Words Are Power

According to Dr. T, “The cognitive behavioral model of psychology explains that our thoughts (projected by the language we use) directly influence our emotions, actions, and responses. The human brain can experience up to 60,000 thoughts per day, 80% of which are negative or irrational. Further, 90% are repetitive. However, in any given moment, we can only process one thought at a time. Therefore, the thoughts that we choose to focus on will directly influence our emotions and responses, conveyed though our language or the words we speak.

“With each description, I endeavor to capture the power of what was said, the context in which it was said, and the impact it has on the team’s emotional, psychological, and physical response.”

“Who has it better than us? Nobody” — Jack Harbaugh
Nov. 13, 2025

While this quote is inspiring by itself, psychologically, it is so much more. First, it brings everyone together by reinforcing belief in the group’s strength and success through a unifying, question-and-response format. The quote also strengthens team identity and belonging by framing the group as fortunate and connected. Finally, it promotes positivity and gratitude by cultivating appreciation for the team’s shared experience, boosting morale and emotional resilience. Human beings are naturally biased towards negativity, favoring such up to 4-7 times greater than positivity. Negative thinking directly promotes negative emotions like anxiety, irritability, and frustration which impacts performance. This intentional and uplifting question empowers us to make a choice: to think positively, evoking an enthusiastic response. Gratitude reframes our brains’ perception of experiences which also releases neurochemicals that improve mood, reduce anxiety, and promote a feeling of openness and acceptance. Positivity and gratitude are directly correlated with successful outcomes!

Arman Taghizadeh, M.D. also known as “Dr. T”, is a Johns Hopkins trained Board Certified Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist also specializing in Sports Psychiatry. He is the founder of Mindset Training Institute® (MTI), host of the “The Mindset Experience®” podcast and a 2023 TEDx speaker. Baltimore Magazine has selected him as “Top Doctor” every year since 2016.  He is a member of the International Society for Sports Psychiatry, certified by the American Board of Sports & Performance Psychiatry, a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).