20 Words To Save The World.

Etymology & The Rebirth Of Old Ideas

There’s a quote I enjoy, goes…

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

I think Lau Tzu said that... or maybe Gandhi.

Who knows.

Eskimos know that not all snow is the same.

In the late 1800’s, Franz Boaz went on a mission to better understand their culture, and found (among others things) that the Inuit have something like fifty different ideas that could all refer to what most would simply settle for as ‘snow’.

I, from the chilly Chicago suburb of Homewood, can also especially appreciate this fact. As I type this is January, my friends at home can probably describe to you many different ‘types’ off hand; from slushy flakes to light powder.

What's really important is that words are important.

We know this. But do we know this?

Words help us define ourselves, and the world(s) around us.

They let us label thoughts in novel and accessible ways.

Ultimately, they help us think differently.

Words have the capacity to determine the trajectory of our thoughts.

They act as a freeing force to dogma, opening up to newer ways of thinking.

Or, they reinforce old notions, keeping us locked in old paradigms.

The English language is home to over a million words.

Yet scholars estimate that we only use about twenty thousand over the span of our lives. 980,000 unused ideas, sitting around. Drying up like uncapped glue sticks. (When all we really want is to be connected.)

Because ultimately; we're all the same.

This essay then, is an exercise in empathy, and reunion.

Practicing how to think.

Remembering how to feel.

Learning how to successfully steer human kind toward an abundant future for all.

So, I decided to make a list*

*of twenty ideas, disguised as words.

Words are; "Ideas disguised as symbols"
        

20 Words to Save The World.

1. Eudaimonia / ε?δαιμον?α / (yoo-day-MOAN-ia)*

*all pronunciations are my own

ε?δαιμον?α, transliterated as "eudaimonia", is a Greek concept meaning a condition of human flourishing.

Some linguists estimate 80% of our current words stem from Greco-Latin culture, this is important. Means a lot of the ideas we have are interpreted through the lens of half naked free thinkers from southern Europe thousands of years ago.

This is no slight. Nor is it praise. Just a statement of fact.

These cultures were at the cultural epicenter of civilization for much of our 'recent' history. They also produced a lot of philosophical thinkers, paired with an astounding canon of literature, and so its no surprise that something as layered, textured and complex as recorded language began here.

Despite ideas we share, many of todays translations have been diluted when compared to their Latin or Greek root, due in part to weakened ideals posing as the real thing.

I think the linguists call it "semantic drift".

For example, eudaimonia’s direct translation is welfare.

Definitely not the same thing as "human flourishing".

So lets shake things up a bit.

To be sure, Aristotle understood eudaimonia to mean something else entirely.

“The highest degree of human good.."

A much better way to get at the root of this idea. Not so much a rule, but a principle to which our actions point either toward or away from.

Thing I like about principles, is that they don't change.

And yet...

Trolling has become a new norm for clout chasing twitter accounts as people are likelier to espouse the unwarranted opinions found in gossip columns than that of intelligent thought from actual human beings.

So, I think it's time for a change. And fast.

To arrive at the highest possible human good, means to acknowledge purpose and struggle well for a worthy goal.

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2. Kairos / καιρ?? / (KAI-rose)

Another Greek term, and a personal favorite.

Kairos can be understood as “the opportune time”.

As a concept of rhetoric, kairos is wildly underrated.

We're all taught about logos, ethos, and pathos, the big three; but Greek rhetoricians knew that there were other tenants comprising the ability to make a message meaningful.

Kairos is one such tenant.

It involves more than appeal to logic, or to person – but rather to optimal timing.

We inherently know this, even as kids.

Asking mom to go to a friend’s house while she's on the phone is likely a bad idea. Wait until after dinner and chores were complete though, and all of a sudden your chances for success were far higher.

Also, I haven't come close to mastering this skill yet.

So take what I say with a grain of salt.

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The point here, is that context can be just as important as the very words themselves.

Throughout history, great speakers were keenly aware of various appeals outside the big three. Topos (or appeal to convention) and Telos (appeal to purpose) were both employed by MLK in front of 250,000 people on a hot summer day in the early '60s.

He made use of poetic imagery and deep seeded wisdom, draped on the back of a movement picking up steam, after a long march, under an unrelenting sun, in the heart of the Nation’s capital...*

*under Lincoln's shadow.

