Photo by George Pagan III on Unsplash
Nike ads used to shout “just do it!” not "just try it!"
The words we select to describe our goals, needs, and plans are important. Are they active words that focus on action and results? Or are they merely tentative words, hopeful but not confident?
A “try” statement is only a partial promise. An "I will” statement is a full promise.
Here’s an example:
“I will try to lose ten pounds in two months.”
Compare that to:
“I will lose ten pounds in two months.”
A “try” statement sounds a lot like a “hedge” promise. It contains a safety net in case things don’t work out like we’d hoped.
Our lives are full of promises we make to ourselves and to others. How often we keep our promises may depend upon the words we choose.
Will you just try, or will you actually do?