Today we begin the next stage of the 60 Days of Dreaming process - the all-important communication phase. Learning to clearly articulate and communicate the DREAM will prove to be vital in conveying what it is exactly that we're pursuing and in enlisting the support of others along the way.
ENGAGING THOUGHT
ENGAGING THOUGHT
In the interest of total-disclosure let me be transparent here: I am a word-geek. I love words and their etymology (that means their origin and forms). Looking up a word in a dictionary for me is a dangerous thing - at any moment I'm liable to get lost in a rabbit-trail of obscure words, completely forgetting which word drove me there in the first place! It drives me nuts when someone misuses a word and it takes all my self-control not to correct them. I have favorite words, as well. These are my go-to words which I keep closely available at all times in case I need to communicate something very important to me. In fact, some of these words are almost guaranteed to show up in anything and everything that I write or speak, words such as strategic and intentionality and synergistic. That's probably a large clue to my outlook on life and my own pursuit of God's DREAM for me.
What about you? Are there certain words that you gravitate towards using. Have you ever stopped to notice if certain words tend to repeat themselves frequently in your conversation or correspondence? Psychologists would tell you that these recurring words are not accidental in the least - that they are bits of your subconscious mind slipping out to expose what really matters most to you. I don't doubt it. After all, words are emotional triggers and we are very much motivated by emotional response, so it stands to reason that we would (unknowingly and knowingly) use words to elicit similar responses in others. Example: Have you ever found yourself repeating a specific word in a conversation, not because the other person didn't hear or understand you, but, rather, because they did not indicate the emotional response you were anticipating to that specific word? It's as if we think that by repeating the word their (obviously) stunted emotional-selves will be roused to wakefulness.
Certain words carry much stronger connotations than others; some have broader definitions and tend to be imprecise; some words are so specific that they point to one, and only one, possible meaning. A word such as all leaves no room for exception, does it? Some might indicate any portion - but the exact amount remains a mystery. When we choose our words carefully - especially when trying to communicate something as important as God's DREAM for our lives - we create clarity of understanding.
One of the critical steps we take in the pursuit and fulfillment of God's DREAM is to ensure that we can clearly communicate what it is. If I were to tell you that God's DREAM for my life is that I do stuff. Would you say I am wrong? No, but it doesn't help you understand the DREAM at all, does it? The words may be true, but they alone don't communicate much. As you move forward in the 60 Days of Dreaming challenge you'll be relying more and more on your ability to clearly communicate exactly what it is that you are pursuing - the words you choose to include may make all the difference in the world. Think of the words you use as if they were workers you hired to accomplish a task. If you want to remodel your house you'd employ a worker with carpentry skills - a dental worker won't help you, neither would a Flamenco dancer. The one may have great teeth and the other great moves - but your house won't get built the way you wanted. Hire the right workers for the job. Employ the right words for the task.
What about you? Are there certain words that you gravitate towards using. Have you ever stopped to notice if certain words tend to repeat themselves frequently in your conversation or correspondence? Psychologists would tell you that these recurring words are not accidental in the least - that they are bits of your subconscious mind slipping out to expose what really matters most to you. I don't doubt it. After all, words are emotional triggers and we are very much motivated by emotional response, so it stands to reason that we would (unknowingly and knowingly) use words to elicit similar responses in others. Example: Have you ever found yourself repeating a specific word in a conversation, not because the other person didn't hear or understand you, but, rather, because they did not indicate the emotional response you were anticipating to that specific word? It's as if we think that by repeating the word their (obviously) stunted emotional-selves will be roused to wakefulness.
Certain words carry much stronger connotations than others; some have broader definitions and tend to be imprecise; some words are so specific that they point to one, and only one, possible meaning. A word such as all leaves no room for exception, does it? Some might indicate any portion - but the exact amount remains a mystery. When we choose our words carefully - especially when trying to communicate something as important as God's DREAM for our lives - we create clarity of understanding.
One of the critical steps we take in the pursuit and fulfillment of God's DREAM is to ensure that we can clearly communicate what it is. If I were to tell you that God's DREAM for my life is that I do stuff. Would you say I am wrong? No, but it doesn't help you understand the DREAM at all, does it? The words may be true, but they alone don't communicate much. As you move forward in the 60 Days of Dreaming challenge you'll be relying more and more on your ability to clearly communicate exactly what it is that you are pursuing - the words you choose to include may make all the difference in the world. Think of the words you use as if they were workers you hired to accomplish a task. If you want to remodel your house you'd employ a worker with carpentry skills - a dental worker won't help you, neither would a Flamenco dancer. The one may have great teeth and the other great moves - but your house won't get built the way you wanted. Hire the right workers for the job. Employ the right words for the task.
ACTION STEP
Today's ACTION STEP is an opportunity for you to explore some potentially unpolished facets to the DREAM. If you're a word-lover this will be easy; math-nerds might struggle a bit, but that's okay.
Start by doing a free-association in regards to your DREAM. Here's how it works: begin writing words that trigger in your mind as you think about the DREAM. Don't spend any time analyzing the words, just freely start listing them. Stop only after you feel like you might be trying to force it.
Alternate: imagine you had to explain the DREAM to someone but were not allowed to form complete sentences - only single words that convey emotion. What words would you choose?
Whichever method you chose, now go through your list and cross off the ones you know aren't conveying the right meaning; highlight or underline the ones that jump out at you. Consider each one carefully. Should you rewrite the DREAM to include any of these words? Do any of these words shed further light or insight into your DREAM?
Start by doing a free-association in regards to your DREAM. Here's how it works: begin writing words that trigger in your mind as you think about the DREAM. Don't spend any time analyzing the words, just freely start listing them. Stop only after you feel like you might be trying to force it.
Alternate: imagine you had to explain the DREAM to someone but were not allowed to form complete sentences - only single words that convey emotion. What words would you choose?
Whichever method you chose, now go through your list and cross off the ones you know aren't conveying the right meaning; highlight or underline the ones that jump out at you. Consider each one carefully. Should you rewrite the DREAM to include any of these words? Do any of these words shed further light or insight into your DREAM?
Tomorrow we'll think through some of the potential misunderstandings regarding our DREAM and eliminating wrong words.
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