Game-Changing Word Swap #2 "From but to and"

Do you ever notice how it feels when you put a “but” in the middle of a sentence?

Like:

• I want to go to Paris but I don’t have the money.

• I wish I had a better marriage but we argue a lot.

• I would like to take better care of myself but I feel selfish when I take time for me.

• I want to lose 10 pounds but I hate dieting.

What happens if you shift each of those buts to an and?

• I want to go to Paris and I don’t have the money.

• I wish I had a better marriage and we argue a lot.

• I would like to take better care of myself and I feel selfish when I take time for me.

• I want to lose 10 pounds and I hate dieting.

Take a breath of kindness and ask yourself:

~ Hmmmm, how do I feel when I say those statements?

~ How do the buts feel different than the ands?

~ Which gives me a greater sense of options, possibilities and creative solutions?

Here’s what some of my clients have told me they notice:

** With the but statements there is a sense of a dead-end stop. End of conversation.

** With the but statements there is a conflict between the first part and the second - a conflict between what they want and the obstacle to getting it.

** Swapping in the and opens the door, lets us hold both parts as valuable and gives a sense of possibility of being able to find a way to move forward.

Can you feel how using the word and opens up energy and creative thinking? It opens the door to imagining possible ways you might be able go to Paris for cheap, improve your marriage, re-frame your ideas about selfishness and lose weight without dieting.

(Because you know, really, all of these are so very possible!)

Play with making a but / and swap for yourself.

Perhaps choose an area where you’ve been feeling a little stuck.

Write a sentence you’ve used, or might use, about that situation with a but in the middle.

____________________________but ____________________________.

Re-write it:

____________________________ and ___________________________.

Read it out loud and ask yourself: Hmmmm… which feels most useful in seeing possibilities and in creating the patterns and life I really want?

and - just like that! - one word, one thought, one day at a time, you can open up new possibilities and you can create the patterns and the life you really want.

Have any questions about why word habits matter, or how shifting yours can make a difference in your life? I’m here. Drop me an email.

Celebrating Your Creative Power of Choice!

Lea

PS Have you gotten your SOUL-BIG TREASURE TROVE yet? Be sure to get it now to access lots more fun tools to create the life- and the impact- you really want!