How To Avoid Using Words That STEAL Your Thunder

The average person speaks at least 7,000 words a day and has thousands of thoughts, most of them the same as the day before?!

Words are your imprint on the world; they shape your experience, your attitude, and how other people think of you.

When you run a business they also IMPACT EVERY aspect of that from the clients you attract to the profits you generate.

Don’t let them steal your thunder - or your lightning!

When you start to make a move away from the self-limiting words and phrases that typically slip into your daily conversations (more on that in a moment), you will quickly notice that you feel better and achieve more; even the words that seem tiny or insignificant can quietly undermine your sense of agency.

Small shifts in your vocabulary (especially in your self talk!) will help you rapidly your goals.

 Now, if I catch myself giving my power away (and I do!) I rephrase the sentence, even if it’s still a thought in my head.

5 commonly used words and phrases that steal your thunder

1)    I should. I should tends to be accompanied by a negative emotion such as guilt, shame or disappointment. It has finger-wagging energy that suggests you feel obligated to do something. Substitute I should with I’m going to… and if you’re not going to because it doesn’t feel good eliminate it altogether!

2)    I’ll try. I love Yoda and even though he’s fictitious his wisdom is real! He’s famed for saying “Do or do not. There is no try,” and that’s the truth. Look at it this way, if I asked you to pick up a pen from the table if you only ‘tried’ to do it the pen would still be on the table. You either pick up the pen or you do not. Give something your best shot, but, please, don’t “try”.

3)    I want to. This phrase is interesting because at first it sounds like an improvement on I should, but when you say I want to you’re suggesting you have a lack of something which keeps you stuck in a place of ‘wanting.’ Experiment with switching to I choose to, or I’m ready to.

4)    I can’t. When we utter the phrase I can’t in relation to being unable to do something because of “something else” we suggest we’re powerless. For example, I can’t go out on Friday because I have work; you are the one choosing not to ask or take the time off. Instead, ask yourself how you could make it possible and acknowledge that if you wanted to, you’d find a way.

5)    Maybe. I used to love the word ‘maybe’, after it all it offers more opportunity than I can’t! But it’s an easy way to put decisions on hold. It’s often used as a placeholder to avoid conflict but by procrastinating in this way we waste our own energy. It’s far better for everyone concerned if you let your yes be yes and your no be no.

Your words are powerful. They have an energy of their own.

Pay attention to what you say and how it affects your feelings.

Shift your words.

Shift your thinking.

Enjoy the results.

If you’d love to reboot your mind for success book your free curiosity call here to find out how - I’ve got a stack of skills and magic to set your biz alight.

Let’s do it!

Sophia xx

This article originally featured in the Executive Magazine.