Simple Verbal Change Makes Enormous Difference

(SANEPR.com) April 6, 2009 -- March 5, 2009

In an article in the free self-empowerment e-magazine, No Limits, Dr Linda Sapadin states, "How you end your statement can change how you feel about a given situation. Some endings create feelings of hopelessness and helplessness; others trigger feelings of effectiveness and empowerment.'
Can such a simple thing like changing the way one ends a sentence trigger, as is claimed in the article, "... feelings of effectiveness and empowerment"?
Here’s an exercise that will help clarify this point:
Complete the following two sentences with matter relevant to your life:
“I can’t ...”
“I don’t know how …”
Now, keep the same sentence but also complete the new phrase.
“I can’t … but one thing I can do is …”
“I don’t know how … but one thing I do know is…”
What did you notice when you did this exercise? Most people notice that this simple, verbal change helps them feel less overwhelmed, more empowered. Any given situation no longer seems so insurmountable.
According to Dr Sapadin it pays to pay attention to how you end your sentences. She states, "Notice if your endings are usually pessimistic or upbeat. Ending on a more positive note can turn your life around."
Read these two sentences:
“The weather has been nice most of the summer but it’s awful this weekend.”
“The weather is awful this weekend but it’s been nice most of the summer.”
Same words. Different order. Which ending do you think is better for your frame of mind?
Dr. Sapadin is a psychologist, personal coach, and author living in New York. Her column, Person to Person is published weekly. She writes about intimate relationships, personality styles, communication, parenting and personal growth.

Read the full article in the current issue of No Limits.
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