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“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” -Rudyard Kipling
“Words are like eggs dropped from great heights; you can no more call them back than ignore the mess they leave when they fall.” -Jody Picoult
“The tongue has no bones, but it can break a heart.” -VFW Auxiliary National
“Words have power. They can build people up or tear them down.” — UnknownWords are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic.” -Albus Dumbledore (J.K. Rowling)
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Let me start by saying that I am a firm believer that words are powerful.
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Words can have negative effects.
Normal people often start believing things just from being told them repeatedly, a phenomenon called the Illusory Truth Effect where repetition makes statements feel more familiar and thus more true, even if they’re false, and this can be exploited in propaganda and advertising. While some people might be skeptical or look for evidence, the effect shows familiarity can override logic, leading to increased belief, especially with consistent messaging.
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How it Works (The Illusory Truth Effect)
- Familiarity = Truth: Our brains use ease of processing (fluency) as a shortcut for truth; if something is easy to recall (because you’ve heard it many times), it feels more correct.
- Repetition Increases Belief: Even just hearing a statement a couple of times can boost its perceived truthfulness.
- Overrides Prior Knowledge: This effect can even convince people of falsehoods they initially knew to be wrong.
Examples & Applications:
- Political Propaganda: Spreading simple, catchy, false slogans.
- Advertising: Repetitive marketing claims create familiarity that can lead to belief.
- Cultural Misconceptions: Beliefs like “we only use 10% of our brains” persist due to repetition.
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Factors Influencing Belief
- Source Credibility: While repetition works, a suspect source might trigger skepticism.
- Prior Knowledge: People with existing knowledge may resist more, but can still be swayed.
- Cognitive Shortcuts: It’s easier to accept familiar information than to actively fact-check everything.
In essence, constant exposure can make a lie feel like a fact, demonstrating a powerful psychological bias that affects all ages.
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Words and truth can have positive effects.
Carefully selected words can represent positive actions or feelings.
Over the last few years, it has become very fashionable to pick out an operative word for the year to guide positive benefits.
For instance, my word of the year two years ago was SIMPLIFY. I made the decision two years ago that I wanted to simplify my financial life, and my personal life, for that matter. I started the process several years ago, as outlined in the podcast titled SHOULD YOU CONSOLIDATE ACCOUNTS? I guess it’s also noteworthy that this podcast about simplifying finances was launched in November of last year, even though SIMPLIFY was my word of the year two years ago. Obviously, my 2024 word of the year should have been two words. Instead of SIMPLIFY it should have been DON’T PROCRASTINATE (See: WHY NOT NOW?).
My account consolidation had been ongoing for the last few years, and I wanted to complete it in calendar year 2024. Most of the consolidation was completed in 2024, with the last big push coming in 2025. I had one single stock issue that needed to be retitled and was only transferred into my brokerage account in early 2026. So, there are small things that are still ongoing and could be considered under the general consolidation umbrella.
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My word for the year 2026 is DIFFERENT.
Why did I choose that word?
Once the initial hurdles of retirement are completed, life seems to take on a more measured approach. That can be very good, or very bad! It’s easy to fall into the trap of complacency! It’s very easy to establish a routine and follow that routine daily. A routine can easily become a rut, and a rut is a coffin with the ends kicked out! This year I chose the word different because I wanted to fight the urge to become complacent.
Having a routine and following that routine daily is very comfortable. Doing, and trying new things is uncomfortable. Most humans seek comfort, not discomfort. It is in our nature to seek and follow the safest and easiest path. But, the easiest path is also the path that leads to complacency.
This year I’ve decided to choose the path less traveled. Read EXPLORING HAPPINESS ON THE LESS TRAVELED ROAD for more information on this topic. It would be easier to take the more popular and more traveled path of my established routine. I would find it easy to let each day unfold the same as the previous days. But this year, I will choose the less traveled road with its associated discomfort and increased opportunities for growth.
Readers and listeners need to understand that I have chosen this word and path this year because I want to be a little uncomfortable. I am hoping this discomfort will help me grow. It is not because I am unhappy or disenchanted with my life. I am extremely grateful for my wife, family, and life position.
When I began the blog and podcast, it was an extremely uncomfortable choice. Blogging and podcasting required that I learn new technology. I had to sharpen my speaking and writing skills, develop a website, and push myself to be more outgoing.
I want my life to be like a football game where it’s first down and I’m on the 3-yard line. It is a game of inches, not yards! First and three yards to a touchdown is a happy place to be! Making a touchdown is the ultimate goal!
I am not unhappy, but I am trying to achieve a higher level of happiness. I don’t want to stay on the 3-yard line. I want to get to the end zone!
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Why Do I Want to Challenge Myself This Year?
Engaging in different or challenging behaviors, particularly those that are positive, healthy, and goal-oriented, can yield significant benefits. These benefits can include physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive health benefits. These behaviors foster personal growth and resilience.
