18/05/2025
ON SUNDAY MAY 18, 2025 theSunday Special IX
Hush: Never utter these
words out loud
BY CECELIA FONG
Y OU’VE made plans to be more present, pick up meditation, read more and lead a healthier lifestyle. But have you ever FRQVLGHUHG UH¿QLQJ WKH ZD\ \RX VSHDN" :KLOH ZH RIWHQ IRFXV RQ KDELWV URXWLQHV DQG RXWZDUG JRDOV RQH SRZHU ful tool that is often overlooked is our ODQJXDJH ± QRW MXVW ZKDW ZH VD\ WR RWKHUV EXW DOVR ZKDW ZH VD\ WR RXUVHOYHV W H¶YH DOO KHDUG WKH SKUDVH ³ZRUGV KDYH SRZHU ´ $QG WKH\ GR QRW EHFDXVH ZRUGV FDQ PDJLFDOO\ DOWHU UHDOLW\ EXW EHFDXVH they shape perception and perception LQIOXHQFHV HYHU\WKLQJ 2XU ODQJXDJH reveals our self-belief, our mindset and VRPHWLPHV RXU IHDUV 6XEWOH ZRUGV DQG SKUDVHV FDQ HPSRZHU RU TXLHWO\ XQGHU PLQH XV ZKHWKHU ZH¶UH QHJRWLDWLQJ D GHDO JLYLQJ IHHGEDFN RU MXVW WU\LQJ WR JHW WKURXJK WKH GD\ 2XU ZRUGV PDWWHU H HUH DUH D IHZ ZRUGV DQG SKUDVHV \RX VKRXOG FRQVLGHU UHWLULQJ IURP \RXU GDLO\ YRFDEXODU\ HVSHFLDOO\ LI \RX ZDQW WR EH VHHQ DV FRQ¿GHQW UHOLDEOH DQG LQWHQWLRQDO Maybe “ 0D\EH ,¶OO JHW WR LW ´ ³0D\EH ZH FDQ PHHW XS QH[W ZHHN ´ :KLOH LW PD\ IHHO non-committal and safe, especially for FRQÀLFW DYHUVH 0DOD\VLDQV ZKR YDOXH KDU PRQ\ ³PD\EH´ DFWXDOO\ VHQGV WKH ZURQJ VLJQDO ,W FRPPXQLFDWHV LQGHFLVLYHQHVV RU D ODFN RI LQWHQW ,PDJLQH EHLQJ DSSURDFKHG E\ D VDOHVSHUVRQ ZKR VD\V ³0D\EH WKLV SURGXFW ZLOO ZRUN IRU \RX ´ 1RW H[DFWO\ FRQ¿GHQFH LQVSLULQJ LV LW" W KHQ \RX XVH ³PD\EH´ WRR RIWHQ people start to doubt your reliability. 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I think “ , WKLQN ZH VKRXOG WDNH WKLV URXWH ´ ³, WKLQN WKLV LV D EHWWHU RSWLRQ ´ It’s another phrase that softens your PHVVDJH RIWHQ XQQHFHVVDULO\ ,W¶V ILQH WR RIIHU D SHUVRQDO RSLQLRQ LQ D JURXS FKDW DERXW GLQQHU SODQV +RZHYHU LW FDQ UHGXFH \RXU DXWKRULW\ LQ GHFLVLRQ PDNLQJ FRQWH[WV SDUWLFXODUO\ LQ ZRUN HQYLURQ ments. 7U\ UHSODFLQJ ³, WKLQN´ ZLWK ³, EHOLHYH´ RU MXVW PDNH WKH VWDWHPHQW GLUHFWO\ ³7KLV URXWH PDNHV PRUH VHQVH EHFDXVH ´ ,W¶V PRUH FRQ¿GHQW DQG LQVSLUHV WUXVW I’m sorry (when you don’t need to be) “ 6RUU\ FDQ , DVN D TXHVWLRQ"´ ³6RUU\ , QHHG D PLQXWH ´ I Q 0DOD\VLDQ FXOWXUH ZH¶UH RIWHQ WDXJKW WR EH SROLWH DQG VHOI H̆ DFLQJ EXW RYHU DSRORJLVLQJ FDQ PDNH \RX VHHP OHVV FRQ¿GHQW 2I FRXUVH DSRORJLVH ZKHQ \RX¶YH PDGH D PLVWDNH EXW GRQ¶W DSRORJLVH IRU H[LVWLQJ RU WDNLQJ XS VSDFH I QVWHDG RI ³6RUU\ IRU WKH GHOD\´ WU\ ³7KDQN \RX IRU \RXU SDWLHQFH ´ ,W VKLIWV WKH WRQH IURP JXLOW WR JUDWLWXGH ZKLFK LV IDU PRUH HPSRZHULQJ I’m not good at … S HOI GHSUHFDWLQJ KXPRXU LV HQGHDULQJ EXW LI \RX FRQVWDQWO\ VD\ ³,¶P QRW JRRG DW WHFK ´ ³,¶P WHUULEOH ZLWK QDPHV´ RU ³,¶P KRSHOHVV ZLWK PRQH\ ´ \RX¶UH UHLQIRUFLQJ that belief. W RUGV KDYH SRZHU DQG ZKDW \RX VD\ about yourself becomes your narrative. ,QVWHDG RI VKXWWLQJ WKH GRRU RQ \RXU JURZWK WU\ VD\LQJ ³,¶P OHDUQLQJ ´ ³,¶P ZRUNLQJ RQ LW´ RU ³,¶P LPSURYLQJ LQ WKDW DUHD ´ Final thoughts THE words we speak daily shape how others perceive us and more importantly, how we perceive ourselves. If you want to step into the best version of you, take a moment to tune into the language you use. Empowering speech isn’t about be ing perfect or forceful – it’s about being clear, intentional and kind to yourself. So the next time you’re tempted to say “maybe,” pause. Choose a word that moves you forward, not keeps you stuck. Because sometimes, the secret to real change isn’t a new habit but a better sentence. 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