If these 10 words are part of your vocabulary, you have the mindset of someone who has been through a lot

Ever notice how some people just seem... different? Like they've been carved from experiences that most of us only read about?

They carry themselves with this quiet confidence, not the flashy kind you see on social media, but something deeper. Something earned.

I've spent years studying human behavior, both through my psychology background and through countless conversations with people who've walked through fire and come out the other side. And here's what I've discovered: they speak differently.

Not fancy words or complex vocabulary. Actually, quite the opposite.

The people who've been through the most often use the simplest, most powerful words. Words that cut through the noise and get straight to what matters.

Today, I want to share 10 words that consistently show up in the vocabulary of those who've weathered life's storms. If these words are natural parts of your speech, you might have more resilience in your bones than you realize.

1. "Enough"

This word changed everything for me.

Back in my mid-20s, I was chasing every definition of success I could find. More money, more achievements, more validation. But nothing ever felt like... enough.

Then I hit rock bottom working in a warehouse, feeling like my education was wasted and wondering where it all went wrong. That's when I discovered Buddhism and learned that suffering often comes from attachment to expectations.

People who've been through a lot understand the power of "enough." They know when to stop pushing, when to walk away, and when they have what they need. They've learned that constantly wanting more is a prison you build for yourself.

2. "No"

Such a small word. Such massive power.

If you can say "no" without lengthy explanations or guilt, you've probably learned this lesson the hard way. Maybe you burned out from saying yes to everything. Maybe you lost yourself trying to please everyone.

In my book "Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego", I explore how boundaries aren't walls we build against others. They're the foundations that allow us to show up fully for what truly matters.

Those who've been through a lot know that "no" is a complete sentence. They've paid the price for overextending themselves and learned that protecting their energy isn't selfish. It's survival.

3. "Maybe"

Life has a funny way of teaching us that nothing is certain.

The job you thought was secure disappears. The relationship you thought would last forever ends. The path you were so sure about takes an unexpected turn.

People who use "maybe" understand that life isn't black and white. They've seen their certainties crumble and learned to hold their plans lightly. They know that "maybe" isn't weakness or indecision. It's wisdom earned through experiencing how quickly everything can change.

4. "Anyway"

"They said I couldn't do it. I did it anyway."
"It was scary. I tried anyway."
"I might fail. I'm going for it anyway."

This word is the battle cry of those who've learned that waiting for perfect conditions means waiting forever. They've discovered that courage isn't the absence of fear. It's moving forward anyway.

When I was stuck in that warehouse job, feeling like a failure, the word "anyway" became my lifeline. I started writing anyway. Started building my website anyway. Even when it felt pointless, even when nobody was reading, I kept going anyway.

5. "Different"

Have you noticed how people who've been through hard times rarely judge others harshly?

They use the word "different" instead of "wrong." They say "that's different from my experience" instead of "you're doing it incorrectly."

Why? Because they've been the odd one out. They've been misunderstood, judged, or dismissed. They know what it feels like when nobody gets it. So they've learned to see differences as just that. Different. Not better or worse.

6. "Time"

"Give it time."
"Time will tell."
"I need time."

Those who've walked through darkness know that time isn't just a resource to manage. It's a healer, a teacher, and sometimes the only answer.

I write about this concept of impermanence in "Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego". Everything changes with time. The unbearable becomes bearable. The impossible becomes possible.

People who understand time have learned patience through pain. They know that some things can't be rushed, fixed, or forced. Sometimes you just need to let time do its work.

7. "Choose"

Viktor Frankl survived the Nazi concentration camps and wrote, "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response."

People who've been through a lot understand choice on a profound level. They know you can't choose what happens to you, but you can choose how you respond. You can choose your attitude. You can choose your next step.

They use "choose" because they've learned that even in the worst circumstances, even when everything is taken from you, you still have the power to choose something.

8. "Release"

Not "give up." Not "quit." Release.

There's something almost sacred about this word for those who've carried heavy burdens. They talk about releasing anger, releasing control, releasing expectations.

Buddhism teaches that attachment is the root of suffering, and those who've suffered deeply often discover this truth independently. They learn to hold things lightly and release what no longer serves them.

9. "Grateful"

When you've lost things that matter, you stop taking anything for granted.

People who've been through a lot don't just feel grateful for the big wins. They're grateful for morning coffee, for boring Tuesday afternoons, for the ability to take a deep breath.

They've learned that gratitude isn't about having more. It's about recognizing what you already have. They've seen how quickly things can disappear, so they appreciate what's in front of them right now.

10. "Begin"

Perhaps the most powerful word of all.

"Let's begin again."
"Where do I begin?"
"Today, I begin."

Those who use this word have learned the secret that your mess becomes your message. They know that every ending is also a beginning. Every failure is a chance to begin with more wisdom. Every morning is an opportunity to begin fresh.

They're not afraid of starting over because they've done it before. Multiple times. And they've learned that beginning again isn't failure. It's courage.

Final words

If these words flow naturally from your lips, you carry wisdom that can't be taught in classrooms or downloaded from apps. You've earned it through experience, through nights when you didn't think you'd make it to morning, through rebuilding when everything fell apart.

But here's what I want you to remember: having this vocabulary doesn't mean you need to wear your struggles like armor. You don't need to constantly remind yourself or others of what you've been through.

These words are simply tools in your toolkit, evidence of your resilience, proof that you've transformed pain into power.

And if you're reading this thinking these words aren't part of your vocabulary yet? That's okay too. We're all on different timelines, walking different paths. The beautiful thing about words is that we can always learn new ones.

The principles that save you become the principles you share. That's why I write, why I share what I've learned through my own struggles and through studying Buddhism and mindfulness.

Your vocabulary tells your story. And if these 10 words are part of yours, you've got one hell of a story to tell.