Words have power. 

They can stir a crowd to anger, bring laughter to a grieving person or cause people to fall in love. 

What we say matters enormously, and psychologists point to particular phrases that demonstrate an especially potent personality. 

If you use the following phrases then you have a deeply impactful personality that makes a big impression on others. 

If you don’t use them, it’s never too late to start! 

1) “Let’s find a solution together.”

This powerful statement demonstrates the desire to solve problems together. 

It shows a spirit of collaboration, teamwork and solidarity. 

These form a very powerful combination indeed, and show a high level of emotional intelligence (EQ) as well as maturity and interpersonal ability. 

If you say this then you’re a person who looks for win-win solutions and has a high-degree of agreeableness which draws others to you.

At the same time, the powerful individual is highly confident. Which brings me to the next phrase. 

2) “I stand fully behind what I said.”

The next powerful phrase shows a rock-solid sense of accountability in words spoken.

You stand behind what you say and have thought through your positions and beliefs. As psychology writer Drake Baer points out:

“Psychologists have found that when people are made to feel powerful, they believe more in the things they’re thinking.”

This makes a powerful impression on those around you, especially those who may be less sure about their beliefs or knowledge. 

3) “I accept responsibility for this.”

This ties into the previous point, because the powerful individual is not afraid of being held accountable. 

He or she stands behind what they say and do, even if it doesn’t go well. 

If this sounds like you, then you’re not the type to dodge responsibility or try to wriggle out of accountability for what you do. 

You own up and stand to be counted. 

4) “I have to decide if this aligns with my values first.”

When there are big rewards in view but you have to lie to yourself to get them, you refuse. 

You stay true to your values. 

“It can be tempting to leap at any opportunity that provides more money, admiration or power. But mentally strong people aren’t looking to inflate their egos,” notes psychotherapist Amy Morin.

You’d rather have self-respect and a lower salary than millions of dollars and a guilty conscience. You’d rather be lonely for a year or two than be seduced by a sexy person who’s inherently untrustworthy and toxic but still tempts you.

5) “How can I support you?”

This is a powerful phrase that shows empathy and willingness to assist others.

You look after yourself first and foremost and make self-care a priority. 

But you’re far from selfish or lacking in empathy, and you are highly perceptive about the needs and struggles of others. 

Your willingness to show up and be of assistance makes you highly respected and attractive to others. 

6) “I’m all in.”

When you commit, you commit.  

There are no half-measures or waffling situations. 

If you need time to decide on something, you take that time. 

But you don’t send mixed messages or go back and forth on whether you’re committing to someone or something.

You either do or you don’t.

7) “No thanks.”

You’re not afraid to respectfully say no and stand up for yourself. 

You are able to put your foot down and keep it down, even if people try to make you feel sorry for them or guilt you into something. 

As Morin observes:

“Mentally strong people don’t fall prey to guilt trips. They also don’t yield to peer pressure and are willing to say no to things they don’t want to do.”

If this sounds like you, then you have a deeply powerful personality that engenders respect and love from those around you. 

8) “I value your input.”

This shows that you have a strong sense of self and aren’t threatened by other ideas and contributions. 

Whether it’s in your professional or personal life, you like hearing from others. 

Even if you disagree, you value the effort and bravery it takes for a person to speak their peace and contribute. 

This reinforces others’ worth and encourages participation.

9) “Can you tell me more?”

The desire to learn more and be open to change is a key characteristic of the deeply powerful personality. 

You never stop learning and being open, and you’re willing to listen. It doesn’ mean you’ll agree, but it does mean you are actively engaging with the world and those in it. 

“Mentally strong people are willing to listen,” notes Morin.

“Rather than tuning others out to form their rebuttal, they invite others to keep talking so they can better understand their views.”

This is a deeply powerful trait that’s especially valuable in leaders, care workers and artists. 

10) “I honestly don’t know.”

You’re not a bluffer (unless you’re playing poker).

When you don’t know something, you admit it. 

This is backed up by psychological studies that show the most powerful personalities are willing to take longer considering ambiguity and admitting what they aren’t sure of yet. 

“Just as power made people kinder or more dishonest when they were primed for it in the other experiments, it also made them think longer about conflicting information,” notes Baer of a recent psychological study carried out at Ohio State.

11) “This is a great opportunity to learn.”

You try to treat confusing and challenging situations as an opportunity to learn. 

Instead of reacting in frustration or anger, you do your best to frame challenges as growth opportunities.

This builds respect around you and also leads to you learning a lot more than you would otherwise, as well as developing stronger personal capacities for patience, growth and emotional stability. 

12) “I respect your decision.”

You respect other people’s freedom in making their own choices even if you don’t agree. 

By saying this, you show your own elevated level of self-esteem. 

You don’t need to agree to respect. 

By saying this, you acknowledge others’ autonomy and decision-making which also makes them more likely to respect yours in turn. 

13) “I’m genuinely sorry.”

You fess up when you’re responsible for something unfortunate happening or have let somebody down. 

Your ego is strong enough to accept responsibility and make up for it. 

“Toxic self-blame is quite detrimental, and mentally strong people don’t apologize profusely for everything,” explains Morin.

“They do, however, take responsibility for their behavior.”

When you’ve done wrong you say sorry and try to make up for it. You’re not ashamed to admit you made a mistake and you want to fix it.