Which language do you speak the most?

The way we think and speak has a powerful effect on our days – and our students.

Which language do you speak the As adults, in any line of occupation, the rule every day, embedding in our minds positive most? This question seems an still applies. As you drive into your staff car perspectives on every situation, so this easy one to answer at fi rst, but park one morning, you might be dreading a manifests, and over time, will become an wait; I imagine you are thinking that you challenging conversation you have planned automatic response: “Our mind is like a speak Afrikaans, Maori, Chinese, Korean, for the day, whether it be with a student, clock; it needs to be wound up with good or English. That type of cultural language parent or colleague. You wish the situation thoughts every day,” writes Haydn Sargent is not what I’m referring to; I am referring would just go away. in his book Power to Choose. As we practise to a language that is more universal, and much more important: positive or negative language. There is plenty of hope, though. You are defi nitely able to turn this negative state this ourselves, we can encourage our students and staff to do the same. At the very least, we can model this. So, which language do you speak, and think, the most: Positive or negative? “ You can think, speak and You may believe you breathe positivity into the speak positively most of the time, so if I were to situation.” challenge you to carry a portable recorder around with you for a couple of days or so, I wonder if your assumption would be realised? I will leave this challenge activity up to you. of mind into a positive one, and talk your mind into believing the experience will For some reason, it is much easier to empower you, and know you will have think and speak negative thoughts, but the skills required to overcome: You can unfortunately that leads straight toward think, speak and breathe positivity into negative results, whether it be a negative the situation. day, or experience. And even before that, when we fi rst wake For instance, if a student enters the school up in the morning, if we are thinking, “ OK gate in the morning, saying, “I wish I didn’t this is not going to be a good day; I have have to be here today; I just know that I so much to do; I am so stressed,” clearly won’t have a good day today.” Well guess that is not the best start for a precious day. what is going to happen? That’s right: How many days of our lives are we missing What they state will be realised. They will true enjoyment, because we are speaking or have the miserable day they are expecting. thinking negatively before we even get out Imagine the result if they do this on a daily of bed? basis. If a student, or a teacher, begins the day in a negative state of mind, it is almost guaranteed they will leave school at the end of the day reinforcing what they expected. Friends, family and other people we meet can often bring their own negative thoughts to our attention, and if we choose, we will take them on board and suffer negative consequences. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We all get to choose! And yes, it is not an easy thing to do. It takes a concerted effort to practise. And we need to practise

Insight: Body language

Body language helps deliver the message as well; lift your eyebrows, the corners of your mouth and puff out that chest. It works wonders on infl uencing others to lift their spirits, too. This is also fun while you walk around the supermarket or while driving your car. People can appear so serious; let’s give them a boost. People might wonder what you are on, which is a positive thing, and always remember, you have the power to choose.

For instance, we are all able to feel inferior to someone else, if that is what we choose to believe.

Insight: Don’t worry

While we can be worrying about what other people think of us, and how inferior we feel against them, they are probably too busy worrying about what others are thinking of them. Sargent says: “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.” This also applies to being offended. No one can be offended by you, unless they choose to be. If you never have any intention of offending someone, it is not your responsibility if they decide to be offended. That is their personal decision.

Teachers are in a powerful position. You are possibly familiar with the Henry Adams quote: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” You can be the positive infl uence in the lives of all your students each day. You can help people choose to feel better, and believe me, you are the one who will feel the best of all. By thinking positively, and speaking positive language, you will create an enthusiasm and joy about you that people will want to be around. You can turn any negative statement of your own, or another person’s, into a positive one.

Yes, at fi rst, if you are not used to this, it takes concentration and effort, but the more you practise, the easier it will become. And before you know it, you will be doing it naturally.

Then you will truly be able to say “I speak positive language the most.” See what a great difference it will make to your day-today life.

A great story to illustrate the power of positive language and thought follows. You might wish to share this gem with others. If read aloud in school assemblies, slowly and embellished with expression, this is very powerful:

THE TALE OF TWO WOLVES

An old American Indian is teaching his grandson about life. “A fi ght is going on inside me” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fi ght and it is between two wolves. One is evil: He is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is good: He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

This same fi ght is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute, then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win the fi ght?” The old Indian simply replied, “The one you feed the most.”