Word power
Think of the word “writing,” and see how it compares with the phrase “telling my ancient tale”. Which is more evocative? Which can you ‘feel’ more? Now take the word “facilitation” and compare it with “the magic of groups.” Again, which touches you more?
Most people would say that in each case the second feels more personal, more intimate. They can connect with it more easily.
Bob Masters is the author of twenty five books on human potential and how our bodies respond to our imagination and also our language. His books include “Neurospeak”, “Mind Games” and “Listening to the body”. During his many years of developing and refining therapeutic methods, he has discovered that the body somehow responds exquisitely to words, printed as well as spoken. Through the medium of language, kinesthetic images are evoked. Muscles respond subtly but surely. Suggestion leads to image which triggers spontaneous response.
Our Passion Maps™ findings confirm this. And further to that, not only does language evoke images, but the ‘mood’ and ‘feel’ to those images depends greatly on the particular words chosen, even though the concept might be the same. Certain words carry ‘baggage’ while others are uplifting. So for one person the phrase ‘starting a family’ may invoke an inner resistance, such as tightening of the stomach or tensing of the shoulders, while the phrase ‘being a mother,’ or ‘being a father’ may lead to a sense of opening and joy. Same idea, different framing.
For one person ‘learning new skills’ might give a feeling of heaviness, while the phrase ‘living in the learning zone’ creates a sense of energy and excitement. For one person ‘financial security’ might give a feeling of burden, while the phrase ‘financial freedom’ creates a sense of lightness and fluidity.
The words we carry in our heads are more powerful than many of us realize.
Knowing this, we spend a great deal of time with clients finding the language that best conveys the spirit of their passions. We try to draw out the poet in the individual, the creative spirit that can articulate the essence of the activity or quality they wish to connect with. It is that essence, or flavour that we are interested in rather than the words themselves.
A word is no more than a means to an end, says Eckhart Tolle, author of the popular book, ‘The Power of Now’. Says Tolle, “It’s an abstraction. Not unlike a signpost. The word honey isn’t honey. You can study and talk about honey all you like, but you won’t really know it until you taste it.”
Similarly, if for some reason you disliked the word ‘honey’, that might deter you from ever tasting it. If you disliked the word ‘Spirit’ you may be denying not just the word, but the reality to which it points. And so, says Tolle: “You would be cutting yourself off from the possibility of experiencing that reality.”
In our mapping experience, we’ve also encountered concepts for which existing words seemed inadequate, and so we created our own. Take ‘aspiraction’ for example, or ‘souldipity’.
So the moral of this story is, if a word or phrase doesn’t work for you, then find another that does! Or create your own!!
Quick tip – playing with words
Take a quiet moment to explore your bodily responses to the word ‘work’. Sit quietly, close your eyes and then say the word quietly to yourself. Notice any feelings, physical sensations, or images. Just be open to the sense of what the word evokes for you.
Now try the word ‘career’. Is it the same or different?
Try the word ‘job’, or ‘livelihood.’
Now try different phrases that might convey more about what you love at work, eg ‘sinking my teeth into a new adventure’, or ‘making a difference’, ‘being a magnet for change agents’, ‘closing the deal’, ‘deliver moments of change’ etc. Notice if the feeling is different than from the original words (i.e. ‘job’, ‘career’- etc).