Most of our "mind power" comes from how we use words and is limited by how many words we know. Each language has different words that mean different things and different ways of putting things. So, when you learn a new language, you learn how to think differently.
Most Americans think of money as something that is made, not as a fixed amount that needs to be split up. This is not a fluke. The English language is one of the few that talks about "making" money. In other languages, the word for "gain" is "to take" or "to get." The way people talk about money is affected by the words they use. I think "making money" is a very healthy way to look at things.
Hablas Espanol?
Did you know that you're not thirsty, cold, or scared in Spanish? You have to say "I'm thirsty," "I'm cold," or "I'm scared." Could this change how someone feels about things?
Definitely. People are now being told by therapists to stop saying or thinking things like "I'm scared." This way of saying it makes people feel too close to the feeling. It's better to say, "I'm scared." You're not afraid, you're just a person. Fear, like all other emotions, is just passing through.
In Spanish, a decision is "taken" (tomar un decision). Is it possible that "taking" a decision instead of "making" one would be less stressful? It might also limit you unconsciously, since you usually "take" what's there, while to "make" gives you a lot of choices.
There are other reasons to learn a language.
Learning a language gives you more words, but it also helps you understand things better. Who can describe snow better: someone who only knows three words for it (snow, sleet, powder), or an Eskimo who knows 22? Which is better: the German word "zeitgeist," which means "the taste and outlook of a period or generation," or the nine words I just used to say the same thing?
The research shows that most people's memories get better when they learn a second language. Research has also shown that learning a new language can stop the loss of mental ability that comes with getting older. Save that little tip for later, or better yet, start learning a new language right now.
