I happened to be listening to another Tony Robbins session, and he made a point with great clarity — how we feel, determines how we act. So putting this together, if we find the words that inspire or empower us, we bring out our best in any situation.

I misread the quote at first blush and saw “laughing forms the grooves of the mind.” It is powerful stuff.

I love how it’s such a simple mantra to inspire a habit … changing language, changes lives.

@ Debbie — I like the way you own your feelings. Using “I” language takes our power back, stops the victim mindset, and stops blaming others or putting them into a defensive posture. I tend to use “I”, but often I *choose* to say, “you crack me up”, when somebody tickles my funny bone.

Our words do make us who we are. You say, “Empower yourself by swapping out more “HAVE TO”s with “CHOOSE TO”s. You will gradually break the ties that bind you, including your own.”

Words we say can empower ourselves and empower others. One that I always use when it comes to relationships with other is, “I feel” instead of “You make me Feel”. Something can be said and you take it a different way than is meant. You are not blaming anyone, but taking full responsiablity for how you feel. This keep the door open.

Thank you for the inspiration with words.
Blessings to you JD,
Debbie

I have a friend who has shared with me a Buddhist aphorism, “language forms the grooves of the mind”. That’s powerful stuff.

Even more powerful, as you’ve indicated, is that by choosing our words appropriately we can change the way we think & doing so can change our lives.

@ Jeffrey — Probably the most insightful information I’ve read on personality is in the book, What You Can Change and What You Can’t, by Martin Seligman. It’s a deep dive from the enduring to the more elastic aspects of who we are.

The other tomb of insight is Unlimited Power, by Tony Robbins. It’s a serious and significant dive into how we work, from the inside out. It’s amazing how much of who we are flows from our attitudes and beliefs.

One other amaZingly insightful guide is The Process Therapy Model: The Six Personality Types with Adaptations, by Taibi Kahler. The idea of a personality condominium is a powerful one.

Of course, I also enjoy the benefit of simple but powerful frames that focus on behavior preferences like Dr. K’s, Dealing with People You Can’t Stand … an all time classic.

In Israel we say: “The life and the death in the hands of the words.” (????? ?????? ??? ?????)