Words are much more powerful than we believe them to be. I was brought up in a household in which I was discouraged from saying negative things because my Mother believed that “if you vocalize something then it has a stronger likelihood of coming true.” At first I thought she was full of it, but I have come to learn that the things that we say and how we say them do really matter.
An area in which I feel that our words can strongly impact our mentality is with perceptions of body image. I am constantly hearing people talk about parts of their body they dislike or what they wish was different about them. Instead of talking about what we do not like, we should talk about how we can make ourselves feel better about what we are working with when it comes to our bodies.
Don’t say: I have to go to the gym today…
Do say: I want to go to the gym today
If you begin talking about how you want to go to they gym, it will make it sound like a fun activity rather than a chore. This will put you in a better spirits while you are at the gym and will make your exercise even more gratifying.
Don’t say: I need to eat a salad.
Do say: I should try something healthy today.
I want to bust the myth that salads imply healthy living. Sure they do not have the carbohydrates of a sandwich, but there are certain salads (usually the best ones) that are just as unhealthy. Instead of forcing yourself into a world of only greens, explore your healthy options. Again, do not say you “need” to do it, but encourage yourself to try something new.
Don’t say: I hate my legs.
Do say: I want my legs to be stronger.
Giving yourself a goal rather than an insult will automatically allow you to look at yourself in a more positive manner. You will feel more motivated and that drive will be far more incentivizing, where as putting yourself down will only make you feel worse about yourself and hinder your progress.
Don’t say: I wish I looked like *so and so*
Do say: *So and so* is so admirable for *x, y, z*.
You should never want to look like anybody but yourself, but you most certainly should have people who admire you and inspire you to be a better version of yourself.
Don’t say: I want to be skinny.
Do say: I want to be healthy.
There is a wild difference between being skinny and being healthy, and in reality you want to have the latter. The “perfect body” is different for every individual, but health is a commonality that we should all strive for. Whatever your healthy looks like to you, then let that be your goal instead of fitting into a small dress size.
