Positive language: what it is, characteristics and importance

Language is the ability by which the human being through words, can communicate and express feelings andemotions, fundamental when it comes to relating socially.

We are what we tell ourselves, the story we tell ourselves and live in the context that our language generates. In this sense, using positive language generates in us a motivating attitude, and we generate positive changes in those who listen to us.

Important: The words we choose to communicate, our tone of voice and our melody, can positively or negatively affect the people around us, in the physical, emotional and cognitive development of the individual.

Here is an article that will help you better use the mechanisms of communication.

What is positive language?

According to the philosopher Luis Castellanos (2016), “Positive language is the fact of putting intelligence into language. It means understanding, appreciating and using the words we formulate in an effective and beneficial way to improve communication, relationship with others, with oneself, and for decision making.”

In this context, the coherence of our thoughts and our emotions is important, providing security and clarity to the receiver. It is a characteristic of assertive communication(1).

The same author reflects that, “certain words, especially those that have more meaning about that particular person, are capable of activating an extensive network of brain areas in which certain neurochemical substances function as drivers between neurons.”

In the child, positive language reinforcesself-esteem, developing an attitude that allows him to face situations in the most beneficial way, strengthens him in the learning process and influences his attitude and his interpersonal relationships.

To highlight: The use of positive language in our daily lives has a great impact on both us and those who receive them. As a strategy it is important to know how to use it in the learning process of our children, parenterally or formally academically.

At the cognitive level, it raises attentional, memory, motivational and creative levels, benefiting the perception of the reality that surrounds us, influencing the decision-making process.

Positive language characteristics

Positive language is made up of a set of elements that define and characterize it. Among them are:

Involves assertive communication

Assertive communication necessarily involves positive language since it consists of a social ability to communicate, especially oral.

Consequently, communicating assertively constitutes expressing thoughts and emotions empathically, but at the same time accurately. Therefore, positive language is intrinsically linked to it.

It is a powerful tool

Positive language is one of the tools that allows society to function, integrate, forge common goals and achieve goals. When a man receives messages in a kind, frank, open, direct and appropriate way, he becomes a proactive and motivated character.

It is very useful in times of conflict.

A conflict is presented as a confrontation of realities, which defends our position and our behavior towards a certain situation.

However, language allows us to access new spheres of understanding that make it possible to relocate with respect to the initial situation. Using positive language, by at least one of the parties, can help the understanding and understanding of the other.

Undoubtedly, in moments of conflict, positive language generates the way to resolve them. It opens the way towards understanding, towards agreement.

It has a great influence on the brain

By using positive language, the cognitive processes that are carried out in the brain raise its attentional, memory, motivational and creative levels and, therefore, benefit the dynamics of interaction and understanding.

Change the way you feel and think

On the sender’s side, positive language changes the perspective of how he perceives the environment, including the verbal stimuli he receives from other people.

For the receiver, it perceives the stimuli of the transmitter in a more attentive, friendly and cordial way, improving the way of understanding the environment.

It has great influence on education

Here the great utility and importance of communication. According to Luis Castellanos, words “Forge our personality, our memory, our ability to see the world. Positive words teach us to see the favorable side of that worldtag. He concludes his reflection by adding,“What we are going to become, is going to be built with words”(2)

Can guide towards well-being

Words constitute the framework of everything we are going to do in life. Our entire future is built with words. When we move forward in life and evaluate our achievements, we realize that we have achieved what we have set out to do

If our balance is positive, we immediately feel a sense of well-being. If we build our future on the basis of negative words, it is most likely that in the end we will have ephemeral and worthless products in our hands.

Benefits of positive language

There are many benefits to using positive language, some on an organic level and others on a psychological level. We present you some of them:

Increases the chances of leading a happy life

Positive words have enormous power in the conscious, because they are capable of generating an immediate effect on our state of mind. A speech full of positive, encouraging words can encourage us in difficult circumstances.

A training session, incorporating into our routine the use of positive language has a direct impact. It makes us think that all the goals that have been set are possible to achieve.

Lets face fears

Positive language as an assertive communication strategy generates self- confidence inthe individual . We feel that healthy sense of power, that the world around us is ready to help us with kindness and without interest.

Boosts the immune system

Medically it has been proven that depression and stress cause alterations in the immune system and come to favor the presence of diseases. Using negative language daily suppresses the immune function of our body.

Important:Feeling confident that everything we plan is going to be achieved, that our words are going to be well heard and well understood generates that feeling of psychological relief. Let’s remember that the immune system is activated or deactivated in relation to the state of ourPsyche .

