How Parents can Improve their Children's Lives by Removing the word "Don't" from their vocabulary
One Simple Change = More Better Now
Remove the word "don't" (which is really a contraction of the verb "do" and the word "not").
So, the mantra is really to remove the word "not" from your vocabulary, but as most of us use "don't" more than "not," I call it the "Don't Busters" Program.
Why avoid the words "Don't" and "Not"?
Because your brain ignores the word "not."
In fact, your brain focuses on all of the other words in the sentence. Watch this:
"Son, do NOT touch that hot stove."
Hmmm, thinks little Johnny, a hot stove, huh . . .
Why? Because even though you said the word "not" louder and tried to emphasize it, little Johnny's brain heard, "Son, do touch that hot stove."
In fact, your brain focuses on all of the other words in the sentence. Watch this:
"Son, do NOT touch that hot stove."
Hmmm, thinks little Johnny, a hot stove, huh . . .
Why? Because even though you said the word "not" louder and tried to emphasize it, little Johnny's brain heard, "Son, do touch that hot stove."
Rate Your Addiction
It's told to us since before we could walk or talk. We've become addicted to the words "not" and "don't."
Rate your addiction.
Jot down today how many times you use the words "not" and "don't."
If it's less than 10 times, either your brain is ignoring the words automatically or you are lightyears ahead of the rest of the pack!
Most people say "not" and "don't" more than 50 times a day.
Rate your addiction.
Jot down today how many times you use the words "not" and "don't."
If it's less than 10 times, either your brain is ignoring the words automatically or you are lightyears ahead of the rest of the pack!
Most people say "not" and "don't" more than 50 times a day.
"Don't" = Law of Attraction Sabotage
The result of Americans' addition to "don't" and "not"? We continually state - usually vehemently and passionately - what we do not want.
We actually have very little practice at stating affirmatively, confidently and calmly what we DO want.
Want to test that theory? Read on.
We actually have very little practice at stating affirmatively, confidently and calmly what we DO want.
Want to test that theory? Read on.
Simple Example
What would you say to a child splashing water out of the tub?
"Little Sally, please don't do that."
How would you eliminate the word "don't?" [Most parents are absolutely dumb-founded by this question.]
Okay, take a breath. What do you want Sally to do?
[not to splash the water!] See how addicted we are? And then, you're going to try to replace all of this negativity, this negative-oriented energy and language with 10 minutes of meditation and reading a wonderful book on abundance.
Change this one negative, insiduous habit today, and your actions will speak louder than any words in any abundance book!
Okay, back to our situation, what DO you want little Sally to do? Yes . . .
"Sally, please keep the water in the tub."
"Little Sally, please don't do that."
How would you eliminate the word "don't?" [Most parents are absolutely dumb-founded by this question.]
Okay, take a breath. What do you want Sally to do?
[not to splash the water!] See how addicted we are? And then, you're going to try to replace all of this negativity, this negative-oriented energy and language with 10 minutes of meditation and reading a wonderful book on abundance.
Change this one negative, insiduous habit today, and your actions will speak louder than any words in any abundance book!
Okay, back to our situation, what DO you want little Sally to do? Yes . . .
"Sally, please keep the water in the tub."
Quiz Yourself
[answers below]
How would you convert the following statements into affirmative statements about what you DO want? [And, oh, by the way, do these sound familiar to you? If you were ever a child, you heard them. If you are a parent, you've said them.]
- Hurry up, I don't want to be late.
- Suzie, no running in the school.
- Nooo! Don't write on the wall, sweetie!
- I am NOT going to be talked to that way!
- Don't you take that tone with me young man.
- Don't spill the milk all over like that.
- Don't let the dog come in the house when he's all muddy like that.
- Oh, I hope I don't get another bill in the mail because I'm running low in my checking account as it is.
- I'm so tired, let's not go out tonight.
- I don't want to cook tonight.
Voila! Your New Positive Transformation
Positive statements to replace the negative ones above (and set your life back onto a positive, high energy course).
- Let's get going, I want to be on time.
- Suzie, walking only.
- Sweetie, let's write only on paper. Let's get some paper for you to write on.
- Please talk to me calmly and kindly.
- Please talk to me respectfully.
- Keep the milk in the bowl when you pour it.
- Dry off the dog before you let him in.
- I hope the next bill arrives after more money gets added to my checkbook.
- Let's stay home tonight.
- Let's eat out tonight. [or] Would you be willing to cook tonight?
Great Positive Book for Children About Children by Dr.Wayne Dyer
Incredible You! 10 Ways to let your greatness shine through
Teach your kids to be positive while they're young! Starting with - how to be positive about yourself!
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Team UP
Do you have a partner or a spouse? Make an agreement to help each other with the "Don't Busters" Program.
Gently remind each other when one of you use the words "not" or "don't."
Note, I said GENTLY. For 3 big reasons:
1. Kids sense dissention in the ranks very quickly - if you "gently remind" the other person in front of the kids, you want it to appear to kids as a Team effort.
2. Most of us need alot of practice stating what we do want, which means that . . . our brains need some delay time between when we say "don't" and when we can conceptualize and articulate what we "do" want.
3. Sometimes we have choices about what we do want (like #10 above). So, in addition to the extra time needed to take the "I don't want to cook" feeling, to a "What DO I feel like doing?" thought, you also need time to choose between the multiple answers to that question.
Give each other space - especially with strong feelings - for your spouse or partner to say what he/she doesn't want. Validate that. Then encourage him/her to rephrase it into what he/she does want.
Remember, being a GREAT example is 100 times better than being a nudgy teammate. Be 100 times more aware of yourself than you are with others about this topic.
Gently remind each other when one of you use the words "not" or "don't."
