It can be really scary to talk about possibility, even though you know you want to explore new options for your life.
A friend, family member or even your coach might suggest something for you to pursue, maybe something that has worked for them or someone they know in the past.
Right away, your lizard brain wakes up and starts throwing out all these reasons why this path might work for someone else, but it’s just not possible for YOU.
The lizard brain loves limiting words and phrases, like these:
- I can’t…
- I couldn’t…
- I’m not…
- I’m too…
- I can’t afford to…
- I don’t have enough…
- I don’t have much of a choice…
- I don’t have a say in the matter…
- The economy is too bad right now, so …
All of these phrases stop possibility in its tracks.
They close the door to brainstorming ideas that will actually help you move forward.
They are also kind of a downer, right? No one gets motivated by hearing themselves say, “I can’t.” It just doesn’t happen.
When you have a challenge to face in your life or a change you want to make, it’s helpful to come up with phrases that open the door, not close it.
Possibility words and phrases sound like this:
- I am…
- I can…
- I will…
- One thing I can do to move forward today is…
- The first step to figuring this out is…
- I have the skills to start…
- I will save up enough money to do this by…
- I already have enough to be able to…
- I can learn what I need to know from…
What limiting words are you using now that you can begin to eliminate from your vocabulary? What possibility words can you replace them with?
Rosetta Thurman is a nationally-recognized author, speaker, mentor and coach dedicated to helping women create their ideal lives.
Thanks for this post. You’re right; we limit ourselves with the words that we let out. Words are containers; as we speak with faith and hope, we join God in making our preferred destiny a reality.
@KalleyC – I love your approach to it! May have to borrow those questions from you! I have a friend who physically removes one rubber band from her wrist to the other to acknowledge negative thoughts and to encourage herself to have more positive thoughts.
I find his to be very true. Limited words can and do limit what you can actually do. When ever I think there is something I cannot do I always ask myself. Well why can’t I and what can I do to get this idea in motion. Saying is believing.