Important Words
I’ve noticed a shift recently in the words I’ve been thinking about the most, and the words to which I attach positive meaning. I’ve never really considered before what specific words define my life, but it seems like maybe a good way to examine transitions and values. Here are some words that have previously been important to me, but which are now receding:
- Efficiency
- Productivity
- Achievement
- Success
- Money
- Winning
- Multitasking
- Speed
- Perfection
- Sarcasm
- Cleverness
They tend to be business- and achievement-oriented, but relatively cold and impersonal. I think this is a fair reflection of the pressure society puts on us to “make something of our life,” get promotions, and accrue wealth. You know, capitalism. In the past several months, however, my words have become much more touchy-feely, much more directed at emotional health and growth. A lot of these words still feel far away, but I do feel like I’m at least moving toward them:
- Love
- Compassion
- Synchronicity
- Play
- Abundance
- Flourishing
- Authenticity
- Gratitude
- Joy
- Improvisation
- Intuition
- Connection
- Communication
- Community
- Creativity
- Mindfulness
- Intention
Coming up with these word lists was a fun exercise in stepping back and examining where my life is, and where I want it to go. I found it a lot harder to come up with words that used to be important but aren’t any more, because, well, I haven’t been thinking about them much. And writing them down makes me realize how much of a relief it is to let them go.
I think it’s important to note that some of the receding words like “productivity” and “efficiency” aren’t necessarily bad things, but they are also not goals in and of themselves. They say nothing of the value of the thing created. I doubt anybody has ever laid on their death bed, smiling and reflecting back on how wonderfully efficient his life had been.
What are your words?
Truth
Authenticity
Beauty
Compassion
Community
Redemption
Grace
Gratitude
Solitude
Love
Happiness
Infinity
Generosity
Have you read The Rock Warrior’s Way? This post reminded me of it quite a bit.
Fun, camping, sunshine, blossoming, yay, feel, good, wondering, too, responsibility, clarity, need, want, external, retrospective, fatigue, physical, technology, technology, technology, wanna?, anyone, connection, happy-making, movement, motion, warm
Great exercise! Some of mine are yours (no surprise there!)…. and one in particular that I have just come to appreciate recently: abundance. But also I’ve got energy, time, reflection, appreciation, solitude and rest. I think maybe age influences this list as well as recovery from the ‘past’ list!
Nice post.