Chose inspiring words to improve your life

While there are many differences between people who are considered successful and those who are left wanting, there might be one difference that is more significant than all others. Genetics, hard work and even luck play big roles in people’s lives. My experience, however, points to a particular skill I’ve seen that drives people to be healthier, happier and more fulfilled. From what I’ve witnessed, those who possess this skill also recover from sickness and injuries sooner while remaining active and engaged even when not feeling well.

The skill that I’m referring to is the ability to control one’s mindset. In other words, “Where the mind goes, the body follows.”

My 86-year-old mother is living with cancer, a knee replacement, peripheral neuropathy and is blind in one eye. When we last spoke, she told me how “LUCKY” she is to be so healthy … except for the cancer, the numb feet and the blind eye. She tells everyone that she’s “GREAT, and so she acts like she’s great. For her, that means she never misses a daily walk, a luncheon with friends or her shopping and gardening.

The challenge of staying upbeat in the face of physical and/ or mental duress can be daunting. Living a more positive life, however, can be achieved with some specific skills that direct mindset.

This week, I am going to write about how you can choose your words with more care to improve the quality of your life.

An effective selection of words to describe the experience of our lives can heighten our most empowering emotions. Conversely, a poor selection of words can just as easily devastate or demoralize us. Most people make unconscious choices in the words they use. Realize the power that your words command if you simply choose them wisely.

The words you habitually choose also affect how you communicate with yourself and, therefore, what you experience.

By changing your habitual vocabulary — the words you consistently use to describe the emotions in your life — you can INSTANTLY change how you feel and think ... and how you live. In essence, the word that we attach to our experience BECOMES the experience. Therefore, we must choose consciously the words we use, or suffer by causing greater pain than is truly warranted or appropriate.

The bottom line is that words shape our beliefs and affect our actions.

Take a moment to write down three words you use on a regular basis that cause you to feel lousy. (Bored, angry, overwhelmed, humiliated, abused, torn, confused, etc.). Ask yourself: “What are some of the negative feelings I have on a consistent basis?”

Next, put yourself in a joyous, outrageous state of mind and brainstorm some new words you think you could use to break your pattern or at least lower your emotional intensity in some way. (e.g.: Instead of being overwhelmed, say that you are “blessed with opportunity!”). The more a word creates a “feeling” the better, thus a silly word often works really well since it causes, at best, intense pleasure and, at worst, mild amusement.

You can also do a similar exercise to INTENSIFY positive emotions, experiences and feelings. If you can get into the habit of using words that leave you absolutely charged and pumped up, you will begin to experience life at a whole new level.

Again, think of three words you might routinely use to describe everyday things. (e.g.: My workout today was “OK”. The concert we went to on the weekend was “good.”) Now reword those sentences with words that intensify positive emotions. (e.g.: My workout today was UPLIFTING! The party we went to on the weekend was absolutely truly INSPIRING!)

In future columns, I’ll come back to mindset and describe how asking better questions and using “perspective” can move you in more positive directions.

Medical exercise specialist Ernie Schramayr helps his clients manage medical conditions with exercise. You can follow him at erniesfitnessworld.com; 905-741-7532 or erniesfitnessworld@gmail.com