The cover image was provided by Brett Jordan and available on unsplash.com.

Many have heard of the statement “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” This phrase places little power in the things we say.  Ample research presented over the years has debunked this assertion, proving the significant influence words have on what a person thinks, feels, and does. Essentially, words can make or break a person. Positive words can uplift, encourage or give a person necessary drive to things. In a 2021 study conducted, researchers outlined this correlation through the positive effects (i.e. increased pleasure, physicality, and joyous mood) of encouraging words given by a sports teacher to a group of teen players (Lovering and Wilson). Contraryly, negative words can have such a detrimental effect. A study conducted a few years prior, revealed the negative effects college students experience such as forgetting important dates, irritability, etc. as a result of verbal abuse by peers (Lovering and Wilson). The focus of this game is to demonstrate the profound impact of words through a short story geared towards the negative and postive outcome of words. Be immersed into a relatable experience through simple interactive play. The purpose of this narrative was to simply pose a reminder of the crucial role we play in spreading postivity as well as not being consumed with negativity. The power lies within your choice.

For more information about this topic, view the following sources:

Do Words Have the Power to Change Your Brain? 

Not All Emotions Are Created Equal…

Negative Bias