One of the best discoveries during my divorce was a song called "Move in the Right Direction" by the band Gossip. I remember catching the music video on a Saturday morning show and immediately clinging to the words. They didn’t just entertain me. They lifted me. They inspired me to heal.
The lyrics spoke directly to my life. Lines about taking one step closer each day and facing fears while moving in the right direction became my personal mantra. They gave me something to hold onto when everything felt uncertain.
I sang them. Actually, let me be honest. I belted them out every morning on the way to work. Sometimes, with tears streaming down my face, I shouted, “I’m doing fine!” And the thing is, I wasn’t lying. I wasn’t sad. I was hopeful. I was declaring that I was fine, even if I wasn’t quite there yet. The act of singing those words gave me the courage to start believing them. Saying it out loud helped make it real. One step closer every day.
I’m sure the drivers around me thought I was either going through something or just having a really good time, but that song was healing me in real time.
And this wasn’t a one-time thing. Music has always been a form of medicine for me. When I was younger, my anthem was "Walking on Sunshine." Yes, I know. It’s become the ultimate cheesy pop song. But that song got me through my late teens, my parents' divorce, an eating disorder, and depression. Just the idea of actually walking on sunshine made my problems feel lighter. That image stuck with me, and even now, if I let go enough to really feel it, the song can still make me smile.
And even earlier? My song was "What’s New Pussycat." I thought it was about an actual kitty cat, of course. I didn’t know any better. I just loved the rhythm, and the repeated “I love yous” made me feel wrapped in warmth and safety. I didn’t understand the meaning of the lyrics, but I understood the feeling. Maybe that’s all we ever really need.
Looking back, I see now that it wasn’t just the music. It was the act of saying it out loud. Giving my emotions a voice. Using music and my own voice to declare something bigger than the fear or sadness I was feeling inside.
There’s something powerful that happens when we speak. Whether it’s in a song, a prayer, or even a whispered affirmation in the mirror, our words carry weight. When we say something out loud, our own ears hear it. Our bodies respond. Our spirits recognize it.
That’s why I talk to my plants. I have many, and most of them are basically small trees at this point. They thrive in the light of my condo, but I believe they also thrive on love. When I water them or check on them, I talk to them. I tell them how beautiful they are. I ask how they’re doing. I tell them they are growing strong and well. Maybe that sounds silly. But I have some of the happiest plants I’ve ever seen.
Words matter. They create an atmosphere. They shape intention. They help us commit to what we believe or hope to believe. They shift energy.
That’s why, even in church, I’ve come to appreciate people who speak out during sermons. I used to think it was attention-seeking when people shouted, “Amen!” or “That’s right!” in the middle of a message. But now I see it as another form of alignment. Another way of saying, “I’m here. I’m listening. I agree. This truth is alive in me too.”
Talking out loud, whether to yourself, your plants, your God, or the Universe, is powerful. It clarifies. It reinforces. It activates. Yes, I believe our thoughts matter. But our voices are tools too. Tools of creation. Tools of healing. Tools of truth.
I don’t think God is too concerned with the specifics of what I want. I don’t think He’s tallying up dream boards or business plans. But I do believe He cares deeply about our needs. My deep need to help others. To be creative. To grow and express. When I speak those needs with love and trust, I feel seen. And more often than not, my wants begin to fall into place as well.
So go ahead. Use your voice. Sing it. Say it. Shout it if you need to. Let your body and spirit hear what you know deep down to be true. Because sometimes the healing begins the moment you simply say it out loud.
Stay aware. Stay honest. Stay rooted in joy.
