4 Words That’ll Change Your Life!

The science of how language shapes our mind

In the last few years, I’ve gone through transformations I never thought I’m capable of. Changing the way I use words and integrating them into my conversations and self-talk, led to a new sense of reality.

The power it had surprised me a bit, so I researched. I found some fascinating scientific evidence on the power of language. Changing the way you speak helps to shape your mind.

The words you use are constant reminders of the direction you want to go. So you can become a new version of yourself. Especially as writers, it’s useful to be aware of that.

The Research

The cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky reveals some groundbreaking facts in her Ted Talk. She describes how language shapes our thoughts, brains, and society. Also mentioning that we have about 7000 languages in our world.

According to Boroditsky, language can have many effects. It can impact the way we punish, blame, and remember incidents as witnesses.

In Spain for example, you’d never say “I broke my arm” without implying it was your intention. In English however, it’s totally normal.

Through the studies, we can see English speakers being more able to remember who did something. Because this information is built into sentences frequently.

Whether it happened by accident or by intention moves into the background. They also tend to punish people harder than Spanish speakers.

Because in Spain they have the intention at the forefront of their mind. If something was an accident, that was the focus.

Focusing on intention can be really helpful in avoiding conflicts. Through language, we pay attention to different things.

She describes this versatility of languages as 7000 parallel universes of the mind. Language is showing us how genius and flexible our minds are.

She also emphasizes that the majority of research about the mind is based on the English-speaking brains of American undergraduate students. Which excludes almost all humans!

4 words that change your life!

Photo by Alex Radelich on Unsplash

Responsibility vs. fault

How many times did you see people pointing fingers at each other? Discussing way too much who’s to blame and leaving a cold wall of tension behind.

They forget to draw the useful lessons from it. Why not call someone out without attacking another? That’s still possible!

Focusing on responsibility helps to remember the power we possess when we act. That’s why many leaders tell us that being a boss might sound great but always comes with great responsibility.

I Feel Versus I am

One of my biggest blocks was that I connected my predominant emotions with my core being. My personality and identity seemed so fundamental.

Saying “I am angry” or “I’m a fearful person” makes you forget that these feelings are probably connected to long-hidden issues you didn’t face yet.

Therapy, mediation, or many other things can show you complete new sides of yourself! They’re totally worth exploring. It’s so common to say “I am” while you actually just feel something.

To say that you simply are like this makes it seem like you don’t have a choice anyway. I mean you are who you are for the rest of your life.

It’s a way to disempower the self. Ask yourself, what it does to your self-esteem to say: “I am aggressive” or “I am sad”

How about saying: “I feel angry” or better “I currently work on overcoming my anger”.

Just because you don’t know another side of you, doesn’t mean you can’t find it. Explore and break free!

Learning instead of failing

That might be hard for many to see. Failure is such a widespread fear.

I grew up in a family that never had money and rarely saw anybody grow. When I aimed to rise above that, every mistake I made looked like a huge failure.

Because I never had role models that showed me it’s all part of the process. Mistakes seemed to validate my fears. The worry of not having the possibility to get out of there.

You have to fall a few times before you learn to walk! When do things ever work out perfectly on the first try?

It’s always a journey! It’s nothing personal! Make your path an adventure, not a terrifying battle!

There’s something that could help you though! I keep a journal where I write down my failures. Then I always note what I‘ve learned from this “failure”.

I got it from the YouTuber Victor Oddo who’s a spiritual coach. I always can see what I learned or when things ended better than expected.

It’s physical proof in your hand that always can show you that there’s something to learn. Every time I’m nervous to take a risk or fail it calms me down.

Dedication over plain work

When you dedicate yourself to something it implies it’s something important to you. It’s something you take care of. I don’t have dedication if it’s not worth it.

Words have associations connected to them, and through hustle culture, the word “work” seems to have a negative connotation to it.

Experts now have been watching millions of people quitting their jobs. They call it the great resignation or anti-work movement. Others call it a revolution.

Many are fed up working tirelessly without getting any appreciation or joy in return. Our focus seems to shift.

We want more than survival. We want independence, purpose, freedom, respect, and happiness!

If I work on something I know I put energy and time into it. But I can work for several reasons. Sometimes solely for survival without liking the work.

But dedication means you see a meaning! You give your heart and all. You see a value! And you still do the work. You still invest energy and time!

But getting at least a meaning and joy in return leaves you willing to persist longer. Therefore you’re more likely to succeed.