Just Two Minutes: The Power of Words

Bite-sized dental wisdom in under 2 minutes.

This last Thanksgiving, I decided to give a famous local bakery a shot. They’re known for their pies, so I picked up a caramel apple pie and their so-called “award-winning” pecan pie to see what all the hype was about. Now, let me preface this by saying: I’m not a pie person. Cheesecake? Yes. Chocolate cake? Absolutely. But pie? Hard pass. Still, I thought it’d be nice to try something new.

So, after dinner, my kids asked for a treat. I told them, “Yes! We get to try an apple pie and a pecan pie as a treat!”

Big mistake.

Immediately, both kids lost their minds. “I don’t want pie! I want a treat!” Arms in the air, full-on revolt. You’d think I was offering them brussels sprouts covered in despair.

After a few minutes of arguing about what exactly constitutes a “treat,” I tried something different. I said, “What if we try this apple cake or pecan cake?” Suddenly, the room went silent. Both kids stopped, considered it, and said, “Okay.”

My 2-year-old took a bite of the “pecan cake” and immediately said, “Yummy!” My 5-year-old cautiously tried the apple “cake” and then proceeded to eat two pieces of it.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Man, her kids are weird.” And yes, you’d be correct. But it also got me thinking about the power of reframing.

What you tell yourself matters. A lot. And it’s not just about kids and pie—it’s about how you approach life, work, and every challenge that comes your way.

The language you use shapes your perception of the world. Words are powerful, and they influence how we feel and behave. If you keep saying, “I’m terrible at this,” you start to believe it. If you tell yourself, “I’m learning,” suddenly, the struggle becomes part of the process.

The same applies to how we talk to others. In my case, all I did was switch “pie” to “cake,” and my kids’ entire perspective shifted. Pie was unfamiliar, something they didn’t trust. But cake? That was something they already loved and felt comfortable with. The situation didn’t change—just the way I presented it.

Think about how often we resist something simply because of how we label it.

• "I have to work late tonight." → Feels draining and unfair.

• "I get to work on this project tonight." → A reminder of the opportunity and progress it brings.

• "This is too hard for me." → Feels defeating and final.

• "This is hard, but I’m figuring it out." → Turns the challenge into growth.

Instead of framing things as obstacles, you frame them as opportunities. It doesn’t mean sugarcoating reality—it means using words to focus on progress instead of problems.

So the next time you’re faced with resistance—whether it’s from your kids, your team, or even yourself—think about how you’re framing the situation. Is it really the pie that’s the problem, or is it the way you’re describing it?

Words matter. They shape how we think, how we act, and ultimately, the results we get. So, choose them wisely.

And if you’re still wondering, yes, my kids are weird—but hey, at least they ate the “cake.”

-Dr. Alex

P.S. Moral of the story? Everything’s better when you call it cake.