WYSIWYG: How Your Words Shape Your Reality

Let me start off with some background. It was during my freshman year in college while I was taking a Lotus 1-2-3 class. This was back in the days of DOS. I hadn’t even heard of Excel at that time. The term I learned was WYSIWYG (pronounced wiz-ee-wig) – What You See Is What You Get.

Fast-forward to the early 2000s when I morphed WYSIWYG into What You Say Is What You Get. My wife and I were at a Quixtar monthly seminar, and during the meal break one of our upline mentioned that he recently read in a book about how what we say is what we get. As a result, he started catching himself whenever he (or someone around him) said something negative. “Is that what you want?”

My wife hates that question! I will say it to myself if I ever catch myself saying something I really don’t want. So, what is it with words? Are they harmless as the youngster rhyme says? If we change our words will we really change our life? Keep reading and decide for yourself.

Brain Wiring

In the book “Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman, he wrote about how we have two mental systems. System 1 is the Fast Thinking System. It uses heuristics, or shortcuts, so that we can make decisions quickly.

System 2 is the Slow Thinking System. This system is the one we use when we encounter some new information, or we see information in a new way. It’s slow because we have to process this information.

Our brain is wired for efficiency, so whatever we commonly use finds its way into System 1. When we repeatedly say something, it becomes a habit. Since it becomes habitual and used repeatedly, we get used to it. In fact, we often don’t actively realize many of the words that we often use.

Selective Attention

Even though we may not be paying attention to the words that we say, our brain is always listening to the words we say. Think of it like your smart phone. You could have a conversation about boats with someone, and the next thing you know you are seeing ads for boats on Facebook!

We also tend to see what we have, want, or are. Remember the last time you bought a vehicle and then it seemed like everyone was driving that same model, and maybe even the same color! It’s not that there are suddenly more of those vehicles on the road, your brain is just filtering for them because it is a reflection of yourself.

A third aspect of our attention is that our brain thinks in pictures. We can only create pictures of what our brain recognizes – not abstract concepts. Don’t think of a pink elephant. You just thought of a pink elephant, didn’t you? The same happens when we talk. If you say that you don’t want to be in debt, your brain will use what it can in that sentence (be in debt) and do its best to make sure that happens. Welcome to self-fulfilling prophecies!

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

So, our brain is always listening to what we say. It’s creating pictures in our mind to the best of its ability. Then, our brain helps us by filtering what we see. If it can’t find it, our brain will encourage us to make it happen or bring it into our life.

Before you decide that you are going to start saying crazy stuff that you want, your brain knows if you are lying to it. The trick is to say things in a way that reflect what you want and that you are growing and becoming.

If you were to say, “I’m a millionaire!” when you are strapped for cash and in debt, your mind will not believe you. Try something like, “How would a millionaire handle this?” or “If I am going to be a millionaire, I need to first act like a millionaire.” By the way, do not try to spend like a millionaire if you don’t have the cash to do that.

This is where feedback loops come in.

Feedback Loops

By now you are seeing how your words shape your reality. Our brain picks up on the things that we think about and talk about. It helps us out by filtering our world for us as best as it can. We see results – that’s the feedback.

Are these results the results that you want? If not, it’s time to look at what we are saying. When you say something, ask yourself “Is that what I really want?” If it isn’t, stop saying it! I know that sounds easy. It will take work. Most likely you’ll be shocked at how often you are saying things that you don’t really want.

Now that you are aware of the words you are using, you can change them, and you will notice that your reality starts to change. Some changes may happen quickly, while others may take some time.

Words Shape Your Reality

Canoosa focuses on money because money is easy to comprehend. It’s also easy to count and see tangible results. Our words affect all areas of our life. What are you saying about your confidence? What about stress?

You can take control of your life and change your perception, or reality. Do you find people generally friendly and helpful, or are they angry and rude? By now I think you are starting to see how they can change.

The world can be a scary place, or it can be full of challenges and opportunities. I leave you with WYSIWYG so you can have an easy way to remember that your words are powerful. Don’t worry if you catch yourself saying things that you don’t want. I am still working on using my words better after all these years. I am getting better, though, and so will you. Gaining control of your words is an important part of becoming unstoppable.