Note, I said GENTLY. For 3 big reasons:
1. Kids sense dissention in the ranks very quickly - if you "gently remind" the other person in front of the kids, you want it to appear to kids as a Team effort.
2. Most of us need alot of practice stating what we do want, which means that . . . our brains need some delay time between when we say "don't" and when we can conceptualize and articulate what we "do" want.
3. Sometimes we have choices about what we do want (like #10 above). So, in addition to the extra time needed to take the "I don't want to cook" feeling, to a "What DO I feel like doing?" thought, you also need time to choose between the multiple answers to that question.
Give each other space - especially with strong feelings - for your spouse or partner to say what he/she doesn't want. Validate that. Then encourage him/her to rephrase it into what he/she does want.
Remember, being a GREAT example is 100 times better than being a nudgy teammate. Be 100 times more aware of yourself than you are with others about this topic.
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Have you realized that you'd like to spare your children the burden of repeating your money mistakes? (or, of the poor money lessons that you were taught as a child?) Do you want your kids to learn NOW - while they're young - the money wisdom and skills that you are acquiring on the "Get Out of Debt Now" or "Law of Attraction" paths that you are (fortunately) now on?Would you like your kids to learn Abundance and Wise Money Management now, when they're young? Would you like your kids to build strong habits that will help them save, spend and donate money wisely?
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Watch Your Life Transform
Of course your life will transform because you will constantly be conceptualizing your life and surroundings in terms of what you DO want - and your language will be aligned with those thoughts.
Again, some of us are good at affirmations about specific goals, but put us in a day-to-day situation with kids splashing water, and our age-old automatic "don't" addiction kicks in. Wishing you,
All the Best,
Theresa
Again, some of us are good at affirmations about specific goals, but put us in a day-to-day situation with kids splashing water, and our age-old automatic "don't" addiction kicks in. Wishing you,
All the Best,
Theresa
Want to Learn More about "The Kids' Bank Book?"
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Kids and Money: How to Teach Wealth Habits to Your Kids
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Aha! You've joined the ranks of those wise parents who have realized that they'd like to spare your children the burden of repeating your money mistakes? (or, of the poor money lessons that you were taught as a child?) Do you want your ki...
About Me
I am the author of The Kids' Bank Book and an attorney. You can get more info on the Book at these sites. The "Don't Busters" Program fits perfectly with the tools in The Kids' Bank Book. Also, I have seen dozens of my clients improve their attitude and litigation posture by using the "Don't Busters" Program.
- How to Teach Wealth Habits to Your Kids
- Have you realized that you'd like to spare your children the burden of debt and money-mismanagement that led you to the "Get Out of Debt Now" or "Law of Attraction" path that you are (fortunately) now on?
- The Kids' Bank Book - Official Home Page
- How to Teach Wise Money Management to Your Children with Fun, Ease, Smiles and Laughter.
- Go Directly to the Shopping Cart to Buy "The Kids' Bank Book"
- Go directly to what you want so you can move on to actually taking action toward wealth training your kids. E-Book, $27, instantly appears after payment is processed (be sure to click on the "Return to Merchant" link), 4 Appendices, including 20-page Excel Spreedsheet with editing capabilities. [This link falls under category of straight-forward-talk for straight-forward-do-ers.]
YOUR Comments & Questions (go ahead, try to stump me w/a "not" conversion challenge!)
Anyone can submit comments and questions - even if you are just visiting Squidoo (notice how I adroitly avoided the phrase, "even if you're NOT a Squidoo member"?).
submit
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Reply
- TheresaMarkham TheresaMarkham Dec 13, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
- Rahul - You are a winner! Your email with a link for a free "Kids' Bank Book" will be emailed to you shortly! Thanks for stopping by & for reading with enthusiasm!
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Reply
- Rahul Rahul Dec 13, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
- You have used NOT in following sentence below..not as a conflict...
1. Kids sense dissention in the ranks very quickly - if you "gently remind" the other person in front of the kids, you want it to appear to kids as a Team effort, not as a conflict.
my email: mprakash100@yahoo.com for free book.
SPECIAL OFFER - Find my errors & get a FREE copy of my "Kids' Bank Book"
If you can find (and I'm sure you can) a place - just one place - in ANY of my lenses that I used the words "don't" or "not," then send me an email (click on the "Contact Me" just below my bio), or Submit a Blurb (just up above), with the details.
And, in gratitude for you helping me staying on the Path of the Positive, I will email you a link to a FREE copy of my book, The Kids' Bank Book. Want to see a Squidoo lens about how the book helps parents teach kids about money? Then visit How to Teach Wealth Habits to Your Kids
Hey, then again, you could start looking there for any residual traces of my negative addiction. :)
And, in gratitude for you helping me staying on the Path of the Positive, I will email you a link to a FREE copy of my book, The Kids' Bank Book. Want to see a Squidoo lens about how the book helps parents teach kids about money? Then visit How to Teach Wealth Habits to Your Kids
Hey, then again, you could start looking there for any residual traces of my negative addiction. :)
Positive Thinking for Kids
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Children's Books for Christmas Gifts for Kids
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If you buy only one book for a child this year, this Christmas, this Holiday season, or this birthday, let it be one of these 2 new children's books by Dr. Wayne Dyer. Why? Find out below.
Great Examples of "Don't" and "Do" statements
At my The Secret for Kids Squidoo lens :)-
The Secret for Kids
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Yeaaaahhhh! You want to make sure that your kids "get it" - get the wisdom of The Secret - before they grow up (so they have a better spiritual, emotional, and mental foundation going into adulthood than you did). Next Step: Okay, how do y...
by TheresaMarkham
Theresa A. Markham, Esq. loves living in scenic Northwest New Jersey with her husband, Chuck, and daughter Zoe, who are visited by her GWU-colleg...
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