My intention is to omit the word “busy” from my vocabulary. I have gotten much better but I still find myself using that word on occasion due to habit. This is a common word that most people use quite regularly. In my study and practice of clinical hypnosis, I have learned how powerful the words we use are. When I say that I am busy, I have to remember that my mind listens to everything I tell myself. So this can end up making me stressed and tense, instead of enjoying the things that I am doing.

Also, I have realized that if someone is trying to connect with me and asks me how I’ve been, and I respond with “busy”, I could be giving the impression that I have been too busy for that person. Or not recognizing that pretty much everyone is busy nowadays!

So how can I stop myself from using this word after decades? It is a practice in mindfulness to use our words intentionally. What I have been doing instead is telling myself that I have time, plenty of time to get through the things that really matter. Because busy is really a state of mind.