How to Use Positive Phrasing

Many people take time during the day to recite positive affirmations, or statements meant to be positive, mental pick-me-ups. Positive affirmations – for example, “I am a good person who deserves to be treated with kindness” – are repeated to help someone foster a positive focus and fortify her self-esteem. Positive phrasing, while similar, is designed to bring about change, either in mental perspective or in real, concrete outcomes. With practice, they should empower you to change your resolve, behavior and perhaps even your life.

Instructions

• 1

  Rid your vocabulary of negative phrases, such as, “I feel overwhelmed” and “I’ll never get this project done.” Instead, say “I feel challenged” and “I can get this project done if I (for example) reorganize my time and establish some priorities.” Set yourself up for accomplishment, not doom or failure.

• 2

  Collect your thoughts before you speak and, if you find negative thoughts or ideas falling out of your mouth, stop and recast your thoughts in a positive way. Self-discipline and precision may be difficult at first, but should get easier as positive phrasing becomes an ingrained part of your psyche.

• 3

  Replace negative thoughts – even knee-jerk ones – with positive ones. If you’re unhappy that it’s raining as you leave for work, don’t cuss out the weather. Rally your spirits and think about how much more you’ll enjoy the day when the rain stops.

• 4

  Stop criticizing yourself or being unduly harsh on yourself when things don’t work out as you had hoped. Admit mistakes or missteps, but then move on. Don’t punish yourself or defeat future efforts by thinking, “Only a dummy like me would have done that.” Take a page out of Thomas Edison’s mental playbook. He has been quoted as saying, “I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”

• 5

  Resist the temptation to criticize others. Try to remember that everyone is different and, most importantly, is probably harboring some insight that may change your opinion of them. Apply the Golden Rule – treat others, in thought and action, how you wish to be treated -- and work toward compromises and resolutions with others.

• 6

  Don’t obsess about situations that you cannot control. Be empathetic but don’t allow yourself to be swept into a vortex of negative energy. Say to yourself, without being flippant, “I’m sorry this is happening, but I know things will work out for the best.”

• 7

  Nip fear and trepidation in the bud by telling yourself, “I can handle this situation” or “Here’s something I can learn from.” Harnessing fear instead of being crippled by it is a fundamental way to bring about positive change in life.

• 8

  Limit your time around negative people or those who engage in “stinkin’ thinkin’.” We are all influenced by the people around us, and negative people naturally consume the positive energy you are working so hard to maintain.