If there was one thing you could do right now to improve the quality of your life, and your ability to think, what would it be? The answer is: Improve your vocabulary. Words are the outward manifestation of our internal thoughts. It’s the mental creation that we send out into the universe. Poor vocabulary begets poor thoughts, and as our thoughts go, so goes our life.

The English language is very rich indeed. The choice of words for any given situation is astonishingly large. But instead of drawing from this vast repository of language, most people opt for commonplace words and expressions. In actuality, this is mental laziness, and the person being cheated is the speaker. By foregoing the use of more nuanced terms in favor of pedestrian phrases, detail is omitted and control relinquished. Your words truly do create your reality, and this cannot be stressed enough.

A useful exercise: Next time, before answering an email, think through what you are saying. Ask yourself if you can use different words that align more closely with the message you wish to convey. The goal is to evoke imagery and emotion. You want what you’re saying to really have dimensions instead of being a flat response. Perhaps as you write, take a few moments to look up some synonyms for the words you planned to use, and then really look at the definitions that each word has. You’ll be surprised at how often you discover a new term that aligns perfectly with the mental picture you are trying to paint. As time goes on, you will build your linguistic repertoire, and take better command of your mental space.

When you master your thoughts, you master your life. And because all of our thoughts, both internal and external, are constructed in language, mastering your language is a crucial first step. Start today, and consciously integrate more refined terminology into your daily routine. The results will be nothing short of miraculous.