I was at an event the other night and a great conversation came up about the language we use and how it affects what we feel, what we think, and ultimately our results.
And as we start a new year I got to thinking, that many of us make resolutions or choose a word for the year and set our goals. BUT, how many of us start the year off intentionally choosing our language?
What kinds of words do you use?
Pay attention to your language, from the moment you get up and as you go through your day, until you go to bed.
Do you use language that indicates that you are overwhelmed, overworked, over-busy and over-exhausted. Do you speak about struggle and and stress? Do you speak about having not enough clients and income? Do you speak about your frustrations in your business?
You may not necessarily say these things to other people, but what are you saying to yourself? What goes through your mind daily? What language are you choosing to run your day with, to run your business with, to run your life with?
Are you speaking about those things because you are experiencing them? Or are you experiencing them because that is what you speak about?
What you speak about and fill your mind with on a daily basis eventually forms your reality. And when you experience struggles, stress, business challenges, it just confirms what’s in your mind, so you keep speaking about it. It’s a bit of a vicious circle.
So what if, no matter what is going on in your external world at this moment, you made the decision today that for 2015 you are going to intentionally choose to only use positive language? How different would your life and business look a year from now?
So for example
- When you are feeling stretched and like there is more to do than you think you can handle, instead of “I am overworked” – choose to ask “What 3 things can i accomplish today that will move me towards my goals?”
- If you are still building your client base, instead of “I don’t have enough clients” choose to say “I am in the process of filling my client roster“
- If your income isn’t where you want it to be instead of “My business doesn’t make enough money” choose to say “I am taking steps every day to grow my business and my income”
- In those moments when things don’t appear to work out how you want, instead of “Life is hard” choose to ask “What can I do in this very moment that is easy?”
Can you see how just by shifting your language, situations that may have felt less than ideal, have a new life to them, and you suddenly have options where before you had frustration? And can you see once you have options, how you have now empowered yourself to take different action?
Different action will create different results:
Just imagine the results you will have once you take different action. And with different results will come different language:
- I accomplished all of my goals!
- I have a waiting list of clients!
- My business makes fabulous income and is growing!
- That was easy!
And then what will be possible for you from the action generated from those words? So instead of a vicious circle, just by your language alone, you will have turned it on its ear. You have just created a positive circle.
I am curious about what your “word” is for 2015, please tell me below, and I would also like to invite you to take the challenge this year, to expand on that, and to intentionally choose every word you speak, to language that reflects the results you desire to achieve this year.
I can’t wait to hear about your results!
Marci Deane
Great article Nafissa!! I love your newsletter.
My mantra (sorry not one word) for 2015 is: “I am Glad I did…..”
I am approaching everything with this idea. I want to be able to say that for all my actions in 2015 I am glad I did _______________ versus, I wish I had.
Have a great day!!
Marci
Nafissa Shireen
Thanks so much Marci! I love your Mantra – it’s deciding in advance why it’s a great idea, which ultimately leads to it being a great idea :)