Words are powerful. The thoughts and words you use describe your reality not only to others but to your inner self. You create your reality with the words you choose. The language you use can empower you so that you are at choice or disempower you and put you in victim stance. The words that you habitually use affect how you communicate with yourself and how you experience your life. Simply by changing the words you use consistently you can change your life.
Listed below are disempowering words and phrases. The empowering words that you can use to replace them with are listed on the right. Use the extra spaces at the bottom of the chart for additional disempowering and empowering words.
| Disempowering | Empowering |
| should | choose, desire, want, could |
| need to | want to, choose to, desire to |
| have to | desire to |
| can't | am not willing to, choose not to |
| always, never | sometimes, often, seldom |
| must | choose, desire |
| but | and |
| try | intend, aim, will, can, commit to |
| nah, nope, huh-uh | No |
| yeah, uh-huh | Yes |
| just, only | I AM |
| maybe | |
| you make me | I feel, I am |
| you - used when talking about yourself | I |
| if only | next time |
| problem | opportunity, challenge |
Copyright 2004 Under One Roof