According to Henrik Hagtvedt, associate professor of marketing at Boston College and author of a study on how word choice influences behaviour, the phrases you choose help determine how successful you’ll be. Say that you’re going to ace your next challenge, not that you’re going to try. Rather than thinking, “I have to do my workout”, tell yourself that you get to push your limits. Say “I don’t quit”, not “I can’t quit”. These little language swops turn motivation sapping struggles into empowering opportunities for you to flex your talents, psyching you up to conquer your goals.
According to Henrik Hagtvedt, associate professor of marketing at Boston College and author of a study on how word choice influences behaviour, the phrases you choose help determine how successful you’ll be. Say that you’re going to ace your next challenge, not that you’re going to try. Rather than thinking, “I have to do my workout”, tell yourself that you get to push your limits. Say “I don’t quit”, not “I can’t quit”. These little language swops turn motivation sapping struggles into empowering opportunities for you to flex your talents, psyching you up to conquer your goals.
A sound trick to sharpen your mind
Check out this bit of focus pocus: Workers who listened to the sounds of a babbling brook performed better on a tough mental task than those who tackled it in silence, according to findings from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. “My hypothesis is that humans have evolved to find sounds in nature reassuring, while quiet can signal danger,” says researcher Jonas Braasch. “So silence may be distracting.” Download the Naturespace app (free, Google Play and iTunes), which hits all the right notes.
HEAR, HEAR!
“Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.”
MARIE KONDO, AUTHOR AND ORGANISING CONSULTANT
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