A Quick Review of the Pain-to-Power Vocabulary

As we start 2019, many of us will be looking to reset and recharge ourselves with new goals to achieve in the upcoming year. As we talked about in the newsletter article, the quote, “Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation,” from motivational guru Zig Ziglar puts into perspective how the things we want don’t just happen, we have to make them happen. We have to take charge and take action.

A great place to start is by looking at the way we think and speak. Susan wrote extensively about the Pain-to-Power Vocabulary in Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. How we think and talk about something can leave us powerless or make us powerful. In terms of what we’re talking about this month, we want to narrow it down to just one section of the Pain-to-Power chart. Susan wrote:

“It’s a problem” is another deadening phrase. It’s heavy and negative. “It’s an opportunity” opens the door to growth. Each time you can see the gift in life’s obstacles, you can handle difficult situations in a rewarding way. Each time you have the opportunity to stretch your capacity to handle the world, the more powerful you become.

As we are looking at making changes in our lives, preparing to open doors to new and wonderful things, we need to think hard about the way we use our words, taking care to use words that makes us more powerful.