BEAUTIFUL WORDS
BUILD A BETTER VOCABULARY
Words posted by @kairosoflife on Twitter
under the hashtag #beautifulwords
This section is still under construction. The word lists are slowly being transferred here from Creativity Chaos
BUILD A BETTER VOCABULARY
Words posted by @kairosoflife on Twitter
under the hashtag #beautifulwords
This section is still under construction. The word lists are slowly being transferred here from Creativity Chaos
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REFLECTION, ACCEPTANCE & UNDERSTANDING
Another Year of Beautiful Words is coming to an end. I truly hope you have enjoyed the words I have chosen to present (even after the extended break during website changes). I will be returning next year with more words - especially classical and ancient words found in the Greek and Latin languages that have such an influence on our own. I hope to squeeze in some Sanskrit too - I find the etymology fascinating and want to explore!
In closing 2019 I would like to focus on a few key topics that I have personally explored a lot this year and have seen many of you do as well. Deep reflection, self awareness and seeking understanding and acceptance of ourselves, our lives and the world around us. Nothing to heavy - just some thoughts and feelings to think about - maybe during some mindfulness meditation?
Sometimes we just have to stop analyzing the past, stop planning every step of the future, and let the anxieties of both of these habits just go. Stop trying to define exactly how you feel, what you think you should feel and just feel whatever it is you feel. Stop trying to decide exactly what you want in life and just let yourself experience life. And stop judging yourself, criticizing yourself and being so hard on yourself for what you think or feel. We are our own worst critics and self love and acceptance will bring more positive change than self deprecation ever will. Let’s agree to knock it off in 2020. Deal?
Self reflection is a time or moment in which we allow our minds freedom to explore, to express our thoughts and ideas and to experience our feelings without fear. We let thoughts come and go without judgement and accept what we feel as neither good nor bad- just what is. We all need these moments to bring us awareness, to calm us, to help us make hard choices, or to open our minds to the world around us and not just the space we personally currently occupy. True reflection can bring clarity, acceptance and peace. And it can bring change in ourselves, our lives and affect those around us.
Some of the most beautiful words can be understood in deep reflection. Consider the following new words and seek to apply them to your thoughts and feelings. Explore the meaning with insight into yourself and you may bring upon change in your thoughts and behavior, make difficult life choices easier or gain true understanding of your place in our universe.
Thank you for walking this beautiful word journey with me and for your support and encouragement. I will keep on bringing beautiful words to you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and please enjoy this final word list of 2019.
Words for Self Reflection and Seeking a Calm and Peaceful New Year
KEEP IN MIND AS YOU READ:
Your soul is fierce
Your heart is brave
Your mind is strong
Your choices are yours
Your life is what you make it
Your happiness is an inside job
ATARAXIA: a state of serene calmness; a mood of total peace within a beautiful sense of silence. From the early 17th century French word ‘ataraxie’ which derives from the Greek word ‘ataraxia’ meaning impassiveness. The concept says that ataraxia is necessary for bringing about eudaimonia (happiness) which represents the universal understanding of life's ultimate purpose.
ELYSIAN: beautiful or creative, divinely inspired, peaceful and perfect. In classical mythology Elysium, or the Elysian Fields, was the paradise for heroes immortalized by the gods. The first known use of this idyllic place as a descriptive word for a ‘blissful state’ was in Henry V by William Shakespeare.
EUDAIMONIA: Aristotle philosophized that happiness comes from within us and is built on honesty, pride, knowing the difference between right and wrong, and by being virtuous. These traits are what we need to live a good life, to maintain a healthy well-being, to grow and flourish, to be content and feel protected, and to practice gratitude for what we do have. The word eudaemonia breaks down to ‘eu’” meaning good and ‘daimonia’ referring to “a spirit or guardian within us that guides us.” This guide is said to lead us to live a good and moral life, recognize good from evil, and to act rationally, courageously and justly.
GIGIL: is a Filipino word used to describe the overwhelming feeling that comes over us when we see something cute and we want to squish it. Like squeezing the chubby cheeks of an adorable toddler. Gigil comes from the Philippines, where Filipinos describe reactions to anything adorable in their native language, Tagalog as gigil. The word doesn’t have a direct translation into English, but psychologists tried to by creating the term “dimorphous expression of positive emotion” in 2012 to describe (in a big mouthful) the same exact reaction as the word gigil. Gigil is much more adorable.
