Six Simple Ways to Take Charge of Your Brain Using the Power of Words

1. The words "quit" and "stop" bring about opposite behaviors. Ever told yourself that you were going to quit (smoking, drinking, nail-biting, swearing, etc.)? Perhaps it worked for a while, and then you started up again.

Tell yourself, "I am going to  STOP doing (fill in the blank)," and you will stop. The word "stop" implies committing.

2. The word "lose" is another word to consider. How about the person who wants to lose weight and then finds it again? Social influences teach us that if we lose something, we need to find it!

3. The word "try" implies failure 50 percent of the time. Often we use the word "try" when we don't want to do something.

For instance, "I'll try to make the luncheon next week" suggests that there is a good chance that you probably won't get there.

Of course, if you want to go, you can happily exclaim, "I'll be there. See you then."

4. The little word "but" has a lot of authority. It can wipe out whole sentences all by itself.

If you respond to someone with, I'd like to meet up with you, BUT I can't, I have too much to do." You have canceled out the first part of your sentence in their mind with the "but" word.

What the other person hears and remembers is, "I can't," which often can feel like a rejection to them, like they are not important to you.

Instead, think about responding with, "I'd like to meet with you; can I take a rain check on it, though? I have lots to do today."

5. Your brain likes "choices" instead of untruths. It is no different from you. It doesn't want to be told something false.

When you are feeling nervous, try stating to yourself, "I am calm and relaxed." The inner mind rears up with that old childhood chant, "Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah, that's what you think"!

Inform yourself instead, "I CHOOSE to be calm and relaxed no matter what." Notice how much more confident and uplifted you feel when you offer a choice to yourself.

6. The brain has no image for negative words such as "no," "don't," "can't," "won't, "not," and so on. The brain processes "things" as images. Think of a car... and your brain produces a picture of a car instead of the word c-a-r spelled out.

Now don't think of a pink elephant. What's this? Your brain created an image of a pink elephant! But wait, you told it not to.

Consider this example, "I don't want to forget to stop by the store today." Of course, you arrive home having forgotten to stop by the store!

Your brain heard, "I want to forget to stop by the store today." Most of the time, your brain will completely zone what you had planned on doing.

Instead, tell yourself, "I want to REMEMBER to stop by the store today," and you will be way more likely to recall your intention.

TIP: When you want to remember something successfully, have your brain picture yourself doing it. The more bizarre, outrageous, and creative your image, the more likely you will remember it; imagine a cartoon of a rider carrying his horse!

Dianne Ruth, CCH, PhD
Doctor of Clinical & Counseling Psychology
Anxiety/Depression Care Coach & Holistic Counselor in person or by phone

About the Author

Dr. Dianne Ruth is Board Certified in Advanced Hypnosis and Certified Master in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), EFT, and TFT. She is also a Master Level Board Certified Communicator with Internationally Recognized Credentials. Dianne Ruth, CCH, PhD can legitimately boast a 97% Success Rate.

She has coached thousands of clients over the past 37+ years, enriching the success of multi-millionaires and financially strapped students.

Dr. Ruth specializes in short-term, drug-free anxiety and related depression recovery. She does this with international, national, and local clients personally and by phone with overwhelming success.

For inquires and a Free Personal and Confidential Consultation, no strings, no obligation, no commitment, call Dr. Dianne Ruth at (619) 961-7500.