“I wanted to go… but I didn’t.” Sound familiar?
In this episode of Morning Motivation, we take a playful but powerful look at the word but — how it negates what comes before it, weakens your language, and blurs your intention. The words you use shape your reality, so it’s time to ditch sloppy phrasing and speak with purpose. Watch your “but”… and watch your impact grow.
🗓️ Morning Motivation is a daily podcast helping you stay sharp, grounded, and intentional — one thought at a time.
Transcript
I'd like to encourage you to get off your butt, not the butt with two T's, although that's probably a good idea too. But the But with one T, the but is one of those words that negates everything that comes before it. And sometimes you may think, well, I want to negate everything that came before it. I didn't wanna come, but now I'm here.
Here's the thing, if you're gonna negate what you're going to say, then why are you going to say it? In the first place. I didn't want to come and now I'm here. They're both true. You did not want to come and now you are here, but makes everything before it pointless. It negates it. And there's no point in saying words that we don't mean in saying words that don't serve us.
It's a waste of our energy. It's a waste of our breath. So word like, but. Needs to be watched very, very carefully or not used at all. There are times when you may use it and in casual conversation, no big deal. However you want to be aware of where that word pops up and think about why am I negating the words I'm saying?
There's other words like that too. Never, always. I never do that. I always do that. I will almost guarantee you that in very few cases, is the word never or always literally accurate? And as they say in the four agreements, be impeccable with your word. If you're sloppy with your language, you are sloppy with your intentions.
You are sloppy with your life and you're sloppy with your outcomes. Your words have power. If you say, I never do that. But you do. You are out of integrity between your words and the reality you live in. And if you're out of integrity with reality, how can you ever achieve anything you're trying to create?
So be careful with those words, but. Never, always other words like can't that I won't get into right now. Keep an eye on what you are actually saying. Are you saying what you mean or are you saying what's convenient? What feels easy? Your words have incredible power, but only if focused and directed, and that's why you need to watch your butt.