Words invite feels. What words do you use when you talk to yourself? What language do we choose to describe our lives? In birth—and in life—there’s a powerful shift happening. People are reclaiming the language we use to describe the experience of labor and birth. One of my favorites is saying “my waters released” instead of “my water broke,” or “surges” and “rushes” instead of “contractions.”

These subtle shifts in language shape how we experience our bodies, our power, and our stories. So let’s get intentional. How do you want your life to feel? Start there—and reverse engineer everything else.

We all need to nurture and love ourselves first as we navigate this wild, beautiful ride of life.