Introduction
When I was a child, there was a popular saying among kids:
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”
It sounded empowering at the time — but it couldn’t be further from the truth.
The reality is that words can wound deeper than any physical blow, and those wounds often linger quietly for years. The way we speak, think, and believe determines how words and thoughts shape your destiny.
The Hidden Power of Words
Scripture tells us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). That single truth reveals everything we need to know about how words and thoughts shape your destiny.
Words are containers of power — they can either build up or destroy. They plant seeds in the mind and spirit that eventually grow into beliefs, behaviors, and outcomes.
Think about the first time someone told you that you weren’t good enough, smart enough, or talented enough. Those words didn’t just vanish — they echoed inside, often shaping decisions, confidence, and even career paths.
The Pain That Lingers
When I was eight years old, I experienced firsthand how words can wound. My mother said something to me — something that stayed lodged in my heart for decades.
I never discussed this with my mother. And although I forgave her, from time-to-time, those painful words would resurface. And I recall another incident that occurred when I was at the San Francisco International Airport. There was a young lady in her 20s who had two small children. She was attempting to abandon her children in the airport. She yelled at them, “I don’t want you!” She repeatedly tried to walk away and leave them. I contacted security to intervene. Can you imagine the pain and emotional scars those children suffered and may still be suffering today?
I learned something powerful in the process: words spoken in pain can echo in the heart for a lifetime unless intentionally replaced with truth.
That’s how words and thoughts shape your destiny — through repetition and belief. What we hear often enough, we begin to accept as truth, even if it’s a lie.
When Words Become Prophecy
Negative words don’t just affect children. They can destroy marriages, careers, and confidence.
When one partner says, “You’ll never succeed,” or “You’re always messing things up,” those phrases create a destructive pattern that feeds insecurity and resentment. Words become self-fulfilling prophecies.
How words and thoughts shape your destiny begins with what you speak over yourself — and what you allow others to speak into your life.
The Thought Connection
It’s not just words that matter. Thoughts have just as much creative power. The Bible says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).
If you continually think of yourself as a failure, you will find ways to live out that prophecy. The subconscious mind doesn’t argue — it simply acts on what it believes.
That’s why transformation begins by renewing your mind. Your thoughts are the internal dialogue that reinforces how words and thoughts shape your destiny.
A Shift in Self-Talk: Michael’s Transformation
Michael was a successful engineer in his forties — steady career, good income, family man. But beneath the surface, he was running on fumes. Years of stress, long hours, and constant self-criticism had drained his confidence and sense of purpose.
When a major project failed, his inner voice turned harsh:
“You’re slipping.”
“Maybe you’ve peaked.”
“You’re not the man you used to be.”
Those words and thoughts became his constant companions — quiet, destructive whispers shaping his belief about who he was. He didn’t realize that the words and thoughts he repeated daily were programming his future.
One Sunday morning, while watching a sermon online, a single phrase hit him like a wake-up call:
“You can’t speak defeat and expect victory.”
That truth shattered his pattern. He realized his own words and thoughts had been working against him for years. The same voice that tore him down could be trained to lift him up.
That week, he decided to rewrite his internal script. Every morning before work, he stood in the mirror and declared aloud:
“I’m built for challenges.”
“My best years are not behind me — they’re ahead.”
“I am strong, focused, and favored.”
At first, it felt awkward — even fake. But within weeks, he noticed a shift. His energy changed. His confidence returned. He stopped reacting from fear and began leading with faith.
Within months, Michael regained his drive, led his team to record performance, and started mentoring younger men in his company — helping them recognize the power of their own words and thoughts.
His breakthrough didn’t start with a promotion. It started with a declaration — proof that when you master your words and thoughts, you rewrite your destiny.
Faith + Declarations = Transformation
In the Scripture, we have the account of David slaying the giant Goliath. The Scripture says that all of the other soldiers feared Goliath. But David, who was a teenager tending his father’s sheep approached Goliath and took up the challenge to fight Goliath. David didn’t just face Goliath; he spoke to him first.