Physical Health Benefits
- Reduced Risk of Chronic Disease: Adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding harmful substances (tobacco, excessive alcohol) can significantly lower the risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and type II diabetes.
- Improved Physical Function: Physical challenges and activities can improve strength, flexibility, cardiovascular health, and mobility, which is particularly beneficial for active aging and reducing the risk of falls.
- Enhanced Immune Function: Social connections and engagement, often a component of new activities, can strengthen the immune system and help the body recover from illness faster.
Mental and Emotional Health Benefits
- Reduced Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Engaging in new or meaningful activities, especially with others, can boost mood, release endorphins, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by combating feelings of isolation and providing emotional support.
- Increased Self-Efficacy and Self-Esteem: Successfully navigating new or challenging situations builds a belief in one’s ability to achieve goals, leading to higher self-esteem and a greater sense of purpose.
- Greater Psychological Flexibility: Being open to and accepting of emotional experiences that come with challenges allows individuals to pursue a rich, meaningful life rather than being narrowly focused on regulating emotions.
Cognitive Health Benefits
- Slower Cognitive Decline: Mentally challenging activities such as puzzles, learning new hobbies, or joining discussion groups stimulate brain activity and strengthen neural pathways, helping to maintain memory, problem-solving skills, and overall mental agility as we age.
- Improved Memory and Processing Speed: Regular participation in intellectually engaging activities and social interaction is associated with better working memory, processing speed, and verbal fluency.
- Builds Cognitive Reserve: Continuous learning and taking on new challenges, regardless of age, can help build cognitive reserve, which may reduce or prevent age-related cognitive decline.
Social Benefits
- Stronger Social Connections: Engaging in new or group activities helps build support systems and a sense of belonging, which is critical for emotional resilience and overall well-being.
- Positive Influence: Being part of a social circle with healthy habits increases the likelihood of adopting those same behaviors, such as exercising or eating healthier.
In the past, embracing new and challenging behaviors has increased my feelings of well-being and fostered a more vibrant life.
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What’s My Plan?
Have I decided to climb Mount Everest this year? This would definitely be a noble challenge and worth pursuing! For someone who resides at about 35 feet above sea level, climbing Mount Everest would be dangerous. The elevation of Mount Everest is 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet) above sea level, jointly announced by Nepal and China in December 2020.
And, there’s the problem! Making yourself uncomfortable and tackling challenging situations doesn’t mean putting yourself at risk physically or mentally. The concept of “Knowing Oneself” dictates that each person be aware of their limitations and plan accordingly.
I am not saying that I would never climb Mount Everest. I am unwilling to accept the mental and physical preparation that it would require. I know that it is possible to summit Mount Everest at 73 years old. The oldest man to Summit Mount Everest was over 80 years old. At this point, summiting Mount Everest is far, far down on my to-do list.
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Where Am I Focusing My Attention This Year?
This year I want to try new hobbies. I use the term new hobbies generally because some hobbies are not new. I now consider re-engaging in them to be new hobbies. I want to begin playing tennis again. I want to start playing pickleball. I want to become more proficient in Spanish. My wife and I are talking about restarting piano lessons. I want to try at least one new restaurant each month. The city we live in has many great multicultural restaurants. This year I want to work on being more grateful, more gracious, and kinder. I want to try to listen more and speak less. I want to slow down and “be in the moment” more often.
The word that you choose is only a placeholder or reminder. Write the word down and place it somewhere prominent. Make it part of your daily reflection.
When I get up each morning and think about what I am grateful for that day, I think about how I can make this day DIFFERENT.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. Think of small ways to make a difference. Start tomorrow. You have a whole lifetime.
Words do have power! But, words are only words if they don’t become action, conviction, and commitment.
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Final Thoughts
This year started with a bang!
My wife and I recently purchased a new piano to replace the one we sold several moves ago. We will begin piano lessons again.
Those who are faithful readers and listeners realize I have a “Do It Yourself” mentality. Before listing our second home, I touched up, patched up, and repainted. These are skills I learned many years ago working with an uncle who was a commercial painter.
Even though homes in the area of our second home sell very quickly, I have taken a different approach and placed the home with a realtor. Using this different approach will give me more free time, and fewer headaches. I have done several real estate leases and sales without the aid of a realtor. DIFFERENT means that this time I engaged a realtor.
Recently, I was asked to manage a local dental office. For this request, I used a DIFFERENT approach and decided to decline the contract. It was a hard decision. It is hard to decline an offer to help when you can……..
In retrospect, I am glad I made that decision. Later I learned that what was supposed to be a two-week engagement would have turned into several months. The practitioner was ill and unable to return to his practice. What this ultimately meant was that my short contract would have turned into a contract spanning several months.
There are other things that I hope to approach differently in the coming year.
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