Patients need confidence while making difficult decisions and pursuing challenging treatments. A marvelous quick read from Make It (MSNBC) may help.
Titled, Want to sound and feel more confident? Ditch these 11 phrases from your voacabulary, say psychologists, this article offers a short list of offending phrases, suggested replacements, and ultra-brief explanations. Two tips address a topic recently discussed on this blog: Don’t should on yourself.
#3 “I should do that.”
What to say instead: “I will do that.” (Or “won’t do,” depending on your mindset).
“Should” is a controlling word, and it puts pressure on us. So put yourself back in charge. Drop the “should” and make yourself the decision-maker by choosing whether or not to do something on your own terms.
#5 “I never should have.”
What to say instead: “Because I did that, I now know [X].”
When you rephrase this thought, you begin to think about the good things that happened because you did something that you thought you shouldn’t have. Maybe you met someone you wouldn’t have met, or you discovered something wonderful about yourself.
When it comes to pursuing difficult treatments, this one works great:
1. “I have to do that.”
What to say instead: “I get to do that.”
Swapping that one little word will change your attitude in a big way. It makes you look at something as an opportunity, rather than an obligation. Even if the task is unpleasant, it can teach you new lessons and open new doors.
In the pursuit of Healthy Survivorship, healthy self-talk is one way to build needed confidence.
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