-pink-background-color has-background is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New to The Best-Life Project?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Please read these foundational posts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/14\/best-life-dream-story\/\">Best Life Dream Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/18\/best-life-definition\/\">Best-Life Definition<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read More from This Author:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/author\/christy-largent\/\">Christy Largent<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ChristyCruisePic-6-x-8-in-790x1024.jpg\" alt=\"beautiful grey haired woman\" class=\"wp-image-2426\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7714961470969711;width:179px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ChristyCruisePic-6-x-8-in-790x1024.jpg 790w, https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ChristyCruisePic-6-x-8-in-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ChristyCruisePic-6-x-8-in-768x995.jpg 768w, https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ChristyCruisePic-6-x-8-in-1185x1536.jpg 1185w, https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ChristyCruisePic-6-x-8-in-300x389.jpg 300w, https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ChristyCruisePic-6-x-8-in-850x1101.jpg 850w, https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ChristyCruisePic-6-x-8-in.jpg 1315w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy Largent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Christy Largent<\/strong>&nbsp;is a motivational speaker, painter, and joy enthusiast based in Texas. After decades as an interior designer and professional speaker, she\u2019s now inspiring women everywhere to embrace their Empty Nest years as a fresh season of discovery. Through her art, writing, and storytelling, Christy encourages others to live with purpose, laughter, and faith\u2014because joy truly is&nbsp;<em>made visible.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow her at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/chatgpt.com\/c\/68ef0918-93c4-8327-b1de-a0b1f80dbb56#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ChristyLargent.com<\/a>&nbsp;or on Instagram&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/christylargent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@ChristyLargent<\/a>&nbsp;for a daily dose of color, creativity, and encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When I was 19 years old, one conversation changed the direction of my life. I was a college sophomore studying TV broadcasting, dreaming of becoming a morning show anchor. (Think Jane Pauley and Joan Lunden\u2014I wanted to be just like them!) At a choir party, I met a man named Cal Thomas, a well-known journalist&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":2802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[342],"class_list":["post-2799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-relationships","tag-encouragement"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2799"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2803,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2799\/revisions\/2803"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}