Today is National Newfeeling Day. It is also the first day of spring in Australia. It’s a day to face your fears and do something you have always wanted to do. Take the first step towards living your dreams.
“Life is either a daring adventure – or nothing!” ~ Helen Keller
What Is Newfeeling Day?
National Newfeeling Day Founder, Marty Wilson, used to be a stand up comic and suffered from the sensation of “butterflies” in the stomach before going on stage. He wanted to replace the negative words associated with this feeling of “being out of his comfortzone”. Words such as “scared”, “uneasy” or “feeling sick” are very disempowering. So Marty simply renamed the sensation of experiencing something new as Newfeeling.
When someone is out of their comfortzone, a primal sensation of “fight or flight” overtakes them. It’s that funny feeling in the belly that makes you uncomfortable when you experience something new. Calling it “Newfeeling”, makes it a much more empowering emotion and much less scary.
Marty Wilson tells a story of taking his young son to School on his very first day. When his son saw the School, he tensed up. Marty asked his son if he was scared and got the reply:
“No Dad. It’s just a Newfeeling!”
His son then proceeded to explain to his teacher about the Newfeeling, who in turn explained to the entire class what this was.
Empowering Vocabulary
This ties in beautifully with topics I’ve covered in the past about using Empowering Vocabulary. It is the art of replacing negative and disempowering words with positive and empowering words. Positive vocabulary leaves you in a good mood and negative vocabulary does the opposite. Using empowering words leaves you and others in a good mood (and it will save you dome arguments too). Here are some examples:
- Frustrated – replace with Fascinated. “I am so fascinated with you today!”
- Loser – replace with Underdog. “I am an underdog.”
These 2 examples will give you the idea. Indeed, replacing a word like “frustrated” with “fascinated” will leave you with a totally New Feeling.
I want to thank Marty Wilson for taking the initiative to found National Newfeeling Day. You can find him on his website: www.newfeeling.org. Go check it out and give him some support.
Marty Wilson is also on Twitter. Send him a message.
Happy Newfeeling Day!
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
Aussie Internet Marketer © 2004 – 2009
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Sean, “Newfeeling” seems like a great dscription!
Been following you intensely and love your work. Frustrated/fascinated seems a logical step.
I have a comment I can’t solve and would welcome your input.
I often blurt out…”I don’t care”. Can’t find a positive substitute for it! Got any ideas?
Hi Garry
“I don’t care” is very disempowering. It could even be very emotionally draining to both the person who says it and the people that hear it. I would be inclined to totally replace it with the true meaning of what you really mean. Is it possible you really mean:
“I haven’t thought about it”
“I haven’t paid much though to it”
Maybe substitute it with: “That’s an interesting thought/idea/concept”
Bottom line is to replace it with a positive meaning that doesn’t make you feel like your energy is being drained.
What a great idea for a “New Feeling Day,”Sean ! There is so much negativity out there ; it can be very depressing if you allow it.
It has been said , ” that what you speak is what you get !”
The lesson we can all learn is to always try to use positve words .
I will have to remember this one, much more empowering to have the right vocabulary and inner dialogue. Nice work.
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Aren’t kids so smart?
Love the Helen Keller quote too. I believe I had that up on my wall about 15 years ago, but forgotten about it over the years. I’ve been a bit nervous lately about a new adventure that I’m embarking upon. I feel more excited about it already. Thanks for the post.
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Congratulations that you are embarking on another adventure – sounds like this is your adventure year
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Hi Lina and Renee,
I think all of us are going to have a year of adventure. I can’t wait to we see where we all are at Christmas. I think we are going to have the best year of our entire lives and we will all enjoy great success.
Oh I so love that saying “new feeling” – I will be teaching my boys this one so that they can cope with new situations that take them out of their comfort zone. Actually I will be using the concept as well while I take on new journey in 2010 with our new path of discoveries.
So totally going to use “fasciating” for my husband when i really am “frustrated with him” – that’s priceless that one.
Cheers
Lisa
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Hi Sean,
I love this post. ‘Newfeeling’ is a great word to use when feeling a little out of your depth. It immediately causes a different feeling than if you say scared, frightened etc.
I read somewhere that our bodies react physiologically to the words that we say. This is all the more reason to be careful with what we say.
Anybody remembers Mr.Spok from Starwars? Ok, long time ago but still … I can’t remember that he talked negative about anything, just about things being “interesting” or “fascinating” when he didn’t know them.
I love the term “newfeeling”. It acknowledges that there is a sensation because of something new, but without putting a negative stamp on it straight away. I will take that on into my vocabulary.
Renee´s last blog ..Motivational Music
i am sure you are right Jazz
Butterflies that Marty would get is something that a lot of performers get no matter how famous they are. They always get this feeling that they are only as good as their last performance and will this one measure up.
I remember a few years ago seeing an interview with Neil Diamond at the height of his popularity. He said he always got nervous before every concert he would do. Of course the fans never saw it so he must have had a way of dealing with it.
Love the newfeeling concept
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