I introduced the concept of the language of possibility in the first part of the series.
In this second part I’m going to focus on those times when you might be using it to evoke a sense of possibility and potential in your readers.
The third part will look in more detail at language patterns, including ways you can change your own language patterns to help tap into your sense of what’s possible.
Actually I’m not going to talk about language patterns at all today, rather I’m going to focus on things you can do before and after you write to increase that sense of possibility.
9 Things You Can Do with the Language of Possibility Without Writing at All
Set Your Intention
1. Get clear on where you want to get to
Think about the kind of state you want to evoke in your readers. That’s probably a shift, a journey even, from one state to another.
It might, for example, be to move someone from feeling fearful to feeling confident. From believing that they have lost their voice, to being confident and assured in self-expression.
2. Focus on that intention
Keep that (positive) intention in mind when you’re writing.
It’ll make it much easier for you to write without inhibition, and without those pesky inner critics getting in the way. It’ll also make it much easier for you to find the words that will make the shift you’re looking for.
Trust that your unconscious mind will find the right words to take you there.
More on writing with intention here: How Intention Adds Fuel to the Writing Fire
3. Believe that the end result is possible
The language of possibility will flow when you hold the belief that the change you’re looking for is possible.
Including the belief that the person you’re writing for has all the resources they need to realise that potential.
Manage Your State
That work you do on intention is part of managing your own state before you start to write. It’s very hard to write about what’s possible if you’re feeling stuck or demotivated yourself.
Here are a few things you can do to change your own state to one where things start to feel possible.
4. Focus on your positive intention
It’ll help you get into the right frame of mind – a positive and upbeat frame of mind, where things start to feel possible (and maybe even just a little bit playful 
)
(I know there’s a bit of repetition here, but honestly it makes such a difference I had to say it again.)
5. Shake off any stuck feelings
You’ll have your own techniques for doing this.
Play for a while on Twitter. Go for a walk. Dance around the room. Sing loudly. Blast yourself with some music that can’t help but make you feel anything is possible.
(Here’s one of the pieces of music that does that for me… sorry can’t embed it – it’s Shine by Take That – video on YouTube here).
6. Smile
Corny I know, but it really does make a difference to your writing. Smiling softens your language, which will help you create that sense of possibility. Even if you don’t believe me, it might be worth a try
Edit with Feeling
You can carry your intention through to the editing as well as the writing stage, looking and listening for the words and patterns that generate that feeling of possibility.
7. Listen for enticing rhythms
Tune in to rhythms, patterns, repetition, playfully enchanting words.
Cut out the clutter so the patterns you’ve got make more of an impact. Look for ways to enhance the rhythms so the words play and dance with possibility in your reader’s head.
8. Recognise the impact
Tune in to your own reactions (even the subconscious ones like a tap of the foot or a nod of your head). Pay attention to the places where you smile, laugh and nod with recognition, where you hear yourself saying “yes” in response to the words.
Chances are your readers will feel it too.
9. Go with the flow
Notice any points where there’s a jarring feeling, perhaps where you feel yourself tense up or resist what you’re reading. Tune in closer to the word and language patterns to see what might be causing that resistance (more on language patterns in the next post.) Swap those phrases for words that are more creative, playful, beguiling…
It’s editing with a difference 
I know this kind of teaching post doesn’t offer the same opportunity for contributions as other more open pieces… (Normal service will be resumed soon, I promise)
I would as ever appreciate input and suggestions though. It would be useful in particular to know how you manage your state before you write, especially if you’re writing to influence the moods and feelings of others. Are there particular techniques you use to get into the write/right frame of mind?
Photo Credit and Postscript:
The photo of the hibiscus is by Rosa Say.
Now Rosa is a friend and contact of mine on Flickr, but I found it by searching (as I often do) for photos on Flickr CC. The hibiscus was the most stunning picture I saw on the first page.
Thank you Rosa for using tags on Flickr with such care! Although the photo is titled Keia Manawa meaning “Right now. This is the time. This is it. The here and now.” Rosa has also tagged it with linked words like self-leadership, belief, conviction, and yes, intention. Thank you Rosa!
Excellent tutorial on writing! Whenever I want to get into major creative mode, I blast the 2009 Star Trek soundtrack on repeat (it’s gotten to the point my kids can sing it while we’re in the car). I can lose myself in the music while my brain goes into overdrive.
Repeating your writing to yourself, or pretending to give an informal talk with your words….that also helps you define how you touch your readers’ heart and bring it all together for a satisfying conclusion .
.-= Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach´s last blog ..Today’s Humor – True Love….There She Is! Part 1 =-.
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Joanna, this is a list that I will return to many times. Each one of these is so helpful but this one caused a quickening in my belly: 3)Believe that the end result is possible. Wow. It seems obvious but I realize that most often when I feel stuck or can’t seem to get the words right I am allowing doubt to get the best of me. Believing that you can convey your message is half the battle! I also love “listen for enticing rhythms.” The times that I have actively done that it has had a dramatic impact on my writing. I am conscious of the rhythms in other people’s writing but really would like to do this more with my own. Thank you Joanna, I’m looking forward to Part 3.
.-= Karen Swim´s last blog ..The Language of Reinvention =-.
‘Smile’
Watching my kids learn as they go in school chorus, that advice is given often. We believe it adds something to the sound even if not clearly identified. I love that you’ve added it here. I have a feeling it will come through even though the smile is even further from being seen. It certainly reminds me to lighten up before taking finger to keys.
