NICE TRY

Words have a funny power over us. Positive affirmations have a way of lifting us up and driving us forward, especially when said out loud and as if you truly believe them. I wonder if you’ve ever considered the implicit negative affirmations that you may use on a daily basis. One tiny, three letter word, can have a major effect in holding you back. I’m going to share with you why the word “try” can hold you back and how to use that realization to your advantage.

Before we really get into this, “to try” means to make an attempt or effort to do something, and it is a good thing to strive to experience new things. I always encourage curiosity and a mindset aimed towards growth and exploration. The meaning for “try” shifts when you use it in the context of an action you are already capable of doing. In these situations, there is an implicit, unconscious way that your mind processes the word try - it presupposes failure.

Consider these two statements: “I will exercise today” and “I will try to exercise today”. Say them out loud for better effect. How does each one feel when you say it? The first statement is clear, there will be action (exercise!). In the second statement, the action that you have stated you’ll do is to “try”. You’ve stated that you’ll make an attempt at exercise. What does making an attempt at exercise look like for you? For myself, it can range from sitting on the couch thinking about exercising, to getting all dressed and ready to go but becoming distracted by another task or chore.

Begin to notice how often the word ‘try’ appears in your daily dialogue or self talk. When someone asks you for help, or adds on an additional task for you at work, do you respond with “I’ll try”? When you are considering some aspect of change that you want to make in your life, like making healthier decisions or practicing more self care, how often do you tell yourself you will “try”?

When you say you will try to do something, it frees you from the responsibility of taking action. If the task or action you tried to do never happens, then you have still lived up to the implicit meaning of your statement. You never said you’ll actually DO the task, you just said you’ll try.

Over the next week, begin to keep track of how often you use the word try. As you begin to notice this word in your vocabulary, you can ask yourself what is your true intention when you’re using this word. Will you actually follow through and take action? If you intend to take action, simply remove the word from your statement and say it again. You may find that you become more clear with your own intentions and start taking action towards the change that you want.

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JONATHAN NHAN

Jonathan Nhan Co-Founder, Curate and Upgrade

Jon is a pharmacist, hypnotist, and Certified Diabetes Educator. He is passionate about making a tangible, positive impact in the world and has seen the power that changing mindset can have. Jon works with people like you, to find the perfect blueprint for healthy in your life and make that change effortless.