The Power of Language: How Words Shape Identity, Thought, and Emotion

Your Words Create Your Reality

The language you use isn't just a way to communicate—it's a powerful indicator of your mindset, emotions, and potential actions. When you speak about your goals and dreams, your choice of words can either set your heart on fire and propel you forward or hold you back. The phrase "I will try" might seem innocent, but it carries an unspoken admission of doubt, uncertainty, and lack of commitment. By choosing to be intentional and becoming more conscious of your language and what's driving your motivation or lack thereof, using empowering language will most certainly set you up for success.

How does language disempower people?

The language we use can make people feel less powerful in all areas of their life. If you're saying these little words in one area of your life they are likely running in the background in other areas.

How we do one thing is how we do all things.

This holds true in working with clients, they never come looking for support in one area. The good news is when we focus on one area at a time, all areas improve.

Not only do they feel less powerful in using disempowering language, it's usually the root cause of feeling overwhelmed, lost, confused, conflicted, worried or anxious. When we use language that belittles or undermines a person's own sense of agency and control, it can have a profound impact on their mental, emotional and physical well-being. This can lead to a sense of helplessness and a lack of motivation to take action towards their goals.

The part that breaks my heart is that this understanding once deeply understood is so simple and most everyone tells me "I know all this already" the issue isn't the knowing part it's the application part. Anyone that grasps this understanding thoroughly isn't "fixed" or done it's a life long commmitment to training your brain daily to work for you, rather than against you. In other words, there's no finish line, and you're not broken!

It's important to be mindful of the words we use and how they can affect others.

10 Empowering Alternatives to “I Will Try”

1. I Will Do It This statement signals certainty and commitment, leaving no room for hesitation.

2. I Choose to…Emphasizes personal choice and accountability, reinforcing your power to decide your actions.

3. I Am Committed To…Shows dedication and a promise to follow through, strengthening your resolve.

4. I Will Make It Happen Affirms that you have the power and responsibility to shape your reality.

5. I Am Taking Action On…Focuses on the process and movement towards your goal, rather than tentative effort.

6. I Will Succeed At…Sets a positive outcome as a certainty, enhancing self-belief and determination.

7. I Am Ready To…Conveys readiness and willingness, suggesting that you are prepared for the challenge ahead.

8. I Choose to Succeed Implies active decision-making and the rejection of any notion of failure.

9. I Commit To My Goal Highlights dedication and long-term commitment, strengthening your follow-through.

10. I Will Achieve My Objectives Focuses on clear results and success, fostering a mindset of accomplishment.

    
    

Why “Try” Is Disempowering

The word “try” may seem harmless and is three little letters, however it can send subtle yet powerful signals to your non-conscious mind. Here’s why it often ends up disempowering and keeping you stuck:

• Lack of Commitment: “Try” suggests a tentative approach rather than a full commitment. It implies that success is uncertain, which can undermine your determination to take action.

• Weak Expectation: When you say “I will try,” you’re not fully committing to success, signaling to your brain that the outcome doesn’t matter as much. This mindset can lead to self-sabotage or half-hearted efforts.

• Room for Excuses: “Try” leaves space for excuses. If things don’t go as planned, it’s easier to say, “I tried my best.” This can reinforce a pattern of non-action and prevent you from fully investing in your goals. Usually when coaching someone that uses this tiny word a lot in their language they have a laundry list of excuses, justifications, reasons, blaming and complaining to accompany it.

• Limited Belief in Self: Language shapes our self-belief. When you use words that lack conviction, your actions reflect that uncertainty, and you may inadvertently limit your potential.

• Lack of Follow-Through: A commitment to “trying” can lead to incomplete actions and a cycle of procrastination. When you’re not fully in it, follow-through suffers, and progress stalls.

  
  

Identifying disempowering habits

Here are 5 common everyday situations where "I will try..." may surface—notice how the use of "try" can introduce hesitation or room for excuses, and reflect on whether you followed through with a playful, determined spirit at the end of the day:

1. Morning Exercise: “I will try to get up early tomorrow morning for a workout before work.”

   Reflection: Did you wake up with the energy to move your body, or did the phrase “try” leave you with a vague intention that wasn’t fully committed? Did you set yourself up for success the night before by going to bed at a time that would ensure you get 8 hours of sleep, set an alarm (no snoozing) and set your stuff out for the workout?

2. Cooking Dinner: “I will try to cook a healthy dinner tonight despite my busy schedule.” Reflection: Did you approach the evening meal with the creativity and commitment to explore a new healthy recipe, or did “try” become an excuse for a quick fix?

3. Responding to an Email: “I will try to respond to that important email today.” Reflection: At day’s end, did you engage with that email with clarity and conviction, or did the tentative language allow procrastination to creep in, and leave it hanging over your head where you'll wake up at 3am thinking about it?

