Try: popularity top 30% of words as of May 27, 2018 Merriam-Webster.
To make an attempt
To put to test or trial
E.g. “I will try to call you later”
Let’s begin. The definition of try almost makes it seem like a noble endeavor. Makes the word try look like something we should all be proud of. Honestly–and as always only my opinion; I think this is the most disgusting, passive self-sabotaging word known to man. Try is an excuse. A substitute for “I won’t”, or “I don’t want to.” It’s a way of avoiding accountability. I think that people use the word try with good intentions though. It’s not a word that people generally associate as negative. In fact if we went out and asked people to categorize the word try as positive or negative most would probably say it’s positive. Would you?
What does try imply? When you use the word try how does it make you feel? Do you feel a rush of energy and fire burn within you? Does it make you feel unstoppable? When I use (or used to use) the word try, it made me feel heavy. Lazy. Unmotivated and burdened. I wanted to be done with whatever was being asked of me so I would say “I’ll try” to get whoever I was talking to off of my back. Because who could be mad at us for trying right? We! We need to be mad at ourselves if we ever “try.” First because we’re probably brushing off whatever was just asked of us. Second, because it implies failure. I think the word try implies failure because we’re already unsure of whether we can or can’t do something. “I’m going to try to go on a diet.” “I’m going to try and stop cursing.” I’m going to try and stop smoking.” Heard any of these before? How do you feel when someone says things like this? Does it inspire confidence? Does it make you think that there is a good chance it’s going to happen? What does it make you think? Ever hear a parent tell a child “I’ll try to buy you that toy.” Or “I’ll try to take you to the store?” That’s usually the parents way of saying no without saying no. Don’t take my word for it though. If you disagree that the word try is negative observe a child’s expression when their parent tells them “they’ll try” and you tell me if it was a positive or negative one?
Try is a cancer that is disguised as a medicine. We think that we’re helping ourselves when we use it. Instead we’re slowly killing our selves and our dreams. Try is an enemy disguised as our friend who slowly undermines our efforts to succeed. Try is the jealous coworker who acts real friendly toward you and then goes and bad mouths you to your boss. We need to be at war with the word try. How do you wage war with a bad habit? You can’t just stop a bad habit ( more on this later.) You eliminate bad habits by replacing them with new/good ones. Do your best. It’s much better than trying. Say them both: “I’ll do my best”, and “I’ll try.” Which one made you feel better? Do this and in a life full of people who are “trying” you’ll be part of the few who are “doing.”
I’ll leave you with this last example to really let the ugliness of the word try sink in: if someone was punching you on the face repeatedly–would you want them to “try” and stop or would you just want them to stop?
“Do or do not–there is no try.” –Yoda
Positive vibes for positive minds.
Love y’all.
Brain masters life coaching 