Contents
What is transformational vocabulary?
Transformational vocabulary is the process of replacing an old word which produces a unhealthy physiological state – with a more helpful, less dramatic word.
Why is transformational vocabulary important?
With the lesser known, magical powers of transformational vocabulary, we’re able to change our emotional reactions and states based upon the words and metaphores/phrases that we use constantly. After all, we become what we think about.
Where does the concept of transformational vocabulary originate from?
Tony Robbins, acclaimed personal development coach and public speaker, highlights the practise of transformational vocabulary in his book “Awaken The Giant Within”
Why is transformational vocabulary so powerful?
The reason why the process of transformational vocabulary is so powerful is because by simply changing some of the words you use on a daily basis with other words, it can affect your emotional state and overall mood during the day.
For instance, if you are prone to having a short temper, instead of using the word “angry” in your daily life, use a more goofy word such as “peeved” during your inner monologue and outward dialogue instead, maybe you’d find you’re not so angry after all?
Most people are not aware of the words they habitually use on a daily basis, so becoming more aware of them has many benefits, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Words have the power to create wars and conversely, make peace.
How does transformational vocabulary help during the COVID pandemic?
This pandemic we’re in right now is full of moments of uncertainty however, by changing our reaction to the developing events occurring, we can save ourselves a lot of emotional distress and wasted energy ruminating and worrying on the events.
When we ruminate less on a perceived “bad” event, we are more focused in the present moment and more interested in what needs to be done now.
TIP: Worrying about things that may or may not occur is bad for our health
Here are some hypothetical worries examples
If you turn on your favorite news channel or visit their dedicated website, you will likely feel as though your mood has decreased afterward.
This is because journalists typically elicit negative feelings and emotions with their words and headlines.
Some of the words they are using during this pandemic are the following:
- Forced
- Fear
- Skyrocketing (in reference to Covid-19 cases)
- Rapidly
- Doubling
- Big rise
- Restrictions
- Pressures
- Significant
- Constantly
- Terrifying
- Worried (you’ll hear this one a lot!)
- Anxious
- Awful
Instead of the question “How worried should we be?”, a lesser impacting question could be “How inquisitive should we be?”
Do you notice the lessened emotional impact? Take note, news editors.
TIP: (BREAKING NEWS)
Find out more about how the news affects your wellbeing
Other ways the news exacerbates your emotional intensity during the pandemic
Despite writing this post at the peak of the pandemic, the examples below indeed illustrate the problems with some of the language the media uses and how it can affect your emotional state in a negative way.
Making the reader imagine and fortune tell negative events in their mind (eg. “Cases could reach 200,000 daily)
Effect: Worry. It may, or may not happen. The not knowing part makes people anxious and fearful instead of being prepared and being informed by hard facts.
Exaggeration (with use of words)
Effect: Emotional state. Anchors and people on news reports as well as political campaigns will use words like terrible, awful and dreadful to describe the disease of Coronavirus. If they used the words ‘significant virus’ – how different would you feel in your body compared to the emotional words they used?
Close-up, drawn out shots of patients with Covid
Sombre use of music in journalism to intensify certain clips
Listen to the clever use of sad and low mood music advertisers use in propaganda commercials. If they didn’t use that music, the commercial or coverage may not have the same effect.
Imaginative use of video editing such as slow-motion effects or transitions
How can I change negative words to positive words?
If you already have good insight as to what words you’re using already, write out a table with one column with the heading of Old Word (then list the words you’ve identified)
Then, in another column, write New Word, replacing the old words with a lesser-impacting word which could make you smile or even make you laugh.
If you don’t have that insight though yet, try recording yourself with a audio recorder on events you know you’ll find difficult and identifying what words you use regularly.
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