.-= Fred H Schlegel´s last blog ..The 3 P’s of Innovation =-.
Joanna, Your suggestions are marvelous. Like Fred, I’m really attracted to the idea of smiling – sort of like “whistle while you work.” When I read certain bloggers, I can picture them smiling as they wrote their posts. It shows through. I find that I am very much influenced in my writing style by books I am reading at the time. For instance now I am immersed in a collection of Ray Bradbury stories (thanks to our friend Emma!) and I find myself almost unconsciously mimicking his lyrical style (although far less effectively).
.-= Brad Shorr´s last blog ..How to Research Keywords for Your Business Blog =-.
Barbara sorry for some reason your comment went into the spam folder, just rescued it now.
I also think music has a lot to do with managing our state, and getting ourselves into the mood for writing, or action, or parenting, or looking after the mooses
Good point about reading your work out loud – that is a great way of tuning into those points of connection and resonance. The moments when you touch the heart.
Karen I’m so enjoying the dance we’re dancing with language, heroes, stories, change and reinvention here
You’re right about the belief – in the power of your own words, and also in the power of the person you’re writing to and for to make that shift. Your own writing sometimes has a great rhythmical power… I’m all for hearing more of it girl!
Fred you know I think there are close corollaries between writing and singing – they’re both about finding your voice after all. Smiling makes a big difference to my own writing – that’s why I go on about it! Plus it’s simple, quick and free, which can’t be bad
Brad you know I reckon if you get that feeling, they probably are. That’s an interesting point about the writers you’re reading – I suspect those influences do rub off, even if it’s in a subconscious way. If only I could find the mind set to read some fiction I might be able to allow my writing to go off in some interesting directions too!
Thanks Joanna for this inspiring post – your advice can be applied to so much more than just writing … I’m a yoga teacher and this piece will bring a new dimension to my approach to teaching and what is possible for my students! *smile* Thank you so much! (..and I love the hibiscus photo).
Joanna, for many intentions are just that… intentions. But you provide a wonderful path to make them realities.
Our words make a great deal of difference because our brain picks up on them. If you say one thing and do another, you only fool yourself. If you tell yourself that you have no good ideas, you only fill yourself with negatives, and you stay stuck. Once you do that, there isn’t a way out, unless you have a good plan like the one you offer with so many positives! The negatives fill us with a brain hormone, cortisol, which shuts down our ability to think clearly. So you can see what you do to yourself. This often happens to students.
On the other hand if you step out to take a risk and try something, as you suggest in these nine strategies, it brings a sense of accomplishment when you succeed. This brings a flow of serotonin, another brain chemical, that brings a sense of well-being. You truly help readers to do just that.
Thanks so much, Joanna!
.-= Robyn McMaster´s last blog ..Introducing Top Leadership Brainpower at World Business Forum =-.
I read this and I can’t stop thinking about how it reminds me so much of the Self-Actualisation course I went through last year. It’s all about what you choose to do and how that intention is reflected through your actions.
I especially like what Robyn says:
Joanna, for many intentions are just that… intentions. But you provide a wonderful path to make them realities.
Thank you for that reminder, both of you.
With much love
Naoko
.-= Naoko´s last blog ..LALA BB~ =-.
Hi Joanna. You make me feel like ANYTHING is possible. Your tip about smiling and how it softens your language is right on. A smile is like opening a window; gives you a breath of fresh air. I also find that listening to favourite music or taking a walk helps; something about the physical movement that helps to go with the flow.
.-= Davina´s last blog ..The Key To Vacation Thyme =-.
Kathleen I am glad you enjoyed it – I love the idea that it’ll spread to yoga teaching too! That’s made me smile
Robyn thank you, I do try and provide stepping stones to action as well as thinking, even if it’s just acting on the writing impulse. I’m so interested in what you say about the brain chemicals – I’ve noticed it so many times myself, how the things that I write about change my mood and mind-set. It’s a topic that fascinates me – I’m so glad to have you around to help me learn about it.
Naoko interesting perspective indeed. One of my favourite quotes is ‘find out who you are and do it on purpose’. I do believe that writing can help us both to find out who we are and then also to do it on purpose. That sounds like self-actualisation, doesn’t it?
Thanks too for picking up and repeating Robyn’s words – it gave me a double affirmation
Well Davina I am smiling as I think of you smiling as you write
I agree about the music, and walking. The more I walk the more I can write, and yes, the better it flows. Something about the rhythm, getting things moving, but also getting in touch with the source…
“Trust that your unconscious mind will find the right words to take you there.”
I know it sounds crazy, but I frequently used the unconscious mind to figure out the words/phrases that I’m going to write, Joanna. Maybe we calling this process as “Precognitive training”?!
Wilson that sounds like a suitably impressive term! I’m glad you find it useful to use your unconscious mind too. Mine never fails to delight me!
[...] on intention in a recent post, Joanna Young offers some wonderful reflections and practical tips for writers [...]
Joanna, I love the way you think of writing with a smile, playing and dancing with possibility, singing loudly and even blasting music. Quite frankly, this is the way creative ideas flow for me and it brings out oh so many of our intelligences! Thanks for a great post.
.-= Robyn McMaster´s last blog ..Gary Hamel: Management’s Out of Date =-.
Robyn thanks for the feedback – and continued teaching. I’ve learned so much from you about how to use the many intelligences, and how they can fire up our writing (and creativity, and confidence, and self-expression)
[...] the second part I explored things you can do before you start to write to manage your state and set your [...]