Call it what you want.

But be aware.

Keen to the ways in which you give and receive new ideas, and aware of how your timing can be just as important as your content.

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3. Eleutheria / ?λευθερ?α / (el-OO-theh-REE-yah)

Freedom starts within

Liberty personified

Waiting in the wings.

(I think some of these could use a good Haiku)

4. Nunchi / ?? / (NONE-chee)

Nunchi is a Korean word literally meaning “eye measure”. Popularized by the book The Power of Nunchi, it comprises a dynamic of emotional intelligence* which American’s seem yet to master.

Korea throughout its history, has often been in a vulnerable position on the world stage due to its being juxtaposed between both China and Japan. Because of this, they oft needed to deploy a means of diplomacy that wasn’t as flashy as the neighbor states who boasted nuclear arsenals, long-range missiles, and vast armies.

In short, Nunchi was developed as a means to survive.

My definition, is to take in an added sense of others.

Being able to read a room upon entering, or sense the power dynamics of a board meeting are two examples that can give us an inkling into what it means to possess Nunchi.

Full disclosure, I'm terrible at this – so be forewarned, these insights are second hand.

Though from what I gather, Nunchi is a skillset that when coupled with a knack for hospitality, allowed a tiny nation to gain a seat at the table of international conversations.

Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt for us to give it a try.

I know these things intellectually.

But I still need to move past theory, and into practice.

*Another term similar to Nunchi, is EQ (as opposed to IQ).

Maybe we can start here?

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5. Shoshin / 初心 / (SHO-shin)

Shoshin comes from the Zen Buddhist tradition, and refers to a beginner’s mind.

Another concept largely absent from western discourse, which naturally prides itself on expertise and specific knowledge.

This is opposition to the type of knowledge practicing Buddhists are able to muster. A kind that begets a more cohesive mind map of the world by employing general understanding.

The advantages of approaching new problems with a fresh mindset make it an untapped spring for new insights.

We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them*

Having a beginners mind is to me in close association with the idea of minimizing the ego.

In short, your ego is your enemy, and only aims to project itself and maintain control. Even if that control is an illusion.

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Many of us have been taught to remain focused when learning a new skill.

While this is good for problems already understood, it prevents us from solving the more complex issues we face as a society.

New problems require the adoption of a different mode of cognition, a type some learning experts refer to as “diffuse thinking”.

Imagine focused thought as an intense laser.

Strong and far reaching, but not effective for lighting up an entire room.

Diffuse thinking on the other hand, is the broad beam you can get from a flashlight. Perhaps not as powerful as the laser, but far more useful when you have no idea where to go.

Shoshin asks for us to let our guard down from time to time, and to be okay with occasionally looking dumb.

It is only in our adoption of this beginners mind that we can start to rediscover the genuine joy of learning again.

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6. Philocalist / (fil-OH-kal-ist)

Lovers of beauty,

Cannot be replaced by us

Just misunderstood.

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7. Metanoia / Μετ?νοια / (meh-tah-NOY-uh)

There's an English idea that closely mirrors that of metanoia, though it isn’t a very popular one. That idea is one of repentance.

To apologize is one thing, to repent is another entirely.

Literally meaning “to turn away”, it requires more accountability and implies a change of course.?

Much of our dialogue around repentance come from the Christian tradition, and while I believe it an important one, those more skeptical may not share that sense of awe.

I respect that, but I cannot alter the facts.

As you’ve probably noticed, metanoia is another Greek word, and it comes from the root metanoein which means "to change one's mind".

In an age where people are praised for sticking to old paradigms, being able to change your mind becomes a superpower.

*see previous Einstein quote

Easy way I remember this one;

Think of how annoyed I am when Trump tweets. Or Hilary. Or whoever.

And then immediately afterward, I imagine how “meta-annoying” it is for me to keep getting triggered by a vocalized product of our rotting system with little to no influence over my day to day existence.

Weird.

It's almost like I dont have to do that. If there’s something we need more of today, it’s the ability to reflect & reframe. At least, I do.

To understand things from new perspectives that have only been made available a few years, a few weeks, or even just a few moments ago.

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8. Elpida / ελπ?δα / (el-PEE-da)

Hope is an emotion that can be elusive, especially these days. Our lives seem marked by a cynicism that runs through how we view everything.