INMARCESIBLE: a Spanish word meaning unfathomable, everlasting, undying, or unfading. This word was coined from flowers that don’t wither. The etymology of the word comes from the Spanish word ‘inmarchitable’ meaning ‘one that cannot wither.’
IRENIC: promotes peace or reconciliation. Perfect word for this holiday season. In Greek mythology, Eirene was one of the Horae or goddesses of the seasons and natural order. Eirene was the goddess of peace and the word irenic is derived from the Greek word ‘eirēnikos’ and her name ‘eirēnē’ which translates beautifully to ‘peace’.
LUDIC: a neologism created to describe fun. It was created in 1940 by child psychologists who wanted to adequately describe what it is that children do. Instead of using an obvious word like“play” they coined “ludic activity” which is essentially just describing “play”. It has evolved further into areas like literature. There are now ludic (humorous) narratives, satire and performances that are described as playful or lighthearted. The word comes from the Latin noun ‘ludus’ which refers to a range of fun things like stage shows, games, sports, or jokes. Even the word ‘ludicrous’ traces back to this noun.
MERAKI: a modern Greek word meaning to do something with passion, absolute devotion, and with undivided attention. It comes from the Turkish word “Merak” meaning ‘labor of love or doing something with pleasure’. It applies well to creative or artistic tasks, but it is subjective so you can apply it to any task that you pour your heart and soul into. For example, a recipe, conversation or a hobby.
METANOIA: is a change in thought. It comes from the Greek word ‘meta’ meaning "after" or "beyond" and ‘nous’meaning "mind". In Classical Greek metanoia meant profoundly changing one's mind. In a personification illustration Metanoia is depicted as a shadowy goddess, cloaked and sorrowful, who accompanied Kairos, the god of Opportune Time, in expressing both regret and inspiring repentance for “missed chances or moments". The elements of repentance, regret, reflection, and transformation are present in this concept in some form.
MUDITA: a Sanskrit word meaning joy - especially sympathetic or vicarious joy and the pleasure that comes from delighting in other people's well-being. An example of Muditā would be the attitude of a parent observing and appreciating their child's accomplishments and successes. Mudita should not to be confused with the negativity of pride but rather understood as the purest joy unadulterated by any self-interest.
ORENDA: a mystical force present in all people that empowers us to affect the world in a meaningful way or to bring change in our own lives. The origin can be traced to the Iroquois Indians who believed it to mean “a supernatural or spiritual force present in all objects or persons and by which human accomplishment is attained or accounted for.”
QUARENCIA: Spanish word for a place from which your strength is drawn, where you feel at home; and the place where you are your most authentic self. The word originated in the bullfighting arena. It comes from the Spanish verb "querer," which means "to desire." and in bullfighting, a bull may stake out his querencia, which is a specific area of the bull ring where he feels the strongest and the most safe.
SISU: is a Finnish concept describing a white-knuckle form of courage or determination that presents in situations where success is against the odds. It aligns with words like tenacity, bravery, resilience and hardiness. It expresses courage and determination in the face of adversity and can be seen in those who choose a course of action and stick to that decision despite past failures or risk of repeated failures. “Gutsy" is a close translation and derives from the word ‘sisus’ which loosely translates to “guts". Another concept related to sisu is grit, which shares the elements but is commonly used to describe a person’s personality (like she has a lot of grit).
SOPHROSYNE: a healthy state of mind, a deep awareness of one’s true self resulting in pure happiness. Comes from the ancient Greek ideal for excellence in character and a soundness of the mind. From the Greek word sōphrosynē, meaning to be of sound mind, prudent, or reasonable.
YUGEN: a Japanese word with no direct English translation that means a profound awareness of the universe that triggers feelings too deep and mysterious for words to describe. Yūgen is also loosely considered “a profound, mysterious sense of beauty in the universe including the sad beauty of human suffering.
VIM: is a robust energy and enthusiasm. From the Latin word ‘vīs’ meaning strength, force, power, vigor, or energy. It is essentially being ready for activity - especially a vigorous one. This word often appears in the cliche "vim and vigor." If you have vim then you have vigor or energy and you're ready to pour that energy into your activities. Simply put it means you're up for anything.
