The Power of Words

Some believe the school-yard taunt: "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me." They're wrong. Words can hurt you. "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind"- Rudyard Kipling. Words create impressions, images and expectations. They build psychological connections. They influence how we think. Since thoughts determine actions, there's a powerful connection between the words we use and the results we get. The real power of words can help, inspire, encourage, and motivate us.

Here is the first day of 2009. When asked, people are very happy to share their resolutions with you. When writing resolutions one should learn to harness your word power to work for, not against you. Select words that create a visual of the desired outcome. Poorly chosen words can kill enthusiasm, impact self-esteem, lower expectations and hold people back. This maybe the reason people don't keep their New Years' Resolutions. Well chosen ones can motivate, offer hope, create vision, impact thinking and alter results. Choose each word as if it mattered.

Write your resolutions in the present tense as statements of fact for January 1, 2010. You are "going to be fit", but rather you are "fitter and healthier than I've been in years." They are no longer resolutions, but possibilities. Problems are fixed. Challenges are met. Different words evoke different feelings. I have a more positive frame of mind meeting a challenge than fixing a problem. Here are some statements. Are they possibilities or problems:

1. "I am going to sell part of my autographed baseball collection. I decided to thin his collection."
2. "As for you my dear 2009... I won't start my days with you with a lie... I'm not so hopeful... but am just... praying you wouldn't be so bad."
3. "I am planning on walking my pooch more regularly this year?"
4. "I am committing to having Milo's canine incisors cleaned this year?"
5. "I am scheduling regular grooming appointments for Scruffy?"
6. "study hard and graduate! cant wait to get out of UCLA." (Sentence were not edited.)
7. "Take up a foreign language."
8. " spent more time with family." (Direct quote.)
9. "Project small, Deliver Big. So this year's resolutions are a easier but when you're as messed up as I am, you'll accept baby steps in self improvement."
10. "Breakfast. As in I'm going to eat one, a proper one, everyday. Porridge with honey and some Cod liver oil capsules. Bleugh!"
11. "Thesis writing. I will write at least 5 pages a week."
12. " Time wasting. I will no longer play videogames until the thesis is submitted." (Good luck with that one.)
13. "Healthy eating. I will no longer eat any of the following foods. Kebabs, Fast Food, Full fat crisps, chocolate and fried chicken. Frozen pizza is to be reserved for emergencies."
14. "Facebook. No more constant checking and updating."
15. "2nd, I want to learn how to sew. "
16. "3rd, I want to move back home near my family. The older I get, the more I realize that family is sooo important and means more than anything.
17. "So, rather than losing time in the dressing room, I decided to show up to the football pitch and just learn how to play football during the game."
18. "care about law school. this isn't really a resolution as much as a loaded statement. i do care about it in the sense that i have invested myself and my prideful ego into it."
19. "Get that pesky bloodwork done that I've been meaning to do but things keep coming up and the fool medical profession is on a no-coffee kick"
20. "Take the darned Notary public exam."
21. "Certain resolutions I have made can't go on this blog because regular readers can be real yentas and bad news travels fast..."
22. " Eat less sugar because it makes me nuts"
23. "participate in the causes i have found a passion for, because there's no excuse not to anymore."
24. "Write something every day (whew, even if I stop here I'm done)"

And the best for last - The best was from a six year old. She intends to spend more time at Kids R us.