The reason I chose this word though, is not because the idea is new.

Rather, for how it rolls off the tongue.

“Elpida”

“Hope” in its current English form sounds airy, and a bit weak (if you ask me).

The emphasis of hard consonants and syllabic resonance manifested as expression make one feel a more active participant in the verbal process; and the Greek version of this idea just feels more visceral... and thus, real.

When I simply hope for something, it’s likely that I’ll sit back and wait for “it” to happen. For that very reason, it ceases to be an effective frame from where I can encounter change.

But, when I replace that term with the more forceful (and I think, beautiful) elpida, I can’t really help but begin to do something.

The very word implies physical activity.

So, as I begin to engage what I need in order to actualize my dreams, I cease floating through life, allowing it to do with me as it pleases.

Instead, I plant my feet and begin to move forward with quiet confidence.

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9. Sophia / σοφ?α / (so-FEE-yah)

I think one of the more brilliant rhetorical devices we use in language, is personification.

Sophia, to many Greeks, was the embodiment of wisdom. She denoted the pure and beautiful, intriguing yet desirable.

She is seen as the ideal, paramount to all other ethics.

Skill, prudence, and sound judgement comprise this type of higher understanding.

Regular knowledge is like common sense, but true wisdom transcends knowledge and graduates to application, guiding how people live their lives.

In addition to a being a Greek sculpture, Sophia also happens to be central in many biblical teachings. Sophiology, which is a school of the Russian Orthodoxy, holds that real wisdom is one that aligns with the divine & ultimate essence of God.

Knowledge as head understanding, or wisdom as heart understanding?

B, final answer.

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10. Kintsugi / 金継ぎ / (KIN-soo-jee)

An eastern philosophy, Kintsugi is most directly translated as golden joinery. A practice loosely associated with that of wabi-sabi, which means to embrace one’s imperfections.

Kintsugi though, also managed to transform itself into the artistic practice of ceramic repair.

After bowls break in Japan, they're pieced back together using a golden adhesive making the final product more beautiful than the original.?

Kintsugi echoes the Japanese mantra that damage shouldn’t be hidden... but revealed.

This is a culture which is very layered, yet distinct.

Ideas stemming from their written form, Kanji, have grown to be influential around the world, though they also clearly dominate Western thought.

Our infatuation with martial arts, Tokyo Drift, and the tattoo designs that proliferate Venice Beach are all testament to this.

To possess loveliness, even in your flaws, means to recognize that the journey is part of your unique identity.

A real contribution to a plastic world.

I think one of the most brilliant rhetorical devices we use in language, is that of personification.
        

Beauty is not symmetry.

Beauty is not perfection.

Beauty is reality.

And when we begin to accept ourselves despite apparent defects, we usually find that others are more than willing to accept us too.

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11. Synchronicity / (sin-kron-I-si-tee)

Spontaneous? Or

Meaningful coincidence?

Sit down, and be here.

(Carl Jung probably)

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12. Ikigai / 生き甲斐 / (EYE-kuh-GYE)

Deep purpose, or reason for being.

Ikigai is another Japanese term, meaning life alive.

It encapsulates the ethos of moving in a direction that reflects deep value placed on one's life objectives, helping them discover purpose that transcends the daily grind.

I think that to get here, we need to understand a deeper truth about the paradoxical nature of our being. Because sure, we may all be breathing.

But some of us are simply exhaling to death.

Discovering ikigai may be the most important step necessary in helping reverse our collective drudgery.

Because money is fake.

And rules are too.

Don’t delay, your life quite literally depends on it.

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13. Abracadabra / (AHB-ruh-kuh-DAHB-ruh)

Magic? Sort of.

According Oxford’s English Dictionary the origin is officially unknown, but that hasn’t stopped people from taking a few good guesses.

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“Several folk etymologies are associated with the word: from phrases in Hebrew that mean "I will create as I speak", or Aramaic "I create like the word" (???? ?????), to etymologies that point to similar words in Latin and Greek such as abraxas”

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Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

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It seems to me that abracadabra has a distinct lineage, and the debate is more about which specific branch it came from. Though it’s likely a bit of all three.

The way I see it, abracadabra is an exercise in thought creation, relating closely to the idea of metacognition; or thinking about one's thinking.

