Yesterday, my wife asked me what was on my calendar for the day. I checked my phone and said, “I am training at 10, then meeting a friend for lunch, and then I have to practice.”
The words “have to” hit me. I didn’t have to—there was no gun to my head. I needed to reframe my thinking. In truth, I “get to” practice. I have the privilege of choosing, the ability to do what I want. Not what I HAVE to do.
Think about the words we use and the power behind them. There is a vast difference between have to and get to. One is a responsibility; the other is a choice.
These traps exist because we are programmed to respond this way after decades of work and responsibility. It’s time to be more intentional about the words we use and understand the implications of each meaning.
Consider words like:
- Duty
- Obligation
- Requirement
- Necessity
- Expectation
Vs:
- Freedom
- Option
- Decision
- Preference
- Opportunity
Yes, words have power… be careful how you use them!
