The language we use is derectly connected to the way we feel. Words represent the associations we’ve made with our experiences with the outside world and our responses to them. This is obvious when we think of major events in our lives. Someone who has lived through a major earthquake will respond with a different set of emotions when they hear the word “earthquake” than someone who hasn’t. Those emotions will vary widely among people who have had the same experience. It depends on the meaing they give to that word at the time of the event.
Words that have common cultural meaning, however, can evoke remarkably similar emotional responses. And each emotional response has a corresponding physiological response, so this is easy to test.
In this exercise, pay close attention to your body and slowly repeat out loud the following phrases:
- I can’t
- I’m not
- I wish
- I have to
- I must
- I’ll try
Most people describe their body as feeling stiff or tight when repeating these simple words. Their breathing is shallow and their awareness is limited. These phrases presuppose lack, scarcity and uncertainty, things most people like to avoid. Now repeat the following alternative phrases aloud and notice what your body does.
- I can
- I am
- I have
- I choose
- I claim
- I will
This time you may have even spoken a little louder. Your breathing was a little deeper, and there was a lightness in your body that felt uplifting. Your brain did this for you automatically, the same way it created the feelings with the first group of phrases. These phrases presuppose power, confidence and control over one’s destiny. Presuppositions are great tools for pursuasion – especially with yourself.
So for the next 30 days, choose to eliminate the negative phrases in the first group and replace them with the positive phrases in the second group. Just doing this will reduce some of the stress in your life.