This system has helped people for decades
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.
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.”
A simple swap that can change your mindset is turning “nothing works for me” into “I’ll find what works for me.”
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.
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
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.
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?”
“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.
Other examples include replacing “indecisive” for “patient,” and “disorganized” for “creative,” to name a few.
Maybe you’re not “negative,” you are just “realistic.” Or perhaps instead of being “shy,” you are simply “reflective.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Instead of immediately denying any possibility, ask how you can achieve such an outcome instead.
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.
“Going through” (for example, tough times) is something many of us say. This encourages a victim narrative, which is not a very positive mindset.
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!
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.
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.
We don’t always feel great, but the words we use to express the way we feel can make us feel even worse.
For example, saying “feeling devastated,” has a different effect than saying you’re “a bit disappointed.” The former is a lot stronger.
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.
Personalizing statements, such as calling yourself “stupid” or “lazy,” can have hugely detrimental effects.
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.
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.
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.”
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!
Our brains are complex, but simple things such as words can have an impact on how our brains respond. Some words can indeed trigger stress-related hormones to be released by our bodies that negatively impact our lives.
Oftentimes, however, all it takes is for us to swap a few words to get a shift in perspective. This exercise, over time, can help change our mindset for the better.
Ready for the challenge? Click on!
How changing your words can change your mindset
From can't to can!
LIFESTYLE Well-being
Our brains are complex, but simple things such as words can have an impact on how our brains respond. Some words can indeed trigger stress-related hormones to be released by our bodies that negatively impact our lives.
Oftentimes, however, all it takes is for us to swap a few words to get a shift in perspective. This exercise, over time, can help change our mindset for the better.
Ready for the challenge? Click on!