Break free of flabby language syndrome

Sure it’s better than saying ‘Bugger off!’ or giving some other anti-social response, but it falls far short of the raving success you know is busting to get out.

You talk to yourself incessantly, to the tune of about nine gazillion messages per day. Your inner voice is like a relentless message stick whacking at your conscious and unconscious minds. If the messages you give yourself are not deliberate and focused, your conscious and unconscious minds will respond accordingly: in a flatulent, blob-like manner.

Your mind dictates behaviour and outcomes. And with flabby language that means gaseous, vague results in your business.

No one wants a farty, weak, bottom line, so how do you exchange droopy, limp results for strong, robust ones? Mind your mouth and mind your mind. Use strong, powerful, and resonant words and phrases.

Give your language a mini-makeover right now

From now on, when someone asks, ‘How are you?’, respond with any of the following:>

• Fantastic!
• Excited!
• Enthused!
• Inspired!
• Energised!
• Terrific!
• On top of the world!
• Fabulous!
• Over the moon!
• Extraordinary!
• Sensational!

Want more articles like this? Check out the  communication skills section.

Similarly, replace the word goal with intention, declaration or the even more rigorous command. As in, “It is my command to the Universe, myself, and my team to fulfil this vision.”

Replace wish and hope with decide. The burn all bridges kind of decide. Consider the difference between, “I hope I get there somehow” and “I’ve decided to get there somehow”. There is no doubting the outcome now. It will happen. The only thing left to figure out is how.

Replace I have to with I choose to. Compare “I have to get this task done” to “I choose to get this task done”. This gives you back your personal power.

Dump these common self-sabotaging expressions from your vocab

• Success is just around the corner: If it’s around the corner, you never get to see it, feel it, taste it. Instead try “Success is here now – I can smell it!”
• I’ll be a success when…: Why are you putting parameters around your success? If you’re going to be a success, then you need to be it now. Muhammad Ali said, “I kept saying I was the best before I believed it.” So take a leaf out of the phrase book of The Greatest, and say “I AM a success! I AM a highly paid and in-demand dog-trainer / hairdresser / accountant / coach / consultant.” Say it often enough and you’ll believe it and expect it, and others will come along for the ride.
• Someday my ship will come in: That sounds a little wimpy to me. And don’t tell me you’re swimming out to it, because that sounds far too tiring. How about this? ”My ship is here. I’m on the deck, guiding the rudder, setting sail, adjusting course. It’s a wild ride and I’m loving it!”

And finally, always remember my all time favourite piece of advice, from that great sage, Yoda: ”Try? Do or do not. There is no try.”

 Let’s take a light sabre to our flabby language together. What phrases are you banishing from your vocabulary, and what are you going to replace them with?

 May the Force be with you.