Three Little Words

This is an upbeat, short and focused session offering three little language hacks which can change your day, your week, your life, in surprising ways. The offering is in the spirit of mindful attention to how you frame your experience, more instructive than meditative, with easy tools to remember and use immediately. Language is fundamental to our human condition, and these little shifts are enabling. Enjoy!

Transcript

Hello and welcome to this short little practice,

Quite a cheeky little practice really,

To use the power of language to influence your mindset today and on whichever other days you choose to use the language hacks that are here in this short session.

Yet,

Notice the difference when you're frustrated and believe that you can't do that,

You'll never do this.

I can't do it.

I can't have that.

Notice what happens when you add the word yet on.

I can't do that yet.

I can't have this yet.

And for those of you with children,

Very important,

When your child tells you in frustration they can't do something,

Just repeat it back to them.

So you can't do that yet and notice what happens.

A second little word is maybe.

You know how often people forecast misery,

Particularly when they're apprehensive that things may go wrong and they begin to tell themselves and others that this will happen and that will happen.

We'll never resolve this.

It's always going to be this way.

It'll only get worse.

This will have serious consequences.

Just notice what happens when you introduce the word maybe as your response,

Because every time you do a maybe,

Maybe this will happen,

Yet maybe something else will happen.

And the third little word is but.

Good old but.

And many people know to replace the but with an and at times,

And I'm just going to add in here the butt flip.

So I like my face,

But I really don't like my wrinkles.

Negates me liking my face.

I really don't like my wrinkles,

But I like my face.

Negates the not liking the wrinkles.

I'm going to do this,

But I'm really scared.

I'm really scared,

But I'm going to do this.

Just notice that butt flip.

Change the sequence of what goes before and after the butt and notice what happens.

So I leave you with these thoughts,

These words to try out as appropriate over your day.

Maybe they will be useful to you.

Maybe they won't be useful to you yet.

They may not seem like great changes,

But they are really important little shifts.

Look after yourself because wherever you go,

There you'll be.

And whatever you say,

That's what you'll hear.

I'm Dr.

Jan Russell and I appreciate your time.

I appreciate your time.

Reviews

So easy, I really enjoyed this little ditty. What a difference changing the words round make to a sentence. Positivity is what I am in need of and this helps immensely. Thank you Jan 🙏🏻

Oh, so clever! I was familiar wit the but flip and yet, now I am going to add the maybe rule. Thank you!

I’m really glad I found you and your work at this stage of my life. Many thanks

VERY empowering shifts using simple changes in how we say things, based on the words we choose and their placement in a sentence! Thank you for illustrating this so eloquently and powerfully!

Love this. So simple and yet so hard to implement. I will make it a goal🫶🏼

Great reminders of the power of those little words that leave the door of possibility open.

Very interesting way to think of things. Can make more positive feelings. Thanks 🙏🏼

Oh gosh this was fabulous. The But Flip! Love it. And the tip to repeat the "yet" to the little ones. It's also good to say to the inner child I imagine. Wonderful practice. I've saved for later thank you!! 🥰🙏🫶

Thanks so much for this, absolutely loved every bit of it! 🙏💗

Very good three little words to remember. Good point. Thank you!

I love listening to this—such powerful little reminders!! Thank you! 💜✨💜

What a great and powerful meditation! I loved this. Maybe I'm not very good at this yet, but I'm getting more practiced every day!
Thanks for not only introducing these ideas but also helping me practice. I will keep these words in mind and listen again.

I appreciate your wise words! Thank you 🙏 And the words 'but flip' makes me chuckle! 🤭

I loved this! It reminded me of a YouTube video from Pick Up Limes where the woman in the video was explaining how she too started being more mindful of how she said things and how much doing so changed her life. A simple change like “Thank you for listening” instead of “I’m sorry for talking so much.” I started doing that too and she (and now you) are so right. What a positive difference. Thank you so much!

I’d call this a talk not a meditation BUT those are helpful tips!

I really needed this as I'm facing a tough challenge at work. Thank you 🙏❤️

This is just great! Thank you! I’m going off the apple app to donate to you right now. So wish apple didn’t take 30%.
Have a wonderful day!

Loved this simple yet profound concept of language usage! Thank you!

Thank you Jan for this cheeky wee reflection, love the fact that how we use words can make such a difference. Blessings to you. 🙏

Love this! Words have power and this is a great reminder. I especially appreciate reframing “but”…