Are you a ‘word’ person? Do you know someone who searches for just the right phrase or word to describe what they’re thinking or feeling? I have had a lifelong passion to use verbal and written words creatively in an effort to effectively express myself. My passion has expanded in the process of writing my first book. Like many authors, I have found that writing my book went much quicker than editing my book. The editors and I have sent the manuscript back and forth between us for months, fine tuning and massaging the material so that it flows smoothly, and accurately captures my intended message. It’s a process that can sometimes feel maddeningly slow, yet if I let go of my expectations about when it will be done, it can also feel fluid and effortless. That’s because I love words and the way they enliven communication.
A deck of inspirational self-care cards are one of my favorite sources of empowering words. I enjoy spreading the cards out and, without looking at them, selecting one that ‘calls’ to me. Turning it over in my hands, I read the single word on the card, appreciate the beautiful illustration, and read the brief message. I then ask myself what the one word means to me on that particular day. Sometimes the message resonates with me immediately, and other times I have to wait and observe how the day unfolds before I understand its message in hindsight. On a recent morning I drew the word Patience. I had great expectations about what I wanted to accomplish that day on my manuscript. Looking at the card in the morning I was sure it was highlighting the need for patience in other areas of my life. However, after a frustratingly slow day of editing I saw that I needed to apply Patience to my writing. This observation helped me revise my expectations, release my disappointment, and accept my process.
Viewing your life through the lens of one word is a powerful exercise. Whether you subscribe to a ‘word of the day’, or like me, pull word cards from a deck, practices such as these have the potential to broaden our life experience by providing a focus we wouldn’t otherwise have. I invite you to give it a try and encourage you not to make it a willful mental exercise, but to allow the word to come to you. How would you do that?
