LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VIBE

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THE VIBE SHIFT can also be found on Substack at https://thevibeshift.substack.com/

VIBE is a fun four-letter word!

Lately, I have been having a bit of a love affair with the word V I B E. It's a loaded little word, and I adore it—four small letters that perfectly capture an entire spectrum of emotions, environments, and feelings. In fact, 'vibe' seems to describe the essence of many situations so perfectly that its repeated use, with varied emphasis and context, becomes the only way to convey its true meaning.

Vibe is one of those words that end up in a circular definition, which you can't help but use in its own description. You often find yourself saying things like 'vibe, you know, like [to, the, a] vibe.’ when explaining its meaning to the rare individual unfamiliar with the word and its many uses in our current cultural lexicon.?

Merriam-Webster defines ‘vibe’ as (1) noun: a distinctive feeling or quality capable of being sensed and (2) verb: to transmit?or give out (a feeling or atmosphere).

Urban Dictionary has over 127 pages of definitions for Vibe! It can be a noun, a verb, an adjective, part of a phrase, or a whole sentence in and of itself.

You can check your vibe and have your vibe checked for you!

You can kill a vibe and be a vibe kill.

You can vibe-out and be viben

You can have vibe vision and vibe with something or someone.

You can shift a vibe or experience a vibe shift.

A place can be a vibe, it can have a vibe, it can be vibey, and it can be vibein

Add a 's' to it, and vibe takes on even more meaning.

The vibes can be good, bad, positive, and negative.

The vibes can be chill, squindy, and—low-key—the vibes can be off.

No matter how you use it, ‘vibe’ has a very ethereal connotation that can convey the full range of human emotion, express unseeable feelings, describe an aesthetic, and explain energy—it has become ubiquitous in the most beautiful way!

While we think of 'vibe' as a center-of-culture word having its moment right now, it's been a part of our vernacular for decades, showing up in music, film, TV, fashion, lifestyle, and everyday speech as early as the 1960s. ‘good vibrations’ was just how the cool kids of the time said, ‘good energy’ or ‘good feelings.’

Going deeper, we can look at the etymology of the word vibe, which traces back decades to the Latin word vibrare, which in English translates to vibration. In physics, a vibration is a form of energy transfer, and just like energy, a vibe can be sensed and felt but not necessarily seen.?

There's another word we like to use to describe feelings and energy—zeitgeist (another word that has a special place in my heart.) The Zeitgeist is loosely defined as the spirit or feeling of the time.

I posit that 'The Vibe' has become a more evocative proxy for 'The Zeitgeist,’ and I like to think of the two terms as siblings in our modern usage. For me, they go hand in hand; they are both omnipresent and ebb and flow with our collective cultural shifts.

So, what's the leap from vibe to THE VIBE SHIFT?

Well, I think it's pretty clear we are wading through a transformational period in the zeitgeist, and if it seems like everything around us is changing, that’s because it is.

Technology is advancing at a pace that challenges our understanding.

Our values and priorities are undergoing a seismic shift.

We’re reexamining our work and business practices in an era where their future is more fluid than ever.

Our productivity soars even as our attention spans dwindle day by day.

Perspectives and opinions have grown more polarized and dichotomous.

We’re reassessing what deserves our patience and what ignites our passion.

Lifespans are extending, and societal norms are transforming.?

We've even adopted new words into daily conversation that were unheard of just five years ago.

Indeed, the scope of change is vast and ever-growing.

This evolution in the zeitgeist is THE VIBE SHIFT.

These shifts in the vibe are simultaneously amorphous and distinct. They can occur on grand and subtle scales, influencing both individuals and society across business, fashion, politics, culture, technology, consumerism, the environment, and much more.

The range of what can spark a change in our collective psyche is limitless and can come from anywhere; anything that stirs an emotional response or reshapes our perspectives can be considered a vibe shift.

There is no evolution without change, so THE VIBE SHIFT means change…lots of it!

And let’s be really honest: change isn't easy for anyone. It nudges us to shift our energy in new directions, challenges our well-exercised habits, and makes us uncomfortable. You can choose where to channel your limited energy: resist the oncoming changes, like struggling to swim upstream against a strong current…

…OR you can embrace change by harnessing your energy and using it to learn, adapt, and grow stronger.

Like I've said before, this vibe shift is a pesky little instigator pushing us to embrace change and decide how we shape this next phase of evolution. Some want it to go away so we can return to doing things as we always have.

Others, myself included, are excited about the opportunity THE VIBE SHIFT presents and want to lean into it full throttle.

So, how do we do that?

My vision? We jump in, roll our sleeves up, and get our hands dirty!

To that end, I am creating a place to workshop this moment of transformation with fellow change-makers. I envision THE VIBE SHIFT as a vibrant hub where space is created to explore and unpack these shifting themes.

My hope is that through co-creation, vulnerability, innovative ideas, diverse perspectives, creativity, and messy (but fun) dialogue, we can unlock how we redefine long-held norms and proactively shape our future!

After all, the evolution of the word 'vibe' is a fantastic example of how we drive transformation. Evolving ‘vibe’ from a technical term in physics to broadly used slang that describes feelings shows just how creative humanity can be—innovatively adapting to change by taking a scientific term and reimagining its meaning with a new—metaphorical—definition to make connections that enhance interpersonal communication.

And that's just one example of the creativity and power of collective human greatness at work.

Let's VIBE!

-Jen

THE VIBE SHIFT can also be found on Substack at https://thevibeshift.substack.com/

Embrace the Unknown. Envision the Unseen. THE VIBE SHIFT is here to explore the transformation taking place in Culture, Business, Brands, Consumers, The Future of Work, the Collective Psyche, and much much more.        

#TheVibeShift #Vibes #ChangeMakers #Innovation #Creativity #FutureShapers #FutureOfWork #Substack #thoughtLeadership #Zeitgeist #Culture #Trends #Foresight #Spark #Ideas #Business #Brands #Consumers #CollectivePsyche

This week is a special three-newsletter kick-off week. The future cadence of THE VIBES SHIFT newsletter is bi-weekly. ENJOY, and please join in on the conversation!

? 2024 THE VIBE SHIFT GROUP LLC ? 2024 JENIFER DESOFI