S1E6 The Power of Words: Why the words you use matter

The words we use - both to others and to ourselves - have the power to shape our reality and change our world for the better. Do you know that the words you speak can shape your reality? "Your words are powerful." I was listening to the Her Leadership Coach podcast the other day and it got me thinking about the power of words. Our words are so powerful and so often we don't realise it. We can use them to positively or negatively impact ourselves and those around us. Just one word can change the meaning of a whole sentence. The next time you're talking to yourself or someone else, be mindful of the words you're using and how they might be received.

Words can shape our reality and change our world for the better.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. The power of words to shape our reality

2. The importance of using positive words when talking to ourselves

3. The significance of the words we don't use 

Chapter Summaries:  [00:02:11] - There are a few three-letter words that can make a difference to how a sentence lands when you're talking to someone. The author has been working on reducing his use of the word 'but' for a while now. 

[00:05:56] - Carol Dweck coined the Term “growth mindset”, which is a belief that we have the ability to better ourselves through effort, through learning and through good teaching. A fixed mindset is the belief that you are born as you are and you can't grow anymore. One of the exercises to help children and adults change from this fixed mindset to a growth mindset is to add the word “yet“ to a number of sentences.

[00:09:32] - Positive and negative words affect us on a deep psychological level and have a significant impact on how our lives turn out. Negative words release stress and anxiety inducing hormones.

[00:13:19] - Today's first challenge is to come up with a new phrase to replace a negative one you use with a positive one. Decide in advance and write it down so that you don't have to think of something on the spur of the moment. Over time, it will build the neural pathways and you will find that you stop using the old phrase and start using the new one.

[00:15:11] - The last point of today's talk is about the words we don't use. When we just don't address the elephant in the room. We turn our backs on it, pretend nothing's gone on and we've got nothing to say. 

[00:16:27] - Today's second challenge is to think about the words you're not speaking right now and what it is you're scared about saying them out loud. Next, think about how would the best leader version of you find a way to speak the words she's afraid of?

[00:18:14] - If you liked today's episode, please share it with a friend. If you have a couple of minutes to rate and review the podcast, I would love to hear from you. If you want to carry on the conversation, join the Women in Leadership Facebook group. We're a friendly bunch!

Other episodes you'll enjoy: 

Don't miss Episode 3, 7 types of busyness - listeners have said recognising their type is 'uncomfortably true'.

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