Comments on: 10 Ways to Improve Your Happiness by Changing Your Vocabulary http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/ Practical Personal Development Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:36:13 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: gabriella moran http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-134327 gabriella moran Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:18:16 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-134327 the best for you the best for you

]]> By: Pace Smith http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-131028 Pace Smith Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:02:34 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-131028 Thanks, Adam! Thanks, Adam!

]]> By: Adam@ZenTactics.com http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-130737 Adam@ZenTactics.com Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:29:47 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-130737 I think getting rid of the word "have to" was good. "Have to" definitely makes you feel obligated and drains your energy - it implies you have no choice. Great post! I think getting rid of the word “have to” was good. “Have to” definitely makes you feel obligated and drains your energy – it implies you have no choice. Great post!

]]> By: Pursuit of Happiness: 32 Keys to Fulfillment | IQ Matrix Blog http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-124947 Pursuit of Happiness: 32 Keys to Fulfillment | IQ Matrix Blog Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:57:30 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-124947 [...] 10 Ways to Improe Your Happiness by Changing Your Vocabulary @ Practical Personal Development [...] [...] 10 Ways to Improe Your Happiness by Changing Your Vocabulary @ Practical Personal Development [...]

]]> By: Rephrase and Improve Your ‘Tude | Indigo Spot http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-107308 Rephrase and Improve Your ‘Tude | Indigo Spot Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:07:41 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-107308 [...] over to Alex’s site and read Pace’s article. It’s enlightening. It reminded me to check my mental dialog and rephrase for a better [...] [...] over to Alex’s site and read Pace’s article. It’s enlightening. It reminded me to check my mental dialog and rephrase for a better [...]

]]> By: Pace http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-96148 Pace Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:09:43 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-96148 @Bethany: Some other categories of words that Kyeli and I have worked on eliminating from our vocabulary are: - wishy-washy words like "like" when it's not necessary (which, we've found, is most of the time) - Christian words (we're not Christian, but it's still hard to break the habit of saying "Oh my God" or other related phrases) - sexual and bodily function swear words (I don't like the idea of implying that sex and bodily functions are bad, but yowzers, it sure is hard to find alternatives that don't totally spatoot the patootie.) Those are a few of ours. I'm sure that people will have differing priorities. Even limiting words help people feel safe and secure inside their shells of limitations. If that's what you truly feel best serves you, then maybe that's right for you. Please let me know if you come up with some more categories; I'd be interested to hear what you come up with! (: @Bethany: Some other categories of words that Kyeli and I have worked on eliminating from our vocabulary are:

- wishy-washy words like “like” when it’s not necessary (which, we’ve found, is most of the time)

- Christian words (we’re not Christian, but it’s still hard to break the habit of saying “Oh my God” or other related phrases)

- sexual and bodily function swear words (I don’t like the idea of implying that sex and bodily functions are bad, but yowzers, it sure is hard to find alternatives that don’t totally spatoot the patootie.)

Those are a few of ours. I’m sure that people will have differing priorities. Even limiting words help people feel safe and secure inside their shells of limitations. If that’s what you truly feel best serves you, then maybe that’s right for you. Please let me know if you come up with some more categories; I’d be interested to hear what you come up with! (:

]]> By: Bethany http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-96136 Bethany Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:57:24 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-96136 A useful post - I have been incorporating the first eight in to my vocabulary for a while, and have been finding it very helpful. The last two, however, are a new suggestion. Thank you for the additional advice! It makes me wonder if there are other categories of "landmine words", things that we (I?) would be better served by avoiding. Obligation, Limits, Violence; what else do we (I?) want to eliminate from our (my?) vocabulary. (Parentheticals included since it is entirely possible we have differing priorities. My desires and goals here may well not be universal. Perhaps some people or situations even benefit from obligations and limiting phrases?) A useful post – I have been incorporating the first eight in to my vocabulary for a while, and have been finding it very helpful. The last two, however, are a new suggestion. Thank you for the additional advice! It makes me wonder if there are other categories of “landmine words”, things that we (I?) would be better served by avoiding. Obligation, Limits, Violence; what else do we (I?) want to eliminate from our (my?) vocabulary.

(Parentheticals included since it is entirely possible we have differing priorities. My desires and goals here may well not be universal. Perhaps some people or situations even benefit from obligations and limiting phrases?)

]]> By: Pace http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94872 Pace Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:45:39 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94872 @Juliet: Yay! I love rephrasing "difficult", in fact I use "challenging" or "interesting" myself! @Prashant: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! @Vincent: Agreed! @$$: Thanks! @Juliet: Yay! I love rephrasing “difficult”, in fact I use “challenging” or “interesting” myself!

@Prashant: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

@Vincent: Agreed!

@$$: Thanks!

]]> By: Money Money http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94672 Money Money Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:46:03 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94672 Such a fantastic post. I loved what i read. Ill make sure to follow 10 next time around :) Such a fantastic post. I loved what i read. Ill make sure to follow 10 next time around :)

]]> By: Vincent http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94643 Vincent Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:29:32 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94643 Impossible. I believe this is one of the most overused, and misused word. Whenever people say impossible, they kill off any possibility of succeeding in whatever they want to do. Just take a look at Adidas slogan, "Impossible is nothing." We should have this motto in our life. Cheers Vincent Personal Development Blogger Impossible. I believe this is one of the most overused, and misused word. Whenever people say impossible, they kill off any possibility of succeeding in whatever they want to do. Just take a look at Adidas slogan, “Impossible is nothing.” We should have this motto in our life.

Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger

]]> By: Prashant @ Self Improvement Advice http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94596 Prashant @ Self Improvement Advice Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:02:08 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94596 Changing your internal dialogue is a great way to put a positive spin on things, and I had touched upon this in my self improvement website as well. Changing our daily vocabulary is an excellent way to achieve this objective, and your article neatly summarizes simple ways to do this. Thanks for sharing! Prashant Changing your internal dialogue is a great way to put a positive spin on things, and I had touched upon this in my self improvement website as well. Changing our daily vocabulary is an excellent way to achieve this objective, and your article neatly summarizes simple ways to do this. Thanks for sharing!

Prashant

]]> By: LifeMadeGreat | Juliet http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94566 LifeMadeGreat | Juliet Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:39:25 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94566 Hi Great reminders. We don't know what we are instilling in our mind and lives without realising it simply by our choice of words. Add one? Mm, "difficult" Something doesn't have to be "difficult", it can be "challenging" or even "interesting" Juliet Hi

Great reminders. We don’t know what we are instilling in our mind and lives without realising it simply by our choice of words.

Add one? Mm, “difficult”
Something doesn’t have to be “difficult”, it can be “challenging” or even “interesting”

Juliet

]]> By: Pace http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94489 Pace Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:10:55 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94489 @Jeremy: Thanks! @J.D.: That's exciting. I think I'll start asking people to test their can'ts too. Thanks for sharing that! @Jeremy: Thanks!

@J.D.: That’s exciting. I think I’ll start asking people to test their can’ts too. Thanks for sharing that!

]]> By: J.D. Meier - Sources of Insight http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94470 J.D. Meier - Sources of Insight Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:53:00 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94470 Great list of top life shaping words! Our mindsets shape our thoughts shape our feelings shape our actions. When people tell me they can't, I ask them to prove it. It's funny what people learn when they test their can'ts. Great list of top life shaping words!

Our mindsets shape our thoughts shape our feelings shape our actions.

When people tell me they can’t, I ask them to prove it. It’s funny what people learn when they test their can’ts.

]]> By: Jeremy Day http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94442 Jeremy Day Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:50:50 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94442 Sorry. Read it too fast! hehe. Thank you Pace and Kyeli for an awesome article! J Sorry. Read it too fast! hehe. Thank you Pace and Kyeli for an awesome article!

J

]]> By: Jeremy Day http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94441 Jeremy Day Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:49:09 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94441 Hi Alex, Should is my most hated word on the face of the planet. Glad it ranks # 1 in most awful words that sap your happiness. Great article. Thumbs up! Cheers, Jeremy Hi Alex,

Should is my most hated word on the face of the planet. Glad it ranks # 1 in most awful words that sap your happiness. Great article. Thumbs up!

Cheers,
Jeremy

]]> By: Pace http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94414 Pace Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:53:53 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94414 @Maria: That's cool. Or at least partially cool. (: It reminds me of another rephrasing I use often, which is saying "challenging" instead of "difficult". It reframes it as something I can use to stretch my limits and increase my skills, as opposed to something that's simply annoyingly hard. @Maria: That’s cool. Or at least partially cool. (: It reminds me of another rephrasing I use often, which is saying “challenging” instead of “difficult”. It reframes it as something I can use to stretch my limits and increase my skills, as opposed to something that’s simply annoyingly hard.

]]> By: Maria | Never the Same River Twice http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94409 Maria | Never the Same River Twice Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:57:34 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94409 Isn't it amazing how easily we can reframe things and instantly make ourselves feel better in the process? My former supervisor never said the word "Problem." Instead, she always found a way to rephrase and turn something into an "Opportunity." Even though I knew it was a clever trick to talk me down off the ledge of piss-offed-ness, it worked every time! Isn’t it amazing how easily we can reframe things and instantly make ourselves feel better in the process?

My former supervisor never said the word “Problem.” Instead, she always found a way to rephrase and turn something into an “Opportunity.” Even though I knew it was a clever trick to talk me down off the ledge of piss-offed-ness, it worked every time!

]]> By: 10 Ways to Improve Your Happiness by Changing Your Vocabulary | Pace and Kyeli http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94401 10 Ways to Improve Your Happiness by Changing Your Vocabulary | Pace and Kyeli Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:56:25 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94401 [...] I wrote a guest post for Alex Shalman called 10 Ways to Improve Your Happiness by Changing Your Vocabulary. [...] [...] I wrote a guest post for Alex Shalman called 10 Ways to Improve Your Happiness by Changing Your Vocabulary. [...]

]]> By: Megan M. http://www.alexshalman.com/2008/12/19/10-ways-to-improve-your-happiness-by-changing-your-vocabulary/comment-page-1/#comment-94322 Megan M. Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:13:01 +0000 http://www.alexshalman.com/?p=1452#comment-94322 I love it! Awesome post. I love it! Awesome post.

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