Speak Differently

I have spent many years thinking about whether what we say has an influence on what happens. My conclusion is that it does. I cannot choose what happens to me, but I can choose how I react to it. It’s here, in our reactions, that we have to learn to speak differently. It starts by paying attention to what you are thinking. To speak things that have a good effect on your physiology you need to be intentionally monitoring your self-talk, the thoughts that you have. They impact your reality.

I thought I would be a little provocative in this week’s blog, so forgive me for any offence. I want people to be free and make the right choices about what they think, speak and do. Dr Caroline Leaf (Neuroscientist) in her book “Switch On your Brain,” says this:

“Thoughts are real, physical things that occupy mental real estate. Moment by moment, every day, you are changing the structure of your brain through your thinking. When we hope, it is an activity of the mind that changes the structure of our brain in a positive and normal direction.” 

Dr Leaf has spent many years researching these things. Essentially, she is saying, what you think and therefore vocalise has an effect on your physiology. When it’s negative, this effect is adverse. It’s the same when we agree with something negative someone else says over us. This is huge.

Hundreds of years ago, Solomon a wise King said, ‘as a man thinks so he is.’ He wasn’t being gender specific – we are all affected by the way we think. As you come out of this pandemic it is tempting to become a victim, and yet some have thrived, and some have barely survived.

Does how you view things affect the outcome?

This quote is attributed to Einstein: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

What are you thinking and saying, to yourself and to those you lead?

I have to say I do not always pay attention to what I am saying either to myself or others. But spoken words have impact.

Mind hacks on speaking differently

  1. Pay attention to what you are thinking. Is there another way of looking at things?
  2. Spend time with people who will build you up.
  3. Be careful about what you agree with – just because someone says something to you doesn’t make it true.
  4. Speak with a clear view of the impact of your words – what outcome do you want?
  5. Slow down your response. We often just react to what is said to us, but what if you paused and were pro-active instead?
  6. We either speak from love or fear, think about where your words are coming from.

Let me know what you do to be intentional in what you say and think, and what has worked for you so you see things differently.

Stay safe.

Picture of Mark Billage

Mark Billage

Mark’s passion is to help realise individuals’ potential, be they leaders or team members, through empowering organisational culture. He has spent 7 years leading an organisation based in the non profit sector. In that time, he focused on creating a culture that enabled and empowered individuals, with the aim of seeing a high performing team better able to achieve the organisation’s mission.

Our Vision

To train and equip leaders to transform culture, build successful teams and organisations where everyone is seen, heard and valued for their unique contribution.

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