Monday Morning Motivational Message

Five Ways to Speak More Powerfully

Whatever direction your words lead, your mind, body and environment will inevitably follow. If you use positive language about yourself and your ability to learn new skills, achieve your goals and handle pressure, then that’s what tends to show up externally.
 
Tapping into your personal power starts with building self-awareness of where you are, using what psychologists call “out of power” language. To that end, below are five ways you can change how you speak in order to build your confidence.
 
Number 1: Speak possibilities into your life. Focus on things you want and you’ll spot opportunities you might have otherwise missed.
 
Number 2: Don’t “try” to do something. Committing with a confident can-do spirit shifts the energy you bring to a challenge and rallies people around you in ways that trying, wishing and “hoping for the best” never will.
 
Number 3: Never say never. Most of us have no idea what is actually possible. Likewise, when we use absolute terms as descriptors, we fall into what is known as a “linguistic trap” – confining ourselves to the walls our words create.
 
Number 4: Never apologize for having an opinion. Devaluing your opinion serves no one and deprives everyone of the value your perspective brings.
 
Number 5: Beware of labels. They Limit. Just because you failed at something doesn’t mean you are a failure. Neuroscientists have found that with repeated practice, you can rewire your brain. How you speak included. When you slip back into default habits, as you inevitably will, don’t beat yourself up or label yourself as a lost cause. Rather, accept your fallibility and refocus on the positive changes you want to make.
 
You can kick-start your efforts by asking your favorite three people to call you out each time they hear you use “out of power” language.
 
 
From the article: 5 Ways to Speak More Powerfully by Margie Warrell – December 2, 2016 – Success Magazine