The language of possibility

I’ve just been doing this with a client and thought it would be worth sharing here.  It’s an exercise that helps to shift the way you feel about things you want – or think you want – just by playing around with language patterns.  (For those that are interested it’s the difference between modal operators of necessity and possibility.)

The language of possibility

Think of the thing that you want eg “move to the country” (or however you want to express it)

Then say it in the following ways, and notice your internal experience each time (how does it feel when you say the words)

    I should move to the country…

    I ought to move to the country…

    I’ve got to move to the country…

    I have to move to the country…

    I must move to the country…

Did any one of these make getting it seem most likely?  Did any of the statements generate a different feeling?

Then, do the same exercise with some different expressions as follows:

    I’d like to move to the country…

    I might move to the country…

    I may move to the country…

    I could move to the country…

    I will move to the country…

How was the experience this time?  Did you find one way of saying it felt better?  Did one of them make you feel more motivated or optimistic? 

If so, you might just want to practice saying that one to yourself…

You could then try the same thing with some of the other things you want…more time…more fun…an exciting future to plan for…

It’s a really simple exercise and great for exploring your own motivation.  Do let me know how you get on with it – and where it takes you next…