No Worries? No Problem!

Habitual Speech Patterns

Another year is underway and the tradition of making a New Year’s Resolution presents itself. Often, we fail to keep our pledges as they can be over ambitious.

This year, how about making a personal resolution to use positive speech? Avoid the negative, or worse, double negative connotations that phrases like ‘no problem’ or ‘no worries’ carry.

When I was a marketing consultant to the environment agency, I attended a course on how using negative words can sap our energy. ‘No problem’ was used as an example. One of the managers was invited to come to the stage and say these words. Next, the facilitator stood behind the manager and asked her to raise her arms to shoulder level. She repeated ‘no problem’ at the same time as the facilitator pushed her arms down to her sides. It was an easy exercise to push down her arms, overcoming the resistance of the speaker. Then, the phrase, ‘yes I can’ was used to replace ‘no problem’. The exercise was repeated, this time the manager easily kept her arms up, despite the downward pressure exerted by the facilitator. Everyone tried this positive versus negative speech exercise. All agreed that it was significantly easier to stand strong and feel positive when using positive language.

‘No’ is negative. ‘Problem’ is a negative too. So many people use this phrase habitually without considering the effect of the words on themselves. The listener, too, receives a double negative phrase.

How about using “Yes I can”, or, “Yes that is possible”, or “Yes that will work”, instead? Using positive language is a great way to improve your mood and energy levels. Using positive words demonstrates commitment, clarity and leadership to others.

Feeling positive about what you are saying is also a powerful trigger for using your voice well. Take a breath, check your posture for good, upright, open body language and say ‘Yes, that is a good result.’

Our mind, body and the words we communicate are all linked up together and sometimes it is important to check what we are saying is really what we mean. This January, start your New Year’s Resolution with the determination to use positive words and to convey positive energy through those words. Changing how we speak takes time and practise and the results can have a remarkably positive effect on those around you, as well as how you feel about yourself.

Give yourself short goals to achieve each day. Think of a phrase you might habitually use and challenge yourself to create a more positive phrase. Repeat that phrase and use it often – notice how it makes you feel, and the way people respond to you.

Gradually build this up to avoid negative words or phrases wherever you can. Remember to breath in and open your shoulders to offer a positive posture and body language. It is fun, it is achievable and it is a great way of communicating!
Happy New Year!

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