WABI SABI: the Japanese concept of finding beauty within imperfection. The philosophy encourages focus on the blessings already present in our lives and celebrating the way things really are and not how we think they should be. The concept is built on authenticity, an appreciation for complexity but with the value on simplicity. Spirituality defines three simple ideals to live by: nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is ever perfect.
May the new decade and the new year bring you the best in life full of love, happiness and joy.
-Kai
In closing 2019 I would like to focus on a few key topics that I have personally explored a lot this year and have seen many of you do as well. Deep reflection, self awareness and seeking understanding and acceptance of ourselves, our lives and the world around us. Nothing to heavy - just some thoughts and feelings to think about - maybe during some mindfulness meditation?
Sometimes we just have to stop analyzing the past, stop planning every step of the future, and let the anxieties of both of these habits just go. Stop trying to define exactly how you feel, what you think you should feel and just feel whatever it is you feel. Stop trying to decide exactly what you want in life and just let yourself experience life. And stop judging yourself, criticizing yourself and being so hard on yourself for what you think or feel. We are our own worst critics and self love and acceptance will bring more positive change than self deprecation ever will. Let’s agree to knock it off in 2020. Deal?
Self reflection is a time or moment in which we allow our minds freedom to explore, to express our thoughts and ideas and to experience our feelings without fear. We let thoughts come and go without judgement and accept what we feel as neither good nor bad- just what is. We all need these moments to bring us awareness, to calm us, to help us make hard choices, or to open our minds to the world around us and not just the space we personally currently occupy. True reflection can bring clarity, acceptance and peace. And it can bring change in ourselves, our lives and affect those around us.
Some of the most beautiful words can be understood in deep reflection. Consider the following new words and seek to apply them to your thoughts and feelings. Explore the meaning with insight into yourself and you may bring upon change in your thoughts and behavior, make difficult life choices easier or gain true understanding of your place in our universe.
Thank you for walking this beautiful word journey with me and for your support and encouragement. I will keep on bringing beautiful words to you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and please enjoy this final word list of 2019.
Words for Self Reflection and Seeking a Calm and Peaceful New Year
KEEP IN MIND AS YOU READ:
Your soul is fierce
Your heart is brave
Your mind is strong
Your choices are yours
Your life is what you make it
Your happiness is an inside job
ATARAXIA: a state of serene calmness; a mood of total peace within a beautiful sense of silence. From the early 17th century French word ‘ataraxie’ which derives from the Greek word ‘ataraxia’ meaning impassiveness. The concept says that ataraxia is necessary for bringing about eudaimonia (happiness) which represents the universal understanding of life's ultimate purpose.
ELYSIAN: beautiful or creative, divinely inspired, peaceful and perfect. In classical mythology Elysium, or the Elysian Fields, was the paradise for heroes immortalized by the gods. The first known use of this idyllic place as a descriptive word for a ‘blissful state’ was in Henry V by William Shakespeare.
EUDAIMONIA: Aristotle philosophized that happiness comes from within us and is built on honesty, pride, knowing the difference between right and wrong, and by being virtuous. These traits are what we need to live a good life, to maintain a healthy well-being, to grow and flourish, to be content and feel protected, and to practice gratitude for what we do have. The word eudaemonia breaks down to ‘eu’” meaning good and ‘daimonia’ referring to “a spirit or guardian within us that guides us.” This guide is said to lead us to live a good and moral life, recognize good from evil, and to act rationally, courageously and justly.
GIGIL: is a Filipino word used to describe the overwhelming feeling that comes over us when we see something cute and we want to squish it. Like squeezing the chubby cheeks of an adorable toddler. Gigil comes from the Philippines, where Filipinos describe reactions to anything adorable in their native language, Tagalog as gigil. The word doesn’t have a direct translation into English, but psychologists tried to by creating the term “dimorphous expression of positive emotion” in 2012 to describe (in a big mouthful) the same exact reaction as the word gigil. Gigil is much more adorable.
INMARCESIBLE: a Spanish word meaning unfathomable, everlasting, undying, or unfading. This word was coined from flowers that don’t wither. The etymology of the word comes from the Spanish word ‘inmarchitable’ meaning ‘one that cannot wither.’
IRENIC: promotes peace or reconciliation. Perfect word for this holiday season. In Greek mythology, Eirene was one of the Horae or goddesses of the seasons and natural order. Eirene was the goddess of peace and the word irenic is derived from the Greek word ‘eirēnikos’ and her name ‘eirēnē’ which translates beautifully to ‘peace’.
