Words Shape You

Words Shape You

Do you think in pictures or do you think in words? While most people think in some combination of the two, the truth is that some people can’t picture things well in their mind’s eye, if at all. This is called Aphantasia. This article isn’t about that, but I want people to be aware of it, for one thing, and the overall concept will help me to illustrate what this article IS about. This article is about the fact that language, and more specifically, the words we use in our standard vocabulary and those which describe our beliefs: those shape who we are. Words are the building blocks of thought and the enabler of labels. They allow us to build an understanding of the world. That understanding informs every decision you consciously or unconsciously make. So again, simply put: Words shape you.

Think of a word that means something to you… Did something come immediately? Are you pondering multiple possibilities? Do certain experiences or feelings come to mind immediately when you think of a word? Among people I’ve talked to recently: most can give me an answer to these questions. Many have at least one special word by the end of the conversation. Some find new importance in the questions themselves. A few don’t have a singular important word, but a phrase, quotation, or general concept that guides them. How do you define yourself? What words come to mind? Do you see those words as a description of your current self or as a picture of your future potential? I apologize for all of the questions… This isn’t a philosophy course, these are just the things I believe should be on your mind in the following paragraphs.

For me: “Understanding”. That is probably the most important word, concept, and ideal for me. I’d considered that “Truth” might be it, but the concept of “Truth” is filled with complications and a relationship with all things in direct opposition to it. “Lies”, “Paradox”, or “Obscurity” are just some of the other words that could come up when meditating on “Truth”. However, when I think of “Understanding” in all of it’s forms and meanings? It’s no contest. Memories of struggles to be understood; strong desires to understand; efforts to avoid a misunderstanding, and more. I legitimately think that understanding in all of it’s forms just may be the most important aspect of the human experience. Even the concept of truth is somewhat adjacent to understanding. Absence of truth is absence of understanding. There are many words that are important to me (writer’s tend to be that way), but these two concepts guide and shape me more than any other and they have done so for basically as long as I’ve understood them.

I don’t remember the exact details, but I remember how I felt when I learned the word “Pragmatic”. I am pretty sure I read it in a book and through context it was fairly obvious to me what it was conveying. Being pragmatic about things was already something I attempted to be through my actions, but without the words to define what it was I was aiming to achieve and link all of my actions to that singular concept: it was simply much harder to grasp and be. Having language and words to use to describe and understand things applies to yourself. What words come to mind when you think of yourself? How many are positive and how many are negative? How can you be your ideal self without a way to understand your ideal self? Do you care about being your ideal? Many people hold a concept of a “good person” or a loose concept of “good and bad”. You use words to understand all of these things, but the extent to which you actively use words with the explicit purpose of understanding in mind? That varies… but if understanding is your ultimate goal, then mastery of words is necessary. Once I realized that, the decision to be a writer was a natural one.

It was more than just a natural conclusion though… the clarity of the realization went hand-in-hand with awareness of the fact that I was having a moment of realization. An “Epiphany”. I was suddenly aware of the fact that learning words and how to use them was the key to more of these moments, because truthfully it’s not like that was my first epiphany, but the first time my epiphany was about understanding words themselves. Understanding was the key to epiphany. Being pragmatic about things had been my conscious strategy since learning that word, so I considered rationally what it would me to make understanding and using words my soul focus. Learning languages other than English has always intimidated me because I never felt I had enough understanding of even one language. Because of that, I could recognize my growing understanding by the fact that I was growing more comfortable with language in general, and beginning to understand that many concepts don’t even have proper words for them in the English language.

For example, the Greek word “Vacilando” refers to “the act of wandering, when the journey is more important than the destination”. American and other English media do reference this concept, considering all stories are about the journey rather than the destination, however, I’d like to bring attention to the first part of the definition which is key to the connotations has in standard usage. Vacilando is when one is going somewhere, but they may neither know nor care whether they make it to the final destination. This is the word that best sums up the journey that is mastery of language. The more language you can grasp, the more of the universe that we inhabit that you can grasp. This is the journey I’ve been on. I intend to do my best to record it and help other people on their own journeys. Learning words has always helped me move forward and eventually helped me find my path.

Where could words lead you?