One.
Sliding through likeā¦
Two.
Language gives you the ability to think and it shapes the way you think. (Oliver Sacks explains inĀ Seeing Voices.) In a very significant way, your vocabulary determines your thoughts.
Iāve been noticing that English is stuffed with metaphors of violence. Iām convinced that these metaphors are counterproductive when it comes to personal growth. WeĀ combatĀ our cognitive biases. WeĀ smashĀ our goals. WeĀ dragĀ ourselves out of bed. WeĀ whipĀ ourselves into shape. These are the words and ideas that our culture gives us. Going to war against ourselves is one of the dominant mental frameworks for growth.
Violence doesnāt work in healthy relationships, in raising kids, in working with animals. Why should it work to help my own growth?
I donāt want to be at war with myself. I want to be a whole, integrated person ā all of me working together to be the best me I can. I have declared an end of hostilities within me. Iām no longer at war with myself. I have gotten rid of the violent metaphors for my growth. Iām working on replacing them with more useful ways of thinking.
Three.
When youāre 17 and making hits for TikTok, your songs only need to be 98 seconds long.
Iām sharing todayās post with you as work in progress. Iām sure my thinking will evolve and that I will have more to say. Iād love to be informed by your thoughts about our languageās violent metaphors.
Grow slowly
Jeff
Thank you Jeff -- really enjoying your stuff!
Head on. Spot on. We all need this reminder!