Last year, we focused on words meant to improve your financial condition. The year before that, we honed in on words that improved positivity. So, I thought that I would switch it up a bit this year. As I was thinking about what words to add to our vocabulary for the year, one crucial thing crossed my mind. That is, how words we’ve used for years contribute to our unfortunate life circumstances. Some words seem to mean the same thing, but one may have a negative connotation. What’s sad is we don’t even realize how harmful these words are in shaping our mindset. One phrase I want us to look at this month is the phrase “I’m sorry.”
Take a moment to reflect on that. We usually say that as a way to apologize to people. Let’s take that same word and use it in another context. “That guy over there is so sorry.” I’m sure you didn’t immediately think to yourself, “he is an apologetic person.” Instead, your assumption probably is that he is a complete loser. So, let’s go back to the initial phrase I mentioned: “I’m sorry.” This word is probably giving you blurred lines right now. In one breath, it is a way of apologizing, and in another breath, it means a pathetic loser. Do you see where I’m going with this?
BE CAREFUL ABOUT USING THE WORDS “I’M SORRY”
Sometimes we have to be careful with the words we use, mainly because they can affect us negatively. While you may be apologetic, repeating the phrase “I’m sorry” to yourself for years can eventually turn you into a pathetic loser unintentionally. Some of the words we use have probably been passed down from generation to generation by people who, just like you, don’t even realize why we say the things we do. And because there is so much feeling behind these words when we use them to apologize, that can make the word have even more power.
So, this year, we will focus on eliminating words and phrases like this out of our vocabulary and replacing them with better substitutes. For example, instead of saying the words “I’m sorry” and programming ourselves into losers, let’s try to use the words “I apologize” more often.
Remember, words manifest things, so don’t go around manifesting a miserable life for yourself. Instead, incorporate this new phrase into your vocabulary this month until it becomes a habit. Then, next month, I will have another phrase for us to work on to improve our well-being through words.
Review last month’s Phrase of the Month.
