Journal of Sacred Work

Days 85-89 – The World’s Most Harmful Word

Triple sun triple sails -erie (3)   And it is only two letters long. The word is "No."

   In Psychology Today, physician Andrew Newburg, M.D. & Mark Waldman offer scientific proof that negative thinking impacts our brain chemistry & thus harms mental & physical health.

   A high powered fMRI scanner tracked brain changes in response to the "No" word. The moment "No" was flashed before a subject there was "a sudden release of dozens of stress-producing hormones & neurotransmitters. These chemicals immediately interrupt the normal functioning of your brain, impairing logic, reason, language processing, and communication."

   Imagine the impact of this understanding on the way caregivers care & leaders lead! Since words affect a patient's health & a caregiver's energy then caregivers & the people who lead them must be trained in the right way to use them to promote both health & energy.

     The antidote for the toxins generated within us by "No" is "Yes." But, negativity is such a natural inclination that it takes a lot of positivity to overcome it. The scientific formula is five parts positive energy to offset one dose of negative energy.

   If you perceive the surreal image of a triple sun above three phantom sails as a calming image you have a start at counteracting negative thoughts.

   Yes & No are ways of thinking. "Yes" opens the door that "No" has closed. "Yes" creates the possibilities that "No" has cancelled.

   Could a dose of positivity be as helpful as 5mg of Valium for a patient or 100mg of caffeine for a caregiver? Perhaps skeptical caregivers & leaders should look at the new scientific evidence.

   "Yes" is love. "No" is fear. 

-Erie Chapman 

Surrealist image by erie

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6 responses to “Days 85-89 – The World’s Most Harmful Word”

  1. Terry Chapman Avatar
    Terry Chapman

    Provoking idea, which is inherently true. Negativity breeds negativity; positivity breeds more positivity! This is almost a koan since one’s mind tends to fluxuate between these two poles of existence. No is often what a young person is told in growing up to adult realities; but as in today’s world, when our young feel so threatened–they are rising up shouting a very loud, very determined YES!

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  2. Todd Meador Avatar
    Todd Meador

    Thank you for sharing Erie. I am interested in learning more about how the brain reacts to stimuli in the “real” world.
    I bet we are not too far off from having our brains being monitored from our Fitbit or cell phone if we so desired.

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  3. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    The image that you created, Erie is exquisite, golden symbols; three suns and companioning sails remind me of the Holy Trinity. What comes to mind is the polarities that are in yes and no but a Trinity is the capacity to hold a both and… the coming together of two halves that is trans-formative, healing and wholeness.
    And perhaps, this is what forgiveness offers a space for holding opposing forces until hard held positions soften in acceptance, where otherness melts into our common good.
    I really relate your reflection today because I received an e-mail last week from a colleague that I perceived as parental and judging. This is a person who tends to shoot from the hip. A person with a good heart but reacts. I was insulted by the tone and felt so discounted. I felt angry and wanted to respond in kind…but I refrained, I lost sleep over it that night but just sat with it and asked for Love’s guidance. I doubt this person is aware of the damage of their words but I would like to communicate further when the time comes, not from an angry no but from a Loving yes. Not quite there yet but I recognize that if I lash out at this person then I am hurting myself as well. I did respond to the email in a thoughtful, discerning manner while maintaining my integrity. I am so much more at peace for taking time to respond rather than react out of fear.
    Thank you for today’s catalyst for my little personal Epiphany!

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  4. Chapman Health International Avatar
    Chapman Health International

    This is such a beautiful comment, Liz, and I am so appreciative to you. I love your picking up the power of the trinity in this with its transcendent ability to suggest “both/and”.
    Compliments to you for the way you handled the difficult encounter!

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  5. Chapman Health International Avatar
    Chapman Health International

    Yes. As I mentioned in my FB comment to you, you are RIGHT! We are stunningly close to increasing infringements on what we think of as our independence and privacy.

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  6. Chapman Health International Avatar
    Chapman Health International

    Yes, Terry, Yes. And I so hope you are right about our young rising up to shout that most positive of words.

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