#2/2018
HOW WORDS CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING
Photo illustration from a calendar by Mary Englebright taken at a dentist waiting room.
|
It’s four weeks into 2018. Maybe you’ve already broken your resolutions or perhaps not even started, and it's probable that you’ve already gotten mad at yourself for already ‘failing’.
One advice – STOP Second – Pause Third – Understand Fourth – Try something different |
For example, have you ever thought about the words you use and the influence it can have on actions?
Here are three fun experiments.Try the one that resonates the most with you.
1) Plans are made based on: a mix of assumptions; things you can control; and those you can’t. Therefore plans aren’t going to go the way you imagined, sometimes just a little off and other times way off. Don’t get upset at yourself and hold on to the plan that didn’t happen, but instead, raise your arms in the air and say “Plot twist!” And then continue from your new situation.
2) Have you ever paid attention to the words you actually use? Here is a fun experiment. Instead of saying “have to” as if it’s the worst thing in the world, realise that many of the things you “have to” do are a privilege. What if you changed “have to” and instead used “get to”?
3) Do you remember as a kid how excited you felt the night before your birthday? You looked forward to the next day with excitement. Here’s another experiment. Just before heading to bed, identify something (big or small) that you are looking forward to and make that your anchor. For example, if you don’t like networking, maybe say “I’m looking forward to learning something new about someone.” Sounds more interesting than “Uh I hate networking events.”
Here are three fun experiments.Try the one that resonates the most with you.
1) Plans are made based on: a mix of assumptions; things you can control; and those you can’t. Therefore plans aren’t going to go the way you imagined, sometimes just a little off and other times way off. Don’t get upset at yourself and hold on to the plan that didn’t happen, but instead, raise your arms in the air and say “Plot twist!” And then continue from your new situation.
2) Have you ever paid attention to the words you actually use? Here is a fun experiment. Instead of saying “have to” as if it’s the worst thing in the world, realise that many of the things you “have to” do are a privilege. What if you changed “have to” and instead used “get to”?
3) Do you remember as a kid how excited you felt the night before your birthday? You looked forward to the next day with excitement. Here’s another experiment. Just before heading to bed, identify something (big or small) that you are looking forward to and make that your anchor. For example, if you don’t like networking, maybe say “I’m looking forward to learning something new about someone.” Sounds more interesting than “Uh I hate networking events.”
BITE-SIZE
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
|
Watch: Differences in perceptions of competences between men and women (video has been removed but the author Elisa Kreisinger has other great videos.)
Read: The education system is starting to seem way outdated. This is a great article, but be warned very long, yet worth a read, looking at things that should be taught in school but aren't - (hopefully school curriculums will one day change to reflect the current world). Listen: It is said that entrepreneurship is contagious; when you see someone doing something, making something, you realise, if they can, I can too. And this contagiousness comes from Role Models, and why not listen to some. |
Published January 2018.