Positive or negative words/phrases?
Having recently discovered the importance of wellbeing and looking after myself, I have taken to writing lists, lists of tasks for which one I need to choose on a daily basis to make me feel good, lists of what I want in my life and a list of what I want in my perfect man.
However having re-read the titles of my lists I suddenly feel like I have become a petulant child….. I WANT, I WANT, I WANT…. I NEED, I NEED, I NEED…. Suddenly I have gone from feeling positive about writing a list to feeling a bit negative and that’s just because of the words that I have chosen.
There is nothing wrong or indeed negative in having aspirations or desires in life and actually just by thinking about the words ‘want’ and ‘need’ made me really think about what is important to me in achieving my life goals.
Let’s look at the dictionary definitions of these words;
WANT – Have a desire to possess or do something; should or need to do something
NEED – Require something because it is essential or very important; Expressing necessity or obligation; A thing that is wanted
I find it quite interesting that these two words are defined by each other; you want to have the need and you need to have the want…..I guess you could discuss these words all day long in various capacities but the point is that just by using particular words you can improve your wellbeing and feel positively amazing!
Below are the lists I have written for myself showing the original titles and what I have titled them now:
DAILY WELLBEING TASKS
Old Title: I need to achieve one of these tasks per day
New Title: Which activity will I achieve today to make me feel amazing
- Meditate
- Yoga
- Run
- Gym
- Exercise class
- Follow a healthy recipe
- Overnight oats
- Veg smoothie
- Write
- Phone a friend
Old Title: What do I want in my life?
New Title: What do I aspire to have in my life?
- Enjoy my job
- Enjoy my home
- Be close to water
- Be close to friends
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Fitness and running
- Time for myself
- Healthy eating
- Sunshine
Just by changing a couple of words in these titles I now feel more inspired to go out and achieve my list of goals. I want to encourage others to think about the words they use on a day to day basis.
Is it about wants and needs in life that will make it well balanced or is it about desires, aspirations that lead to the excitement of achieving your life list goals.
Write a list today and choose your words carefully!
About the Author
Louise Warren has 13 years experience in Sales, Marketing, PR and Event Management working within both agencies and high profile UK venues. An advocate of wellbeing for the events industry she is also co-founder of #EventWell17.
