The Power of a Personal Catchphrase.

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*my* personal catchphrase

What feels like a lifetime ago I wrote about how I’m not a fan of quotes.

And yet, to my surprise, over the years I’ve shifted my perspective and am thisclose to becoming a lover of the inspirational musings.

You’ll never find me making a quote-board on Pinterest, but I can now see how many of you glean motivation & inspiration from other people’s words.

Have I mentioned lately how much I adore movies?

Have I blogged about my unabashed adoration for all things trash TV?

Both of these facts, coupled with marathon viewing of Fuller House with the Child (How rude!), started me thinking about a more personalized version the quote: the personal catchphrases.

what would tami taylor do?

A tad too wordy for a catchphrase.

Something, perhaps, the Child and her Squad could create and harness its power to motivate/inspire each time they utter it.

But I’m getting ahead of myself…

What are personal catchphrases and why are they powerful?

  • Personal catchphrases are used in writing (print & movies/TV). These repetitive phrases provide readers/viewers insight into precisely who a character is and what motivates her.
  • Personal catchphrases should be words which spark us to take action. (consider this foreshadowing to my re-harnessing the power of the catch phrase S.L.A.P.)
  • Personal catchphrases need to feel and sound natural when emerging from our mouths. (Ahh the awkward “That’s so FETCH!!” attempt. We loved ye!)
  • Personal catchphrases should be optimistic and positive. (Remember You can do it—we can help! I loved that line. It was optimistic and reminded me I wasn’t alone. I was always glad they could help. I always needed their help.)
  • Personal catchphrases should be used. (liberally and judiciously if there exists such a thing.)
  • Personal catchphrases should possess the power to change your outlook and improve your life.  They should be so motivating simply saying them turns your day around (I have no scientific proof of this fact).

I can't adult today

I love this one. It felt verbose…

By way of illustration (and practicing what I wanna preach for the child) I’ve decided to return to the catchphrase of S.L.A.P.

S.L.A.P., an acronym for sounds like a plan, is something which, if I use each time I encounter a challenge *or* when encouraging others to break through barriers, will serve to spark action.

S.L.A.P. as a personal catch phrase is positive. It will keep me/others I’m hoping to help move forward inspired to seek solutions.

S.L.A.P. implies, as I believe all good personal catch phrases should, there exists a solution to any roadblock we’re facing. There now exists a PLAN.

S.L.A.P. is something where, if I heard it said back to me or used in a blog post, it would cause me to pee my pants in delight.

In a way my S.L.A.P.’ing is no different than my choosing a favorite personal mantra or quote.

It’s just more terse, applicable in all situations, and reveals I’m completely Gretchen & kinda hoping the Child starts using it, too.

Now you.

  • From blog tagline to workout mantra: do you possess a personal catch phrase?
  • If you don’t–what might your phrase be & how would it provide insight into who you are and what motivates you?

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Comments

  3. I am a fanatic for quotes,but now I’m wondering if that’s because I’m not creative enough to come up with a personal catchphrase??

  6. The one I fall back on most often is “run the mile you are in”. I tend to get really caught up in worrying about the future. And not in a positive way of making plans, but in a “OMG, what if *insert random bad thing* happens. So, I’ve taken my racing mantra and started applying it to life. Deal with the day you are in. Sometimes it means enjoy the fact that that particular day/mile is going well and don’t worry about when the good will end. Sometimes it means survive the day/mile knowing that there will be better ahead.

  7. Giggling over SLAP. I love it.

    AND NOW I NEED A PERSONAL CATCHPHRASE. How do I not have one yet?! This needs to be remedied immediately.

  11. I’ve had a personal theme song for years but never a catchphrase. Now I have something to think about all day instead of doing actual work. ?

  12. I am beyond ridiculous when it comes to quotes – I won’t tell you how many pinterest boards I have dedicated to them!!!! I love your catch phrase and I totally agree about them being positive and life changing. One of the first to impact me was “not my circus, not my monkeys” because it gives me permission to stop taking other people’s problems on as my own – and it sounds better than “not my problem!”

  14. Do the words, “We’re off like a pair of dirty underwear” count? LOL — That’s what I say when we are about to leave to go somewhere. I have said it ever since they were little and now they actually get it.

  15. Man. I need one now, don’t I?

    I adore you. I’m your semi-twin in that I love all the tees with the sayings, and I might need the WWTTD? tee. Somehow.

    I mostly wear my “OK, But First Coffee” and my “I Can’t Adult Today” tees – but I don’t think those will be my catchphrases … now I have to think. And I’m only just working on some coffee, so I can’t think yet. 😉

  18. I am a shameless thief–I’ve always loved Nike’s JUST DO IT. Although I don’t always. But I think it’s the best advice of all. Of course, SLAP is kind of appealing, too. So nice to share time with you last week, Carla!

  19. #getafterit

    I use that when I have a busy day ahead. Makes me feel determined.

  20. It’s too early in the morning for me to take this seriously, (but I want to), so I can only share right now that The Hubs would probably state with glee that I have two catchphrases:

    1) That is Unacceptable.
    2) Holy F*ckballs, Batman!

    #2 can be shouted in joy, disbelieve, or outrage. It’s really quite versatile! And these two, while they are not interchangeable, can nonetheless be utilized in conjunction with one another. eg, Holy f*ckballs, Batman, that is SO UNACCEPTABLE.

  22. I love you, Carla, but I’ll agree to disagree! I love quotes and find inspiration in the wise words of others who have either gone before me or are still around now! I use them a lot in my blog.

    I went to Target to find another yoga top and there were some “tops” with phrases like “I’d rather be napping” or “Don’t speak to me until I have some coffee.” Also wise words to live by!

  24. No catchphrase except perhaps “by G-d’s grace,” because i feel that all of life i am dependent on that in everything. When things are going wrong, i remember i can get through it by G-d’s grace.

  25. Lots of fun comments here, Carla. I guess mine might be: I’d rather be writing.

    Or I’d rather be gardening. (because just so you know, I do move around a lot!!)

  27. One of mine this year is finding joy in the journey. I tend to be a bit of an extrovert and social things can really stress me out, just shopping can be too social some days… or maybe its all those decisions! I just keep reminding myself joy in the journey and it has helped a lot this year, especially when dealing with in laws….

  29. no…phrases , especially the cheesy motivational ones don’t do a thing for me.

    I do however give my older kids a few words at the end of the school year….and it’s not “read everyday” as one middle schooler guessed. I told him to “pay attention” and “show up”.

  30. When things get really tough, I often will tell myself repeatedly “nobody ever died of (insert catastrophe here)” Nobody ever died of their water heater breaking. Nobody ever died of forgetting to get milk at the grocery store, etc. It’s not inspirational necessarily, but a way of talking myself down and keeping things in perspective.

    I did love your “I Can’t Adult Today” shirt so much, I went out and bought one for Princess. I told her to wear it on days she has mid-terms or her computer breaks and such. Seriously considered buying 2 so as to keep one for myself!

  31. Can “that’s what she said” be a catch phrase? 😉

    Seriously though, I always have in my head something my dad said all the time – You can do anything you want to, if you want to badly enough.

  33. Hi Carla,

    Catchphrases are so much fun and easier to motivate me as well. I keep saying on a daily basis “Karma is a b*tch” and I should really make a T-shirt about it. I love your post! You just made my day! 🙂

    Zaria

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