4. Spending Time with Family: “I will try to spend some quality time with my family this weekend.”

   Reflection: When you look back, was your time together marked by intentionally being present, were you excited, and looking forward to this valuable time, or did “try” make the commitment feel less like a promise and more like a possibility or worse yet an obligation? (how will you show up with each of these examples?)

5. Personal Growth: “I will try to make time for reading or learning something new today.” Reflection: Did you immerse yourself in new ideas with the curiosity of a free spirit, excitement, and eagerness or did the “try” signal a half-hearted effort that fell short of a genuine commitment?

By being aware of the use of "try" word and being gentle with compassion towards yourself, because let's face it, the use or overuse of this word may have been going on for years or decades. Language has a direct correlation to the thoughts and feelings we have in every single moment of our life. We think, then feel then act a million or more times a day. Change of this language habit will not change overnight, it will take dedication, commmitment and asking people that spend time with you to gently point out when it's being said.

We can't see our own blind spots. (Well meaning friends, family and or a life coach is the solution)

By replacing “try” with more definitive language, you can transform these everyday situations into opportunities where your actions fully reflect your inner drive and child-like curiosity. At the end of the day, evaluate your commitments, goals, to do's or action steps: were they met with wholehearted enthusiasm, or did the word “try” let uncertainty hold you back?

Most of the time we forget about it and we are not aware that what we utter over and over will become our reality.

Your Words Create Your Reality

Mindset and Self-Belief: Your thoughts and feelings are the fuel for your actions. When you tell yourself, "I will do it" or "I choose to succeed," you're reinforcing a belief system that trusts in your abilities. This positive self-talk is not just motivational fluff—it reprograms your non-conscious mind to align your actions with your highest goals, targets, wants, desires, and dreams. By practicing daily and choosing your words wisely, you'll reprogram your brain and rewire your neuropathways.

Emotional Commitment: When your language reflects certainty, you experience a corresponding emotional commitment and action. If you're not experiencing this, it's because the words you're using are not affirmations, chants, or wholeheartedly your own words or in alignment with your values, morals, principles, and beliefs. (perhaps they are someone else's, I find this a lot with new clients that are lifelong people pleasers, they have lost themselves along the way and don't know what their values etc. are)

The commitment to yourself will most certainly translate into higher energy levels, better focus, and an increased willingness to overcome obstacles. It’s the difference between a tentative effort and a passionate pursuit of excellence. Clients who tell me what they think and believe about going to the gym and working out but aren't showing up for weeks or months, when compared to how I describe what I think and believe about going to the gym after 12 years of bodybuilding and having a very strong and healthy body, is 180 degrees different. I work with a variety of clients, of all levels of education, experience, conditioning, life traumas, events, childhoods, etc. The stark difference between those who are "successful AND happy" in their life versus "struggling and suffering mentally, emotionally, and physically" is their language and beliefs, that is it.

Language and responsibility for actions

Follow-Through and Accountability: When you frame your intentions with empowerment, you hold yourself accountable to a standard of excellence. This mindset not only increases the likelihood of follow-through but also minimizes excuses. Instead of thinking “I will try my best,” you’ll drop the "try" and shift your mind and language to of “I WILL do my best,” which naturally leads to consistent action. The energy, belief in the words matters as well and that may not be clear in this blog through text.

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities: Empowering language also helps you reframe challenges. Instead of viewing setbacks as failures, you see them as opportunities for growth, learning, expansiveness, exploration, innovation, creativity, and gain greater experience. This shift in perspective can be transformative, turning a huge mountain into a tiny hill that's easy to walk over.

The Role of Language in Shaping Our World

Conscious awareness is the first step to change.

Take a moment to listen to how you speak about your goals. Perhaps journaling or writing them out along with the feelings surrounding the with deep honesty, and vulnerability is helpful or openly describe them to someone like, me a professional life coach.

How you articulate them are you hedging your commitment with words like “try,” or are you speaking with conviction from your soul, your intrinsic wants, desires, commitment, from importance?

By consciously choosing empowering language, you’re not only changing how you feel about your goals but also setting a clear blueprint for your actions.

The words you use today lay the foundation for the outcomes of tomorrow.

Final Thoughts on the Power of Language in Shaping Identity

Language is more than just words—it’s a reflection of your inner world, the blueprint, and wiring of your brain and mind. What you're thinking, saying, and believing sends the orders to your brain. If your brain sees that this is of utmost importance to you, you establish means of repetition (do the thing daily in small chunks and build up) and that it's safe to do (reassure your brain and mind), it will work with you to accomplish anything.

By replacing disempowering phrases like “I will try” with confident, committed alternatives, you signal to yourself and the universe (brain and mind) that you’re ready for success.

Embrace the power of your words and watch as they transform your mindset, actions, and ultimately, your life.