The Power of Words: Lessons from Trevor Moawad
At work, my team and I often watch inspiring TED Talks and videos to spark discussion and growth. And honestly, I’m usually so fired up by these insights that I end up sharing them with my family, too. A recent video with Trevor Moawad, How To BREAK THE ADDICTION To Negative Thoughts & Emotions In 31 MINUTES, hit home for me.
Trevor, a renowned mental conditioning coach for elite athletes, has worked with NFL draft picks, NBA players, and even military personnel, helping them sharpen their minds and improve performance through the power of mindset. His approach was influenced by his father, Bob Moawad, a pioneer in personal development and self-esteem and one of the original authors of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
Trevor’s background and experience give him a unique perspective on the power of words and thoughts. He shared some powerful ideas that got me thinking—and I believe they’re worth sharing with you, too.
Key Takeaways
The Power of Words:
Trevor Moawad emphasizes that what we say out loud is 10 times more impactful than what we merely think. This means our spoken words significantly affect our mindset and reality.
If those words are negative, they become 4 to 7 times more potent. This amplifies the impact of negativity, making it much more influential in shaping our outcomes.
Formula:
Impact of saying something out loud = Thought × 10
Impact of negative words = Thought × 10 × (4 to 7)
Example: Moawad shared a story about Bill Buckner, a baseball player who once voiced his fear of letting a ground ball slip through his legs during a game. Remarkably, this exact scenario occurred during a crucial World Series game, illustrating how our words can manifest into reality, especially when they’re negative.
Neutral Thinking:
Avoid Forcing Positivity: Telling someone in a negative frame of mind to "just be positive" is often unhelpful and can feel dismissive. Instead, encourage focusing on neutral thinking, which involves acknowledging the situation without judgment and concentrating on what can be controlled. This approach can be more practical and supportive for shifting away from negativity.
Moawad introduces the idea that you can’t go from reverse to forward without first going neutral. Just like driving a car, if you’re stuck in reverse, you can’t jump directly to forward—you must pass through neutral.
Neutral thinking involves pausing, reflecting, and acknowledging the situation without letting emotions dictate your response. It’s about seeing things as they are, not worse than they are, and then taking the next best step.
Instead of forcing yourself to be positive when things go wrong, staying neutral allows you to focus on what you can control and make clear, fact-based decisions.
Don’t Say Stupid Stuff Out Loud:
One of Moawad’s key pieces of advice is to be mindful of what we say out loud. Our words are powerful, and speaking negative thoughts can set the stage for negative outcomes.
Verbalising fears or doubts doesn’t just make us feel worse—it can create a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more we speak negativity into existence, the more likely it is to affect us and those around us.
Reflection
Thinking about these ideas, I realise there have definitely been times in my life when I’ve said things out loud that weren’t helping me create the life I want, and I will likely continue to. It’s so easy to slip into negative talk without even realising it. But what if we all took a moment to pause and choose our words more carefully? Could we change the way we experience life?
Playing Devil’s Advocate
While I resonated with much of what this talk had to say and can implement it straight away—especially the part about stopping saying stupid shit out loud—a quick chat with a work colleague brought up an important point about the value of venting or sharing in a safe space. I tend to agree.
While we should be mindful of how our words and attitudes can affect others, it’s also important to have a safe space, like close relationships, where you feel emotionally secure to share your thoughts, feelings and struggles. As long as this is done in a considerate way, it can be healthy. It’s better to express yourself than to suffer in silence.
The key is to be selective about who you do this with and to also learn how to hold space for others who might need to vent or share with you.
PS: I’m not speaking as an expert, just someone walking the path, doing the work, failing, and growing.
Thoughts? I’d love to hear ‘em.