Recently, I introduced the observation of using “when” while imagining…..i.e Imagine “when” rather than imagining “if”.
I’d like to expand the concept of “when” in our lives.
To me an obvious time for using “when” is in times of doubt. It becomes a time for re assurance …..e.g,
When things improve rather than….. ‘hoping for things to improve’
When I commit to action rather than……I’ll get to it sometime if I feel the need
When I know that I can do this rather than…..nah, everyone tells me it’s too hard to attempt
When is also a positive statement…... Many of you may be aware of “I am” statements which are used in positive reinforcement training & are very powerful in their own right. Combine them & you create an even more powerful force e.g,
“When I am making a difference…..to myself, to my community”
“When I am unbeatable”
“When I am trusting, understanding of myself”
…… they bring a permanency to your thinking…..i.e it is happening
Some more examples of the power of when:
When I choose to “live” rather than just exist or survive
When I embrace each moment instead of letting them slide by
When I love rather than hate
When I accept rather than judge
When I act & participate in Life rather than sit on the sidelines
When I say ‘thank you’ for this day instead of having ‘just another day’
When I share myself rather than go it alone
When I see the beauty in others and in my environment
When I take steps with purpose and create my world with care & positive action
Do you see the difference? adding or prefacing your thoughts and verbalisations with when adds an edge, a sharpness, a clarity……..to your message to both yourself and to others.
I’d love to know how when can affect your Life…..in what circumstances can you use when?…..do you now?
be good to yourselves
David
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Personalpower4me's Blog 
When is just as powerful as I AM statements – I’m with you on the “WHEN” statements……no if in my vocabulary but when….
Great post my friend,
Nancy
Thanks Nancy,
Appreciate you calling in. Have a great week & kick some goals.
be good to yourself
David
I like that, ‘when’. It’s a positive declaration. The mind takes it as an affirmation and gets us going towards our goals.
You’d love the book, The Success Principals, by Jack Canfield. It’s all about this ‘stuff’.
I’m using ‘when’ a lot now in my goal setting to attract what I want to achieve – when I get more clients, when I get more speaking engagements, when I grow my blog bigger with more engagement.
Thanks for this simple but very powerful message.
Hi Harriet,
I hope your ‘when’s’ come true…..stick at it…..I’m using it a lot more now + more positive imagining.
be good to yourself
David
Hi David,
When means at some point in your life, it is going to happen. This is so power to get our mind into doing something for the good of our future. Forget the ifs. When is the way to go. But we should also make sure that our when do not become forever. Perhaps we can coin the statement: When I kiss my wife tonight….. That more or less puts a quicker time frame in to make things happen. Beats the procrastination germs.
Hi Jimmy,
Thank you for calling in. Yes ‘if’s’ & procrastination do us more harm than good…..use the power of ‘when’ to your good & make it happen.
be good to yourself
David
it’s such a better, more empowering word, than if!! I ‘correct’ people all the time when they use if!!
have a great day David.
Hi Joss,
Thank you, enjoy your day and week ahead.
be good to yourself
David
Great post, David – I like the idea of using “when” in all of the situations above. Here’s a question for you: are there ever situations where “when” could be unhelpful to use, and “if” might be a lot more constructive?
Hi Tanja,
Thank you for your comment. I used some qualification with my response to Debbie with the use of “when”. With much of our language certain words can be used for ‘good’ or ‘bad’…….”if” can open up new thoughts or it can constrict or paralyse us…..”when” may do that as well. I’m probably being contradictory however I believe the effect of a word depends upon the context in which it is used. In this post I was opening up the idea of “when” being used as a positive tool more so where too many “if’s, buts, maybe’s” were hanging about. Hope that’s a little clearer?
be good to yourself
David
What a great post- Thanks for sharing it. 🙂 Bookmarked your page.
Hi Rochelle,
Thank you for calling in, delighted to meet you.
be good to yourself
David
Great post! Believing you can is the first step to move from “I want” to “I will.” Our minds are our biggest challenge. I recently went through a major life challenge that temporarily crippled me mentally. I didn’t overcome it until I started believing I could. These kinds of positive statements train our minds what to believe. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kim,
Great to meet you, thank you for calling in and for your thoughtful comments, much appreciated. Belief goes a long way to creating a better you.
be good to yourself
David
Hi David,
You are right “When” is a much better word. I do have to say thought I like the ““When I am unbeatable”” with the when left off. “I am unbeatable.” This tells me the time is in the present, not the future. Just my opinion. We should never use the word, “if”. Then it will never happen even in the future.
Thanks David for sharing the whens with us.
Blessing,
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for contributing. My intent was to bring “when” into the picture when there were too many “if’s, buts, maybe’s” hanging around. On reflection I should have covered this a little better. Used incorrectly or in the wrong context, “when” could work against you & delay the positive action so a word of warning….best use is achieved when there are too many negatives in the air & you want to bring some immediacy & permanency into play..
be good to yourself
David
Thanks David for keeping me straight. Guess i got a little ahead of myself. When is much better than the if’s, buts, and maybe’s.
it is good to know that you are around to keep me on the right path.
thank you and blessing to you,
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
You are keeping me on the right path. You made a very valid observation of which I thank you.
be good to yourself
David
Hi David,
When I think about it, I come to the conclusion you are right, “When” is a very powerful word, It implies that it IS going to happen.
Thanks for sharing this!
No problem Marc,
Simple yet powerful, “when” brings it into the present & into action.
Thank you
be good to yourself
David
Great point about using when in a positive light. I’m so used to hearing it either as a nagging question such as, “When are you going to take out the trash, when are you going to find a job, etc” that it’s refreshing to see a positive application of the word.
Thanks,
Bryce
Thanks Bryce,
It can be used positively as I have tried to cover in this post. However if you see some of my responses to other respondees, it will depend on the circumstances.
be good to yourself
David
David, I love this! i hadn’t thought to explore the option of using the word “when.” I really, really like this!!!! Thank you for sharing it. I’m going to start incorporating this idea. “Bring ‘when’ into the picture when there were too many “if’s, buts, maybe’s” hanging around” love it!!
Thank you Aileen,
You are very kind. ‘Tis such a simple word but with powerful consequences when used for the right purposes. Thanks again.
be good to yourself
David
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