Making positivity a practice both in your self-talk and in your communications with others begins with awareness. Listen to yourself. Become aware of the number of times you say something negatively that could be phrased positively. Continually ask yourself before speaking, “How can I say this so it will be perceived in a positive way?”
Using positive phrases can turn what would have been a negative into a positive. The result is dramatic. The more you practice phrasing communications in the positive, the sooner it will become a new habit. A simple approach is to focus on what you want your children to do rather than on what you don’t want them to do. Eliminate disempowering, negative words such as “don’t,” “shouldn’t,” “can’t,” and “have to.” Replace them with empowering and enabling communications.
For example, “Don’t run in the house!” becomes “We walk in the house.” “You shouldn’t use your fingers when eating cake!” becomes “We use a fork when eating cake.” “You can’t ride your bicycle without a helmet!” becomes “Wearing your helmet will protect you.” You have to go to school!” becomes “You get to go to school.”
Positivity becomes a habit. It has been said that we make our habits and then our habits make us. This is certainly true of positivity. As thinking and communicating in positive ways become your new habit, you will notice how good it feels—and how much more effective you become.
