by Helen Williams, Helping Entrepreneurs Win
The power of your language is a universal realisation regardless of your current business or career positioning right now.
Once brought to your attention you will begin to appreciate how powerful and influential the language you use is, especially when it comes to the monologue, dialogue and narrative you use for yourself.
We can often be mindful of what we choose to say and how we choose to say it to others can’t we? Mainly due to not wanting to offend, upset, knock someone’s confidence etc but how come we don’t treat ourselves in this very same manner?
The general rule book, respect and mindfulness seem to fly straight out of the window.
Listen, we all have self-limiting beliefs and shackles on our potential for a whole host of different reasons. But if we start with the controllable elements from an internal perspective then we are giving ourselves half a chance.
It is like opening Pandora’s box when it comes to language and linguistics, and I am by no means an expert. However, it is definitely a vital area that we work on with individuals and businesses so that levels of self-awareness can be achieved and changes in behavioural practise can be implemented.
Common language errors are ones that come from a negative and pessimistic mindset and, as such, even if used naively or subconsciously have a detrimental ripple effect on belief systems and our respective actions and behaviours.
We almost sign our own deal off with a limitation without even realising it. We are aware of what to say to others, while simultaneously holding ourselves back.
When we tell ourselves time and time over that we can’t do something, for example, we condition ourselves to believe it and approach the task in question with complete apprehension – or even avoidance.
Words can be so subjective and emotionally manipulate a situation which can mean even the smallest of tweaks have a great impact.
The beauty is in firstly understanding the short straw and its impact on the language you are currently using and how you are using it. Secondly, understand how you can start to frame words and sentences in such a way that they elevate you, not restrict you – or your beliefs and behaviours.
Check out the example below for some strong reframe fixes, word replacements and reconstructed sentences:
From: I’m struggling.
To: I’m learning.
From: I am finding it really difficult.
To: I am embracing the challenge.
From: I don’t know how.
To: I will find a way.
From: We are cheap on price.
To: We pride ourselves on being affordable and accessible.
From: I can’t do that.
To: I can – or I am choosing not to do that.
Just like the familiarity of a swear jar, this month I challenge you to commit to self-awareness and observation of the words and language you use outwardly – and with those pesky thoughts and conversations that happen in your own head.
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