Hi everyone, I am Wuxia Guji (无暇顾及). Welcome here to play.

Recently, my observation is that I subconsciously and sternly correct others when they make casual jokes about age and motivation. For example, during a chat in a café: “I’m getting old, I’m a child of the 90s, not like you 00s kids,” or “When you’re older, you just have no motivation, you can’t exercise anymore.” (Of course, the people I correct are all older or more experienced than me—I don’t worry about offending them. I’m also a bit of a “weathercock” (见风使舵/墙头草), I know how to speak to people according to who they are.)

I become subconsciously alert; even the drink in my hand loses its flavor. I frown at them and correct: “Don’t speak like that from now on, even if it’s just a joke, it’s better not to.” “If you say these things too much, they will become reality. You think it’s just casual, but language is slowly shaping reality.” “Why don’t you look at those people in their 40s/50s+ who still exercise and have excellent mental states, while being full of vitality and innovation?”

I observe the samples around me. Like the group who says their parents don’t support their decisions—they are always hesitating and subtly shifting part of the responsibility to their families. The group who says work is oppressing them—their work state is always poor, and their daily energy state is also low. Then I went to reflect on why I observe these phenomena. I am very sensitive to the Power of Narrative, and I link many things together.

1. Social Narrative

The first book that jumps to mind is Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens. It’s a book I read a long time ago. A core concept is: Human society is constructed by shared narratives. For example, nations/money/companies/religions are all narrative systems. Similarly, “getting old means no motivation” is also a kind of narrative. This is just the macro level; there are other angles and theories to explain it.

• 📖 Recommended: Sapiens

2. Language Shapes Cognition

Sapir–Whorf Hypothesis

Core Concept: Language affects or even shapes the way people think.

Simple example: If language structure emphasizes time, people find it easier to plan the future. Extending to: “I’m old,” “I can’t exercise anymore.” This kind of language slowly becomes a: Self-Explanation Framework.

• 📖 Recommended: Through the Language Glass by Guy Deutscher

3. Narrative Shapes Life

Narrative Psychology

Core Concept: People understand life by telling their own stories.

If a person constantly says: “I’m old,” “Life is just like this,” the narrative will slowly become: Identity Recognition.

• 📖 Recommended: The Stories We Live By by Dan McAdams

4. Speech Act Theory

Philosophical Theory—Speech Act Theory

Core Concept: Speaking is not just describing reality; speaking itself IS creating reality.

For example: “I pronounce you married.” Language itself is an action. Extending to daily life: Repeatedly saying certain things will slowly change behavior patterns.

• 📖 Recommended: How to Do Things with Words by J. L. Austin

5. Self-Perception Theory

There is also a related study in psychology: Self-Perception Theory

Core Concept: People infer what kind of person they are based on their own behavior and language.

For example: Always saying “I don’t like exercise” → results in actually exercising less. So language slowly: shapes identity.

My original intention is: “People need to be aware of their own words and deeds.” Simply put: Realize how you are thinking.

Subconsciously alert and correcting: “Don’t talk like that anymore, even if it’s just a joke,” “If you say this too much, it will become reality,” is because I know Language Shapes People. I also want to find the most essential reason why I am instinctively alert and correcting. This joy of exploring the process of one’s own or others’ thinking and actions is a kind of pleasure.

Because the chain of influence is like this:

Logical Chain: Language → Cognition → Behavior → Fact. i.e., Narrative → Identity → Behavior → Life Trajectory.

💡 The Joy of Awareness

My recent state is that many small things emerge and create “strings,” linking things that seem completely unrelated, discovering the connections between them. This is almost subconscious.

Like why Einstein regretted promoting the atomic bomb later in life; why the AI Godfather Hinton, who won the Turing and Nobel prizes, has “turned against” (反水) his life’s work in recent years, calling for public vigilance against AI, stating clearly: “I resigned to speak freely about the dangers of AI.” After people have an impact on others, why do they always reflect and worry it wasn’t a good impact, and then develop a vigilant and defensive mindset?

Corresponding to the current Mentor-Student system for Master’s and PhD students in China, why do most mentors almost never intervene in their students’ whereabouts? Is it seemingly “open-minded” or actually “defensive” (防御)? This is the content for the next article.

And then Wuxia Guji will also start a personal podcast on these themes: 【Language Shapes People】【Influence】. Stay tuned!

That’s all for today, see you next time!

🎙️ Find Me

• Official Account: 黎鲸TC星 Currently, Wuxia Guji has several collections:

1. Skills, 2. Human Sample Collector, 3. Whimsical Ideas, 4. Some Ideas, 5. Intake & Organization Notes, 6. Solitude Diary, 7. Tools, 8. Cosmic Exploration Journal, 9. Podcast “Right Here”, 10. Insight & Awareness, 11. Records of Daily Aesthetic Pleasure, 12. How to Write.

• Podcast: 【就在此地 Right here】 Available on: Domestic: Xiaoyuzhou, NetEase Cloud Music, QQ Music, Ximalaya, Apple Podcasts, Lizhi Overseas: Apple Podcasts, Spotify
• Email: rightheretc@163.com