The Tiny Language Shift that Changes Everything

Have you ever noticed how the words you use shape the way you experience your day? Sometimes, it’s not the situation itself that weighs us down - it’s the language we attach to it. A single word can make something feel heavy… or empowering.

Here’s what I mean.

One of the most common phrases I hear from clients is:
“I have to work 80 hours a week.”
That sentence feels like a burden, right? But if you swap “have to” with “choose to,” it becomes:
“I choose to work 80 hours a week.”
Suddenly, it’s a decision. It acknowledges your agency. Even if the choice feels constrained, reframing it reminds you that you’re in the driver’s seat.

Here are a few more powerful swaps:

• “I’m too busy” → “I’m prioritizing.”
  Instead of feeling like your calendar owns you, this shift highlights that you’re consciously deciding what matters most.

• “I failed” → “I learned.”
  Failure carries shame. Learning carries growth. Same event, totally different energy.

• “I’m nervous” → “I’m excited.”
  Your body reacts almost the same way to nerves and excitement - heart racing, adrenaline pumping. Reframing nervousness as excitement primes you to rise to the occasion instead of shrinking back.

• “I’m stuck” → “I’m in the middle of figuring it out.”
  Being “stuck” feels like the end of the road. But being “in the middle of figuring it out” keeps you moving forward with curiosity and possibility.

These aren’t just word games - they’re perspective shifts. The more you practice catching and swapping out disempowering language, the more you’ll notice your confidence and energy shifting too.

Here’s a challenge for you this week:
Pay attention to one phrase you often repeat that feels heavy, limiting, or negative. Try a swap. See how it lands in your body. See how it changes your perspective.

The words you choose matter. And sometimes, they can be the very thing that helps you choose yourself.

Talk soon,
Niki