The Power of Little Words

You learn more from losing than winning. You learn how to keep going.

– Morgan Wooten

Words Are Powerful 

Often the words that have the most power are little tiny words.  But, why, me, I,  and no often pack a bigger punch than much longer words.  How and when we use these little words creates a lasting impact.

One of my favorite little words is,  “yet”.   When my kids come to me and complain that they don’t know their math facts, when my daughter complains that her spelling word list is just too hard, when my son complains that he can’t get his lay-up.  I try to encourage them to add a tiny little word to that sentence.  Yet.  You don’t know your math facts, yet.  Your spelling list isn’t easy, yet.  You don’t have your lay-up, yet.

Inserting Effort Changes Outcomes

Adding one tiny word to the end of the sentence opens up possibility to insert effort and make a change. It allows my kids to realize that with a little more work they can and will be capable of changing their current situation.  Those three tiny letters instantly changes their reality and puts them back in control.

Life comes at as fast and hard but,  if we take a moment to frame the problem in a way that allows for possibility … make room for the yet … then the impossible becomes possible.  Reminding my kids that they are powerful, not perfect, is my daily mission.  I want empower them to know that hard work will change outcomes and that the effort doesn’t produce results overnight.

Perseverance, dedication, and hard work make a difference … if we allow room for it.  The next time your kids are struggling or feeling defeated use the power of a little word and see what a difference it can make.

This TedTalk says it all.