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Shoddy Words: the Poison in Our Language

What's wrong with this sentence:
"I hope I have the courage to make that request tomorrow"?

The quality of our lives and the results that we get in our lives
are functions of the language that we use
and the language that uses us.

Show me someone who is happy and successful
and I will show you someone who uses and is used by
thoughts and words (language)
that are supportive and empowering for him.
Show me someone who is unhappy and unsuccessful
and I will show you someone who uses and is used by 
thoughts and words
that are discouraging and disempowering for him.

Words are the fundamental tools which
will make us or break us in our life.
Yet how much attention do we pay 
to the precision and quality of these basic tools?
Virtually none.

Let's take the above example,
"I hope I have the courage to make that request tomorrow."
How often have you said something like this
to yourself in your life?
This statement uses language 
(that forms and shapes the actions and experience
of the person who is using and used by this statement)
that is imprecise and very disempowering.

First, let's look at the word "hope."
The way most people use hope is to imply that
"I am wishing for something
that is outside of my control to happen
and, if it happens, then I will be happy."

But whether or not you choose courage in making a request
is entirely within your control.
There is nothing to "hope for."
It is either "yes," I will choose courage.
Or "no," I will not choose courage.

Second, consider the phrase "have the courage."
You do not "have courage" or "not have courage."
Courage is not something you have.
It is something you choose or create in the moment.

A much more empowering declaration would be,
"I will choose courage to make that request tomorrow" or
"I will choose to feel safe and comfortable in the moment
and not make that request tomorrow."
Both declarations are straight-forward, precise, and honest.

Think of something you think or speak often
that is either imprecise and/or not true
that doesn't support or empower you.

How might you think or speak differently
so that you were empowered and supported
by this new thinking/speaking?

Choose courage to stop using shoddy words and expressions.

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