Break Free From "I Am Broken" –How Language Shapes Your Reality
- Brainz Magazine
- May 25, 2024
- 3 min read
Emily Greenway is a trauma-informed mindset coach specializing in working with women who are ready to feel in control of their lives. She utilizes a holistic approach in her coaching using a scientific foundation accompanied by the spiritual, allowing for sustainable change based on health behavior theory and neuroscience.
Do you ever feel stuck using phrases like "I am broken" or "I am struggling"? These seemingly harmless statements can have a powerful impact on your brain and your reality. Today, we're diving deep into the concept of "I am" statements and how they can unconsciously hold you back.
The power of perception
Our brains thrive on making connections. When you say "I am broken," your brain takes that statement literally. It starts to see you as inherently flawed, and this perception bleeds into your experiences. Suddenly, opportunities and successes feel out of reach, and negativity becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Science backs it up
Research in the field of neurolinguistics shows a strong link between our thoughts, language, and brain activity. A study published in the journal "National Library of Medicine” shows that third person talk can be a protective factor, if used correctly.
Shifting your mindset
This means there is good news, you can rewrite your story. Here's a powerful alternative: "I am experiencing [challenge]." This simple shift transforms a negative identity into a temporary experience. Your brain recognizes the challenge as something you're going through, not who you are.
Benefits of "I am experiencing"
Empowerment: You become the observer of your experience, not the victim.
Time-Bound: "Experiencing" implies a temporary state, not a permanent condition.
Openness: It allows you to see possibilities for growth and change.
Ready to break free?
Here's how to get started:
Notice Your Language: Pay attention to how you talk about yourself. Are you using limiting "I am" statements?
Reframe Your Experiences: Instead of "I am," try "I am experiencing."
Explore the "Why": Dig deeper into the root causes of your negative self-talk.
Join the reclamation revolution
You are not your struggles. You have the power to reclaim your narrative and create the life you desire. Join me on my podcast: Beyond Survival where you can gain more transformative insights! Let's start a conversation about conscious rebellion and self-ownership.
Ready to Break Free From Limiting Beliefs? Grab my Relationship Clarity Blueprint, a framework that will help you identify and overcome negative self-talk in every avenue of life, so you can build a life of relationships fueled with confidence and self-compassion.
Emily Greenway is a mindset coach focused on deep internal healing. She is a certified life and mindfulness coach and obtained her Master's in Public Health specializing in health behavior theory in 2018. Her research background in emotional regulation and trauma-informed modalities spearheaded the way for her to create her own company, Reclamation Academy, focused on empowering women to heal their trauma and create a life that is authentic and unique to them. She believes that when we heal, the world heals.
Citation:
Moser JS, Dougherty A, Mattson WI, Katz B, Moran TP, Guevarra D, Shablack H, Ayduk O, Jonides J, Berman MG, Kross E. Third-person self-talk facilitates emotion regulation without engaging cognitive control: Converging evidence from ERP and fMRI. Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 3;7(1):4519. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-04047-3. PMID: 28674404; PMCID: PMC5495792.
