The Suggestive Power of a Good Password

Hmm... "What password am I choosing now? How is it speaking to me?"  "What was that password again?"  "Drats! I just learned that password! Why do I have to change it now?" These, and other thoughts are what goes through the minds of people in a corporate environment that use a computer for their line of work.  

In my full time line of work, I have to remember multiple passwords.  As an IT professional, it is always expected that we are mindful of security.  As a result, multiple passwords are a necessity.  With security in mind, there is a policy in place that requires that passwords be changed after a certain period of time.  There are also complexity requirements that are in place to ensure that passwords are as strong as possible to deter hackers.

We often coach end users in the process of how to select a strong password that is easy for them to remember, but hard for others to guess.  End users often get used to making it easier for them to remember a password through laziness.  An example of this is adding a digit to the current password.  For them, they take it for granted that they have one password to remember and work with on a daily basis.  On the IT side, multiple passwords are the norm.  The challenge is not only to remember them all, but to keep track of when they expire and what the policy is with regards to complexity for each type of password.  I have learned how to make this whole process work for me.

So, how does this process work for me?  For me, I decided to use cues around my workspace in order for me to decide what the new password will be.  This can be a quote on the wall, an event of significance, or even a sentence out of a book that stands out.  I then take that cue and work with it in order to come up with a password that meets complexity requirements.  I recently had an aha moment with this whole process.

My aha moment came when I purchased a book of affirmations by Louise L. Hay -

The Present Moment: 365 Daily Affirmations.  The affirmations were exactly what I needed for what I was going through at the time when I got the book.  I also started thinking about how it could relate to passwords that I do choose. It then occurred to me that the password I choose can make or break my overall outlook on life. 

 

Passwords are really a powerful thing in life because you are confronted with them on a daily basis.  If your password happens to be one that is set in anger, flaming your boss or authority figures for instance, that password will set the tone for your attitude and mood for the duration of the time that the password is valid.  

 

I remember a particular time when I decided to set my password in a desperate attempt to affirm that my former boyfriend was my love.  We were starting to have difficulties at the time and I was desperate to try and make things work out.  I felt like I was putting in a lot of energy into proving that I was committed to the relationship.  Throughout the time I was using the password, I actually felt it drain the life out of me.  I do not know why I did not change it.  It became apparent that he did not care about me and he did not believe that I cared.  He was living in his story and it was affecting the present moment we were in at the time.  I remember feeling a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders when the password finally expired and I had to change it.  Needless to say, I was - and still am - more selective with the passwords that are chosen.

It dawned on me that my passwords are my affirmations.  I remember using cues taken from affirmations and readings that I have been doing.  Over the last few months, I really saw that my passwords were really setting the tone of my work experience and my life.  I recently had a password that was centered around 'Focus'.  After awhile, I realised the shifts that took place during that period.  They were significant enough to be noticed and it encouraged me to move forward.

Now, when coaching and guiding end users with password resets, I encourage them to pick passwords that will empower them in their daily lives.  I tell them about my experiences with this and show them why choosing something that will empower them is a good idea.  It could be as simple as a person that is dear to them, or it could be a memorable event or quote.  As long as it meets the complexity requirements that are set out in the IT policies and it fits the criteria "easy to remember, hard for others to guess", it will be all good.  If it does not work for the user, it can always be changed at will.

I invite you to consider this when setting any passwords that you require - What you invite into your state of mind will reflect the life that happens.  Presence yourself to your current situation, pick a cue that will inspire you to move forward, and set that STRONG password!