It essentially means that we have the power to be conscious. To form and reform our immediate reality and make it fit the desires we hold dear at any given moment.

Call it the power of positive thinking if you’d like.

Fact is, most of us think the same things every day, resulting in deeply adapted lines of thought which permeate our brains.

Effectively we get caught in a rut, and to unplug from automatic processes can come as a bit of a shocker, so many decide against it.

Though when we make that choice to chase freedom over comfort, it’s only a matter of time before our words begin to transform the fabric of our existence.

So don’t call yourself stupid, or say that you feel sick; and then get surprised when others agree, or your body obliges.

Take account of your manifesting thoughts.

And begin to fill your head with magic instead.

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14. Agape / ?γ?πη / (uh-GAHP-aye)

Another Grecco-Christian term, and one you might be more familiar with. Agape, or unconditional love, refers to the highest possible form of affection that people can either give or receive.

Other types of love you may be acquainted with are philos, brotherly love; and eros, romantic love. What's amazing to me, is that most every human being across place and time seem to universally agree that redemancy is a necessary ingredient for eudaimonia .

Love others the way you love yourself.

Sounds simple.

But it's not.

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I like this diagram.

The lines of restrictive love (based in convenience & victimhood) are origin of our lower nature, and while we all have to start somewhere; the ultimate goal is to reach the top.

But, most of us stay sidelined.

Our terrestrial love remains earth-bound, and we never quite make it to Agape.

Because philos and eros are both conditional.

Meaning that in order to experience them, one must fill out a sort of relational quiz before hand. Name, date, everything.

It's a mess.

Philos is determined by proximity, while eros denotes attraction. Each of these in and of themselves are insufficient to fully sustain a modern relationship.

Our rules say that once you stop liking a person, then the love stops.

Which doesn’t seem right to me.

Like placing a boulder directly on a stream.

The source becomes compromised, and the flow of water trickles to a stop.

Agape on the other hand, is unconditional. This is a completely novel paradigm in human thought. Like a strong river that continues to flow despite the apparent obstacles in its way, Agape is a well of infinite potential.

If I were able to effectively practice Agape

(I'm not yet, sorry.)

Here's what I'd do.

Be completely and relentlessly devoted.

Because at that point, its becomes a commitment to love, rather than to any one person in particular. To love from a place of Agape, means to truly become yourself.

This feels like an ideal worth striving toward.

15. Redamancy / (RED-uh-men-see)

To love in return?

Or, to redirect back round

And reject the gift.

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Creating a space to grow.

(Let's be friends.)

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16. Ab Aeterno / (AHB aye-TEHR-noh)

Latin is a culture rich in thought.

A derivative of Greek, yet inhabiting its own section of the Indo-European tree.

Most of our terms relating to science and law come from here, and it makes sense. Rome was the biggest exporter of Western Culture for most of our collective human history, and in turn, their language forms the mental scaffolding with which we hang many of our ideas.

Ab aeterno translates as from infinity.

For some, it refers to our human experiences coming from a shared history.

To me it means something a bit different.

Eternity is not history, because eternity is infinite. Thereby, ab aeterno points more to how we came into being, and not necessarily when.

Infinity is indistinguishable on a timeline, because it takes up the entire thing.

From my rudimentary level of mathematical understanding, to be ‘from infinity’ means to be infinite.

Basically, ∞ = ∞.

I love to debate. Trust me.

But facts are facts.

And no matter how much you divide, multiply, add to or subtract from infinity, it still remains inherently eternal.

I think, we sell ourselves short.

I think, we each have within us an aspect of The Infinite, but walk around pretending to be regular just in case we're wrong...

But thats just my opinion.

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17. Dulce Periculum / (DOOL-say pur-IK-yoo-lum)

A second Latin phrase.

Dulce periculum means sweet danger.

Two words we don’t often seen put together, a sort of oxymoron.. until you realize that the Chinese word for crisis is composed of two characters that mean danger and opportunity.

Two very different cultures, both arriving at very similar conclusions.

Look closer, and you might begin to also see just how danger really is sweet.

As defined by Merriam, danger is ‘exposure or liability to injury, pain, harm, or loss’. What Merriam doesn’t say, is that the opposite is also true.

To expose implies revelation.

To reveal implies recognition.