LUDIC: a neologism created to describe fun. It was created in 1940 by child psychologists who wanted to adequately describe what it is that children do. Instead of using an obvious word like“play” they coined “ludic activity” which is essentially just describing “play”. It has evolved further into areas like literature. There are now ludic (humorous) narratives, satire and performances that are described as playful or lighthearted. The word comes from the Latin noun ‘ludus’ which refers to a range of fun things like stage shows, games, sports, or jokes. Even the word ‘ludicrous’ traces back to this noun.
MERAKI: a modern Greek word meaning to do something with passion, absolute devotion, and with undivided attention. It comes from the Turkish word “Merak” meaning ‘labor of love or doing something with pleasure’. It applies well to creative or artistic tasks, but it is subjective so you can apply it to any task that you pour your heart and soul into. For example, a recipe, conversation or a hobby.
METANOIA: is a change in thought. It comes from the Greek word ‘meta’ meaning "after" or "beyond" and ‘nous’meaning "mind". In Classical Greek metanoia meant profoundly changing one's mind. In a personification illustration Metanoia is depicted as a shadowy goddess, cloaked and sorrowful, who accompanied Kairos, the god of Opportune Time, in expressing both regret and inspiring repentance for “missed chances or moments". The elements of repentance, regret, reflection, and transformation are present in this concept in some form.
MUDITA: a Sanskrit word meaning joy - especially sympathetic or vicarious joy and the pleasure that comes from delighting in other people's well-being. An example of Muditā would be the attitude of a parent observing and appreciating their child's accomplishments and successes. Mudita should not to be confused with the negativity of pride but rather understood as the purest joy unadulterated by any self-interest.
ORENDA: a mystical force present in all people that empowers us to affect the world in a meaningful way or to bring change in our own lives. The origin can be traced to the Iroquois Indians who believed it to mean “a supernatural or spiritual force present in all objects or persons and by which human accomplishment is attained or accounted for.”
QUARENCIA: Spanish word for a place from which your strength is drawn, where you feel at home; and the place where you are your most authentic self. The word originated in the bullfighting arena. It comes from the Spanish verb "querer," which means "to desire." and in bullfighting, a bull may stake out his querencia, which is a specific area of the bull ring where he feels the strongest and the most safe.
SISU: is a Finnish concept describing a white-knuckle form of courage or determination that presents in situations where success is against the odds. It aligns with words like tenacity, bravery, resilience and hardiness. It expresses courage and determination in the face of adversity and can be seen in those who choose a course of action and stick to that decision despite past failures or risk of repeated failures. “Gutsy" is a close translation and derives from the word ‘sisus’ which loosely translates to “guts". Another concept related to sisu is grit, which shares the elements but is commonly used to describe a person’s personality (like she has a lot of grit).
SOPHROSYNE: a healthy state of mind, a deep awareness of one’s true self resulting in pure happiness. Comes from the ancient Greek ideal for excellence in character and a soundness of the mind. From the Greek word sōphrosynē, meaning to be of sound mind, prudent, or reasonable.
YUGEN: a Japanese word with no direct English translation that means a profound awareness of the universe that triggers feelings too deep and mysterious for words to describe. Yūgen is also loosely considered “a profound, mysterious sense of beauty in the universe including the sad beauty of human suffering.
VIM: is a robust energy and enthusiasm. From the Latin word ‘vīs’ meaning strength, force, power, vigor, or energy. It is essentially being ready for activity - especially a vigorous one. This word often appears in the cliche "vim and vigor." If you have vim then you have vigor or energy and you're ready to pour that energy into your activities. Simply put it means you're up for anything.
WABI SABI: the Japanese concept of finding beauty within imperfection. The philosophy encourages focus on the blessings already present in our lives and celebrating the way things really are and not how we think they should be. The concept is built on authenticity, an appreciation for complexity but with the value on simplicity. Spirituality defines three simple ideals to live by: nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is ever perfect.
May the new decade and the new year bring you the best in life full of love, happiness and joy.
-Kai
STARLIGHT POETRY BY KAI
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
Contact | About | Reprints & Copyrights
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
Contact | About | Reprints & Copyrights
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry