Taboo Words - They Sabotage Your Business and Your Life

There are many words we use automatically. We don't even recognize the words are coming out of our mouths.

Self-talk can be very empowering, affirming, even motivating - if we channel it wisely.

Sometimes our self-talk - whether we think it or speak it is really damaging, especially to ourselves. On bad days, I catch myself starting sentences with "I can't do xxx", or "I don't want to do xxx" or even the proverbial "I'll try... " After years of staying aware of these traps, a little alarm goes off in my head. It is very good at catching me when I fall into any of these traps.

I've learned to take each of these tabot words and turn them around so I'm back in control of the situation. It's become a stress reliever of sorts because turning a negative into a positive is a great game to play with yourself and with your team. When I do this with my kids or on a team, it sets the bar high enough that whiners, do-nothings and complainers can't control the outcome.

Taboo words are poison to your goals and dreams. Even though you may’ intend’ them to be positive, they undermine what you truly want to say and do. Some of the most common tabot words we use all too frequently are:

• Can’t
• Won’t
• Don’t
• Hard
• Discouraged
• Not the best
• I’ll try
• I hope
• These people
• It’s because

How about you? Which ones are part of your vocabulary far too often? What will you do differently? Eliminate them from your vocabulary as fast as you can. Watch your attitude and your altitude soar.