Increases self-esteem

The assessment, perception or positive judgment that a person makes of himself based on the evaluation of his thoughts, feelings and experiences is a function of how we perceive the world.

Having a high self-esteem suggests a positive image of oneself, which is very important to face life decisively, getting the best out of ourpersonalityand being totally independent. Positive language contributes to this achievement.

Improves interpersonal and work relationships

A difficulty of the human being is to interrelate to achieve common objectives. Agreeing on one direction is not easy.

The purpose of positive language used as a strategy forassertiveness at workand in interpersonal relationships is precisely to establish effective, direct and productive communication between actors and with the environment.

Strengthens emotional intelligence

Emotionally intelligent people manifest with greater intensity certain practical skills such as empathy , the ability to motivate (both towards oneself and towards others), self-awareness, the ability to control the externalization of emotions and leadership.

Note: The practice of positive language contributes enormously to the development of this aspect.

Increases the quality of life

The quality and life expectancy of man progressively increases to the extent that he incorporates positive words into his language, his daily work and, above all, his consciousness.

How to apply positive language?

There are some guidelines for applying positive language. Here are a few:

Identify what you want to convey

We cannot be tied to say the first thing that comes to mind. Whenever possible, it is necessary to meditate on what we want to transmit, how we are going to transmit it and essentially the words that we are going to use if we want good receptivity.

Avoid negative and derogatory words

Negative words generally escape human language due to emotions that we cannot control. These are called negative words, and they are so called because they are hurtful, authoritarian, and disrespectful words, expressions, and gestures that convey disaffection and disagreement.

This being so, we must avoid in any context that the unconscious dominates our action, meditate on what we are going to express and use positive language as a communication mechanism.

Make a list of motivational words

Building a positive vocabulary to internalize it and turn it into words of daily and everyday use is the most advisable.

To stand out:Make this task something everyday; review it when you get up and go to bed, internalize them and above all use them and feel your own transformation from within. Build sentences with them like:“The only impossible thing is what you don’t try”, “It won’t be easy but it will be worth it”.

Do it and you will see!

Change your mood

There are techniques that can be used to modify the state of mind in difficult moments such as breathingtag. To complement, internalize in your mind those words with positive content that help you change your mood.

To highlight: Phrases like: I’m great!, I’m excellent!, I’m important!, I’m wonderful!, I’m going to learn! They contain a positive message and help us improve our mood.

Avoid negative labels towards others

If you don’t want to have people with an aggressive attitude towards you around you, avoid negative labels towards others. “You are bad”, “you are useless”, “you are a brute” , are labels that are commonly used in the classroom, and that can reverse the learning process in formal education.

Even when these labels are used by our parents, they cause damage that can be hidden in the unconscious, andmay constitute psychological disorders in the future. Positive language is the driving force that eliminates these types of expressions

apply empathy

Before answering a comment that we don’t like from another person, let’s apply empathy and build a response that contributes to improving communication before deepening a conflict.

Empathy helps to understand in some cases, the reason for the reaction of the other person, and the reason for their response; This will allow our conscious to build the response favorably with positive words.

Express yourself sincerely but without hurting

Expressing oneself truthfully is not saying our message forcefully and aggressively. Sincerity expresses the conviction of our words that what you are communicating lacks pretense.

Positive language is characterized by its sincerity, we should never insert vague words, with double meaning or masking intentions to turn it into a positive language.

Importance of positive language

Positive language is a tool for transforming attitudes and people. From the very moment of the upbringing of our parents or caregivers, until the moment we arrive in the classroom, a positive language constitutes a mechanism that reinforces our learning process, helps us to adapt and integrate into society, socializes us.

Therefore, the use of positive words contributes to the resolution of individual and collective differences, helping the interaction of common objectives and goals. Build a better person and a great society.

Key takeaways

• The words we choose to communicate, our tone of voice and our melody, can positively or negatively affect the people around us, in the physical, emotional and cognitive development of the individual.
• According to the philosopher Luis Castellanos (2016), ” Positive language is the fact of putting intelligence into language. It means understanding, appreciating and using the words we formulate in an effective and beneficial way to improve communication, the relationship with others, with oneself, and for decision making”.
• Positive language involves assertive communication, which means communicating empathetically and accurately by understanding the other person’s position. It is also very useful in times of conflict, as it creates a way to resolve the problem calmly. Among other characteristics that help to have good interpersonal relationships and a positive and pleasant life.
• In order to apply positive language in your life, we recommend you apply empathy with those you surround yourself with, be sincere but without hurting others, avoid negative labels towards others (words are very powerful and we do not know who we can affect in a way negative or positive). Change your mood by avoiding negativity or negative words, think before you speak.