Language

Language is one of those things you live and breathe without giving it a second thought.  Yet, it plays such a big role in how you experience the world.  Language comes to you through words, body language, and unspoken communication and your senses are bombarded with it through radio, television, social media newsfeeds, overheard conversations in public places, meetings, and events.

The language you hear and subconsciously absorb influences your opinions, your perception, and your actions.  Just think about the effectiveness of word of mouth advertising, it’s one of the most powerful forms of product or service validation.  How many times do you consult your friends or family for their recommendations?  For example, ‘Do you know someone who does <insert service>?’, or ‘Where did you get your <insert product>, I’ve been looking for something like that?’  With these reviews in mind, you form a perception of a product or service, which influences your decision of what and where to purchase.
While seeking comments from people you trust is one thing, the words we tell yourself also influence your opinions and actions.  For example, affirmations.

Affirmations are often used in personal development because they help to shift your mindset and outlook.  An affirmation is a statement or phrase that you say often, usually to yourself, that begins to affect your beliefs and the way you see the world.  It affirms your beliefs. 
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When you say something often enough you start to believe it, and the brain will subconsciously look for things that match or provide evidence of what you’re saying.  What you may not realise though, is an affirmation can be positive and supportive or negative and destructive.  And because you may not consciously listen to what’s coming out of your mouth – you’re not consciously aware of the things you start to believe as being true.  For example, ‘I’m so tired’ or ‘I’m so sick of this’… If this is what you’re saying, well, you can imagine what your subconscious is looking for to prove this statement is true!

On the other hand, if your personal comments are more like ‘I can find a way to fix this’ or ‘I’m willing to change’, then your subconscious will have a completely different focus!

Are the affirmations you tell yourself helping you?  Would you feel more supported if you changed the words you tell yourself?

Have a go and see if it makes a difference (tip: this isn’t an overnight change – you’ve possibly been telling yourself the same thing for YEARS – it will take practice to get of the old habit and make a new one!).
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Take care, and have a great week.
Gillian