The Words We Choose Shape the Life We Live

Let me ask you something: “If every word you spoke today became the story of your tomorrow, would you choose them differently?”

I’ve watched people, friends, colleagues, salespeople, entrepreneurs - diminish themselves without even realizing it. They say things like, “I’ll try,” or “It’s not for me,” or “People won’t buy from me.” Those phrases may seem harmless, but they’re not. They’re seeds. And seeds grow. The problem is these seeds don’t grow into confidence, belief, or success. They grow into weeds that choke out possibilities.

The Hidden Power of Words

Here’s the truth: your mind doesn’t know the difference between fact and fiction, between what you say and what you mean. It simply takes what you give it, processes it, and builds a framework around it. In other words, your brain is listening to you.

When you say, “I’ll try,” your mind hears, “I probably won’t.” When you say, “It’s not for me,” your brain registers, “I’m not capable.” Repeat those phrases often enough, and your mind wires those messages into your default system. That’s how people unknowingly reinforce their own barriers.

But the reverse is also true. Just as your brain can be programmed in a negative direction, it can also be rewired toward growth, positivity, and resilience. That shift begins with reframing.

Reframing: A Conscious Choice

Reframing isn’t about pretending everything is perfect. It’s about being deliberate with your words, so your brain starts to build the right patterns.

• Instead of saying “I’ll try,” say “I will.” One is tentative, the other decisive.
• Instead of “I can’t do this,” say “I’m learning how to do this.” The first ends the conversation; the second opens possibility.
• Instead of “Why would anyone buy from me?” flip it to “Why wouldn’t they buy from me?” That one shift can turn doubt into confidence.

Over time, these simple flips carve new pathways in the brain, reinforcing belief instead of doubt, potential instead of limitation.

15 Common Self-Diminishing Phrases and How to Reframe Them

Here are 15 phrases I hear all the time, along with powerful alternatives that rewire the brain toward confidence and possibility:

1. “I’ll try.” -  “I will.”
2. “I can’t do this.” -  “I’m learning to do this.”
3. “That’s not for me.” - “I can explore this and see what’s possible.”
4. “I’m not good enough.” - “I’m growing stronger every day.”
5. “Why would anyone buy from me?” - “Why wouldn’t they buy from me?”
6. “I don’t deserve success.” - “I’ve earned the right to succeed.”
7. “I’m too old for this.” - “My experience gives me an edge.”
8. “I’m too young for this.” - “My fresh perspective is an advantage.”
9. “That’s just the way I am.” - “I can always improve and evolve.”
10. “I failed.” - “I learned something valuable.”
11. “It’s impossible.” - “It hasn’t been done yet.”
12. “I don’t have time.” - “I will make time for what matters.”
13. “I’m not smart enough.” - “I can learn what I need to know.”
14. “I always mess this up.” - “I’m getting better each time.”
15. “That’s just luck.” - “I created this opportunity.”

These reframes may look simple on paper, but they’re powerful in practice. Your subconscious doesn’t know the difference between truth and belief. Feed it belief long enough, and it will create truth.

My Own Experience

I’ve lived this personally. I’ve caught myself slipping into old patterns, saying something like “I’ll try to get to that,” when in reality, I either will, or I won’t. When I stop and reframe, the energy shifts immediately. “I will get to that” has a completely different weight.

When I coach salespeople, I hear diminishing language all the time. “I’ll give it a shot.” “Maybe I can make it happen.” That kind of talk telegraphs uncertainty. I’ll stop them right there and ask, “What happens if you flip that? What if you say, ‘I will make this happen’?” The change is instant. Their posture improves, their energy lifts, and most importantly, their results improve.

Why? Because spoken belief carries power. Words are not filler; they are commands to your subconscious.

Training the Brain: Practical Steps

So, how do we recircuit our brains? Here are some steps I’ve used myself and with the people I train:

1. Catch Yourself in the Act. The first step is awareness. Pay attention to your words. Do they lean toward doubt or determination?
2. Flip the Script. Every limiting phrase has a more empowering counterpart. Make the flip a daily habit.
3. Speak It Until You Believe It. Repetition builds pathways. Your brain rewires through consistent input, not one-off effort.
4. Surround Yourself with Better Language. The voices around you matter. Spend time with people who speak in terms of possibility, not limitation.
5. Celebrate Progress. Every time you catch and reframe, it’s a win. Those wins stack up and accelerate the rewiring process.

This isn’t about toxic positivity or ignoring reality. It’s about choosing intentional language that builds you up instead of tearing you down.

Why It Matters in Business and in Life

In business, reframed language is the difference between being seen as hesitant or as confident. When you walk into a sales call saying, “I hope you’ll consider me,” you’ve already diminished your value. When you say, “I know I can help you,” the energy is different — and so is the outcome.

In life, it’s the difference between living in limitations or living in growth. Telling yourself, “I’m not good with relationships,” is dead-end. Reframing to “I’m learning how to be better in relationships” keeps the door open.

Your words shape not only how others see you, but how you see yourself.

Closing

The reality is this: every sentence you speak AND write is a blueprint, a sketch of the life you are building. And here’s the thing, your brain is the architect that follows those blueprints.

So, let me leave you with this: If the words you spoke today became the walls of your tomorrow, would they be walls of opportunity, or walls of limitation?

Until next month, continued good selling & choose your words wisely! CQ