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The power of words -

The words we think and use have an influence on how we feel. They can be inspirational, motivational, and build us up, or have the opposite effect. Changing our words can change our lives.

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Study -

A study called ‘Do words hurt? Brain activation during the processing of pain-related words' found that words can indeed have a negative impact on our lives.

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Become conscious of how you label negative emotions -

We don’t always feel great, but the words we use to express the way we feel can make us feel even worse.

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Become conscious of how you label negative emotions -

For example, saying “feeling devastated,” has a different effect than saying you’re “a bit disappointed.” The former is a lot stronger.

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From failure to hope -

Replacing “not” with “not yet” can make a world of difference. When talking about goals and projects, it’s always best to use the hopeful “not yet” rather than “not,” which implies failure.

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From can’t to can -

Saying “I won’t be able to” discards any possibilities of other outcomes. Instead, try saying “I’ll try.” This completely changes the angle and opens up a world of possibilities, including success.

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Don’t make it personal -

Personalizing statements, such as calling yourself “stupid” or “lazy,” can have hugely detrimental effects.

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Don’t make it personal -

Don’t brand yourself with negative words. Instead of saying you "are bad," say that you "did something bad." Don’t make it part of your identity!

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Swap obligation for opportunity -

What’s better, “having to” do something, or “getting to” do something? The first one implies a duty, and something we might not really want to do, whereas the latter is rather exciting.

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Swap obligation for opportunity -

Saying “get to” instead of “have to” is more motivating and it decreases your chances of procrastinating. After all, you have the opportunity to do something!

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Swap obligation for opportunity -

Another example would be to swap “I can’t” with “how can I?” This is one of the most frequently used self-limiting words and it can really have a negative impact on our lives.

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From “I can’t” to “how can I?” -

Instead of immediately denying any possibility, ask how you can achieve such an outcome instead.

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Change your perspective -

Instead of encountering a “block,” consider it a “test.” A block is a barrier, it’s something that cannot be overcome. A test, however, can have a different outcome.

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Change your perspective -

“Going through” (for example, tough times) is something many of us say. This encourages a victim narrative, which is not a very positive mindset.

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Change your perspective -

A suitable alternative is to say “growing through” instead. Can you see how there’s an evolving movement to it? There is a direction and you’re on a path to reach your destination.

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Stop saying that you’re not enough -

Instead, start by asking yourself “Why do I think I’m not enough?” It may be that there are reasons that make you feel inadequate at something, but reinforcing that you’re “not good enough” is not doing you any favors.

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Stop comparing yourself to others -

We all do it, but we can change our narrative by changing the way we express this. Instead of saying “he/she’s better than me,” ask “how can I be my best self?”

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Rephrase your weaknesses -

We all have weaknesses, but there is a way to give them a positive perspective. You can do this by rephrasing your faults into something that is actually positive. For instance, instead of being “stubborn,” you can be “determined.”

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Rephrase your weaknesses -

Maybe you’re not “negative,” you are just “realistic.” Or perhaps instead of being “shy,” you are simply “reflective.”

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Rephrase your weaknesses -

Other examples include replacing “indecisive” for “patient,” and “disorganized” for “creative,” to name a few.

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Accept that something might be hard, but is not impossible -

Saying “this is too hard” is very different from saying “this may take some time." The first one has a defeatist perspective, while the latter recognizes the possibility of success, despite the fact that it’s a difficult thing to achieve.

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Don’t use “I’m only” -

“I am only” is a recipe for mediocrity. No one is “just” something. Being “only an assistant manager” is different from being an assistant manager that “can become” a manager.

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Focus on solutions, not problems -

A simple swap that can change your mindset is turning “nothing works for me” into “I’ll find what works for me.”

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Give up certainty, open up possibility -

Instead of “it’ll be bad,” try the positive (and full of possibility) alternative “it might be good.” Another one you can try is saying “I might make it,” instead of “I won’t make it.”

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Change from an outside perspective to an inside perspective -

Regardless of what you might read on the online, we do care about what other people think of us. It’s a feedback process that’s essential for us as humans.

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Change from an outside perspective to an inside perspective -

This, however, doesn't mean you should place excessive weight on how other people perceive you, compared to your own perception of yourself. It’s always better to say “how will I view me” instead of “how will they view me.”

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The stepping stones of success -

What if, instead of you “failing,” you just learn a “lesson”? This is what success is made of: learning from failed experiences and improving. Shifting your perspective can do wonders for your well-being.

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Focus on what you have and not on what you don’t have -

Instead of complaining that your life sucks, why not ask yourself what you can be grateful for? Gratitude has been proven to have a positive impact on people’s lives.

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Change -

Changing your words and narrative will have an impact on your mindset, and, consequently, on your mental health in general.

Sources: (coaching-online.org 1 and 2) (ScienceDirect)

See also: How to make positive affirmations really work for you

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