A modern day example of the power of words and thoughts involves the boxer Muhammad Ali. Ali was scheduled to fight George Foreman. No one, even Ali’s trainer thought that he could beat Foreman. But what did Ali do? He began speaking words of victory and declaring the outcome of the fight. In the face of surmounting odds, Ali didn’t just fight; he declared victory before the bell rang. And the result? Ali knocked Foreman out in the eighth round.
Faith begins when words are spoken. When you declare what you believe before you see it, you’re activating the law of creation. Romans 4:17 says, “Speak those things that are not as though they were.”
So, when you speak words of faith, you’re not denying your current reality — you’re defining your future one word at a time.
Ten Affirmations to Reshape Your Destiny
Here are ten affirmations to say out loud daily — morning and night — to retrain your mind and rewrite your destiny:
- I am fully capable, fully equipped, and unstoppable in pursuit of my purpose.
Today, I move with clarity, courage, and conviction. - Every challenge I face sharpens my strength and expands my wisdom.
What once seemed impossible is now inevitable. - I attract the right people, opportunities, and resources at the right time.
Success is drawn to my discipline, focus, and consistency. - I lead my life with purpose, power, and integrity — nothing less.
My words and actions align with my vision. - I release all fear and self-doubt. I stand tall in my potential and authority.
I am the author of my future and the architect of my destiny. - I am disciplined, decisive, and relentless in building my success.
I execute daily — no excuses, no hesitation. - Wealth, health, and purpose flow easily through me because I am aligned with growth.
I’m not chasing success — I’m embodying it. - Every setback is a setup for a stronger comeback.
I rise every time, wiser and more determined than before. - I am not waiting for the perfect moment — I create it.
Action, focus, and faith are my daily rhythm. - I am becoming the highest version of myself, and nothing can stop that transformation.
Power lives in me — and today, I walk in it.
Write them on sticky notes. Record them in your phone. Speak them when doubt creeps in. This is how words and thoughts shape your destiny — through repetition and conviction.
Creating Your “Blank Page” Moment
Picture your life as a book. Every failure and triumph is written on one page. Now, imagine yourself turning that page to a blank one.
That blank page represents freedom — a chance to write new words and new thoughts into your story.
Forgive yourself. Let go of old narratives. Fill that new page with faith, diligence, and possibility. Because how words and thoughts shape your destiny depends on what you choose to write next.
Why Coaching Accelerates Your Breakthrough
Many people know the power of words but struggle to apply it consistently. That’s where a coach can help bridge the gap between belief and behavior.
In my 12-week “Next Mission: Reclaim Your Life” program, I work with men 35+ to identify the limiting beliefs that have shaped their lives — and replace them with empowering truths.
Through weekly lessons, affirmations, and accountability, clients discover that how words and thoughts shape your destiny isn’t a mystery — it’s a strategy. And once mastered, it transforms everything from relationships to career fulfillment.
If you’re ready to rewrite your life story and speak your destiny into existence, schedule your free strategy call today.
Bringing It All Together
You are not defined by what others have said about you. You are defined by what you believe and what you choose to speak.
So start today.
Speak life.
Think faith.
Turn the page.
Because how words and thoughts shape your destiny begins not with the world around you — but with the words within you.
Need help with reinventing your life, developing unstoppable faith, staying focused and finishing strong? Need direction in fulfilling your destiny after 35? Schedule your free strategy call.
And, I invite you to take the free Reinvention Assessment and receive your free Reinvention Blueprint on my site. In 90 seconds, you’ll get a custom roadmap to help you launch your fresh start after 35 and become unstoppable. * Note: For access to the self-assessment, we recommend using Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari. Privacy browsers like DuckDuckGo may prompt you to log into Google.
For information on my flagship 12-week, one-on-one reinvention course, get more information here.
Anthony V. Johnson is a Life Reinvention Coach and recipient of the Global Leadership Award from I Change Nations. He helps men over 35 overcome fear, rediscover purpose, and build unstoppable momentum toward a fulfilling life. Follow me on LinkedIn
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