The 6 Out of 7 Positive Statements Challenge

Have you heard about The 6 Out Of 7 Positive Statements Challenge?

What would life be like if we only spoke in language that used positive speech and affirmative constructions?

Research suggests a high correlation between positive statements and overall success, with highly success people engaging 6 to 1 in favor of affirmative articulations.

Wow!

Madison Avenue knows that upbeat sells. One of the greatest commercials of all time was the buoyant Coke commercial “I’d like to teach the world to sing.” 

And businesses know the power of persistent positivity. Hotels now offer notes that can be hung on room door handles that read “privacy please.” At stores there are little recordings intoning messages from overhead like “Thank you for shopping Tide!” Or signs at exits saying: “We appreciate your business. Please come again.” 

We can do this in our own lives too. 

When talking to a child, we could say positively, “How about playing with this toy over here!” Or “Doesn’t this Dr. Seuss book look really interesting?” Or to a teenager: “What are the things that you like about your trigonometry class?” or “What other boys do you find really attractive and engaging?” 

I try to use this in my own life, both in my relations with others and with myself. “I am an amazing person who is eating healthily and exercising,” I tell myself. “I’m very grateful for the time we have spent together,” I tell someone I love.

Imagine a world where everyone speaks in favorable phrases, upbeat utterances, positive positions, encouraging communications; where gratitude flows freely and abundance reigns. Where appreciation appreciates. Where magnanimity manifests in each splendid moment. Where love is always in the air and light encompasses everything. Where smiles outperform all other facial expressions. Where the expansiveness of the universe is acknowledged and celebrated. Where we hold a vision of all life and creation that is generous, abundant, and life-affirming. And we see that it is very good.

This extraordinary vision can be ours. I want to live in a world where the language of love reigns supreme. I believe we can be persistently positive in our language. I believe it can change the world for good. Do you? 

In a moment, I hope to demonstrate just how extraordinarily powerful this persistent pursuit of positive parley can be.

In fact, think about the language I have used here so far. There is an extremely common word I am about to use for the very first time here. What word do you surmise that is? 

Here it comes!  The word? 

‘No.’ 

In fact, this is the first time I am using any negative word or negative linguistic construction in this post. How often do we use words like ‘not’ or ‘no’ or ‘but’ or words that negate or carve out ‘exceptions, like ‘exceptions’ or ‘but.’ “I love you, but …” and so on.

So, as an exercise in how powerful positive language can be in relation to negative language, I am going to present the first part of this post again, but, rather than only using positive language, I am going to reconstruct it using negative language. Pay attention to how you feel about it versus the first way. Here goes:

What would life be like if you never spoke in language that used negative speech and downbeat constructions?

Research suggests a high correlation between negative statements and those who don’t do well in life, with low performers engaging 3 to 1 in favor of negative articulations. 

Yikes!

Madison Avenue knows that downbeat doesn’t sell. One of the least negative commercials of all time was the not downbeat Coke commercial “I’d like to teach the world to sing.” Businesses know this. Many hotels have switched away from offering “do not disturb” signs for our rooms. At stores you don’t hear little recordings intoning messages from overhead like “Stop shopping that other brand” or  “Thank you for not shopping at our competitor. Please avoid them.” 

We can not use negative language in our own lives too.

When talking to a child, we would’t say: “Why won’t you pay attention to this Dr. Suess book?” Or to a teenager: “That boy you’re dating is not good enough for you” or “Why don’t you just finish your trig homework?”

I try not to engage in this negative talk in my own life, both in my relations with others and with myself. 

I try not to say to myself: “I am a horrible person who just can’t seem to eat right and exercise.” 

And I try not to say to someone I love: “Why don’t you spend more time with me!”

Imagine a world where no one speaks in unfavorable phrases, downbeat utterances, negative positions, demeaning communications; where putdowns don’t flow freely and scarcity does not reigns. Where depreciation does not appreciates. Where mean-spiritedness does not manifest. Where hate is not always in the air and darkness does not cover the earth. Where frowns do not outperform all other facial expressions. Where the contraction of the universe is not continually fretted over. Where we do not hold a vision of all life and humanity that is doom and gloom, that this is the worst of times. And that things will never get better.

This non-negative vision does not have to be just a dream. I don’t want to live in a world where the language of hate reigns over all. I believe it is possible to not do that. I believe that not speaking in negatives can change the world from being so bad. Don’t you think so too?

How did that feel? 

A little different, no? - er - A little different, yes?

Let me conclude by saying, no, I’m not suggesting that we completely eliminate negative language from our discourse. 

What I am suggesting is taking the research seriously that suggests that a ratio of six positive statements to one negative one results in the highest successful outcomes. 

And, yes, there can be profound positive power in that one negative statement on every seventh occasion.

So were the past 6 out of 7 statements from your mouth positive?

I’m wondering how different our lives would be if every 6 out of 7 statements that we all uttered were happy and upbeat? 

Will you join me in the 6 out 7 positive statement challenge?

Call me out on it when you see me lapse.

Perhaps tell me: 

“Hey James, I noticed that just 1 out of your past 4 statements was in a positive construction. I’d love to see more of those upbeat ones!”

Right?

I hope you’ll join me. 

I would really love to live in a persistently positive world. Where nowhere is heard a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day.

Yay!

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P.S. For more positive posts, please visit www.innerOvation.com.