So, in times of panic, make it a point to pause.

Take a breath, and notice the opportunities presenting themselves.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty”

Winston Churchill.

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So, what seemed oxymoronic, was actually a glimpse into the nature of reality.

Danger, like beauty, is really in the eye of the beholder.

Whereas some would relish in a chance to experience it, others could just as well see the same occurrence as a threat to their survival.

A challenge that I made to myself this year, after going through much of 2019 feeling like a victim, and not an active participant:

Quit seeing situations as either good or bad, simply understand them as they are, and proceed accordingly.

When attacking your life from a place of strength, feelings of vulnerability transform into a sort of chomping at the bit type of moment.

In these times, potential gains become realized and risks are seen as chances to prove one’s merit, not to cower in fear.

Sweet danger indeed.

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18. Solivagant / (SOUL-i-vuh-gaunt)

A lone wanderer

Meanders peacefully by.

Peace of mind ensues.

(hm)

19. Philotimo / Φιλ?τιμο / (fi-LO-tee-mo)

Self-surrender is not a popular concept in nature.

Corporate capitalism is where it's most clearly exemplified this side of the jungle.

Having a ruthless & combative spirit is seen as a positive attribute in many circles, but philotimo flys right in the face of such thinking.

It means love of honor and was used by the Apostle Paul (fluent in Greek) three times in his letters to various churches popping up all over the known world in the first century A.D.

His idea was to embody a different type of ambition, one marked by a duty to humanity and not to self.

In 2nd Corinthians, when telling the church in Corinth to remain steadfast in the mission of Christ, he said;

“Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”

2 Corinthians 5:9 (KJV)

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Those familiar with Christian doctrine will understand that Paul’s use of the word labor is a direct reference a type of work that doesn't draw attention to self, but directs it above.

In the same way, philotimo is a concept that abstains from self-praise.

But don't be fooled. The goal is still to receive a reward; but one of eternal value that cannot be had on an earthly plane.

Remember, you are infinite.

Another phrase that might be an appropriate substitute is "to build a legacy".

Perhaps even more potent, "to have Eternal Life" (john 3:16)

Our current ideas surrounding work are rooted in competition, essentially boiling down to a “gimmie" sense of satisfaction.

Philotimo is to defer all payments of reputation to a latter date, because you knows that in order to receive the entire portion of glory due, one has to serve humbly.

No press, no cameras. Just bring your broom.

Kind of like that Jesus fella.

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20. Opia / (OH-pee-yah)?

Eye contact held. In-

Tense staring. Forward into

One another’s hearts.

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(watch it)

It's true, we are human.

So what now?

Languages constitute an important part of who we are.

They hold our collective memories intact.

They're the shaky bridge upon which we send our thoughts out into the universe.

They point directly to the ways in which we think.

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Environments often dictate much of how we relate to one another.

Though frankly, our environment today is pretty shit.

Both in word, and in action.

I think, we can reverse this trend with a revitalized appreciation of words and their inherent doctrine. Not the kinds locked away in a book, but the kinds based in your own personal experiences with life and explorations of curiosity.

I also think it’s not too late for us to get back to love; and this essay comprises my half-hearted contribution.

Because, I have a secret.

The words on this screen won't change a thing about your life.

I'm not a guru.

More like a half baked, broken down messenger.

A quasi-homeless college dropout and recent divorcee, with nothing but a $500 laptop and an internet connection, talking to you (wherever you are.)

Hoping you'd understand me.

Having different takes on old ideas is nothing new.

Just, something I thought may be appropriate to revisit

We're not too far gone yet. Ray Bradbury theorized worse to be sure.

Yet, I still sense we've forgone much by way of linguistic atrophy during this brief introduction to the 21st century.

Here and now – may feel like a time where lies are the norm, hyperbole is justified, and fibbing to get ahead is status quo.

But what if, we take a step back.

Reassess.

And begin to really see.

Your beliefs will eventually become your destiny.

So, retrofit your existence with new ideas that help you find better ones.

Realize who (or what) it is that you want to be in this life.

And begin to ramp up your words to catch up with your ambitions.

Thanks for reading.

Now the hard part.

"All I need is a sheet of paper and something to write with, and then I can turn the world upside down."

Nietzsche said that...

...at least I'm pretty sure.

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