Words That Heal
Words are an important component of therapy, journaling and life! Words help to find meaning, and make sense of your inner experience. You already have your own vocabulary, which may grow through therapy and/or writing a journal, as well as your own reading and conversations, and access to arts and culture. Finding the right words is sometimes a key to healing and change; as you learn to communicate with yourself and others with words that resonate and facilitate shifts in perspective, you may improve your wellbeing. So that's why I say that therapy is a game of words. Becoming a therapy client, you are also becoming a wordsmith i.e. a person who works with words. The work you're doing is 'inner work'. And, it's well worth it.
Read on if you would like to explore some of the words that may bring light and power to you as you grow your self-awareness, and identify the exact coordinates of your resources, and your suffering, as you map your inner terrain. The kind of insight that the right words can bring is truly enlightening. Below you will find groups of words under headings including: Mental Formations, Psychological Parts, Metaphors and Feelings. Before we get to the words, let's start with some definitions of these word groups. Are you ready? We can come back to these later, so don't worry if these concepts are new to you.
Key definitions:
Mental Formations are the impermanent structures, emotions, moods, energies or potentials, that exist within the mind.
Psychological Parts are the aspects of you that may grow, change and heal, however remain consistently present throughout life.
Metaphors are ways we can paint pictures of our inner world using active imagination, which help to give mental formations, parts and feelings context, and introduce shifts in perspective, new connections and insights.
Feelings are the sensations in the body associated with the mental formations, which in turn belong to different parts that are essential to make up the health of the whole.
Now, please enjoy browsing this plethora of words - and test if some of the expressions and phrases start to resonate and make sense to you. As you scan the lists, ask yourself, which words stand out to you? Which words land with you? Which words seem to 'click' into place? Looking over these lists may assist you to start writing your journal, or to locate the words that you may want to use in communication in therapy or relationships. Important: these words are for YOU to reflect on and use in regards to exploring YOURSELF in whatever way seems relevent to you. Don't try to use them all at once(!)
Mental formations:
Anger, Anxiety, Arrogance, Aspiration, Calm, Calm, Clarity, Compassion, Concentration, Concentration, Confusion, Connectedness, Confidence, Courage, Creativity, Craving, Concealment, Deceit, Despair, Dignity, Disregard, Distraction, Distrust, Doubt, Empathy, Fear, Fearlessness, Flow, Fogginess, Heedlessness, Guile, Gloominess, Insight, Intention, Happiness, Hatred, Humility, Joy, Love, Maliciousness, Mindfulness, Negligence, Parsimony, Patience, Perspective, Persistence, Playfulness, Presence, Pride, Regret, Resentment, Restlessness, Shame, Sorrow, Sovereignty, Thought, Trust.
'Seeds' or 'weeds' are the words that I sometimes choose to use to describe some of the mental formations belonging to various, inter-relating parts of your mind. Metaphorically speaking, the mind as a whole is a fertile ground, a garden, that can grow thoughts and feelings, and this garden is an ecosystem with many different aspects and parts.
Psychological Parts:
There many roles that different psychological parts can play in our internal family system and the roles that they play may synthesise and change in time, the following are simply a few examples of how parts may possibly shape and manifest themselves.
Exile, Manager, Firefighter, Protector, Guide, Wounded Child, Inner Critic, True Self, Burdened Part, Vulnerable Child, Spiritual Essence, Polarised Part, Inner Champion, Legacy Burden, Traumatised Part, Controller, Rescuer, People-Pleaser, Skeptic, Cynic, Optimist, Inner Defender, Gatekeeper, Inner Mentor, Creative Part, Inquisitive Part, Inner Planner, Intellectual Part, Memory Keeper, Playful Part, Perfectionist, Inner Advocate, Fearful Part, Confident Part, Inner Guide, Inner Artist, Nurturing Part, Inner Scientist, Free Child, Joyful Part, Sad Part, Angry Part, Social Part, Inner Community Leader, Inner Outsider, Cultural Part, Inner Mediator, Inner Negotiator, Inner Diplomat, Inner Mediator, Inner Wanderer, Inner Dreamer, Inner Warrior, Inner Sage, Inner Healer, Inner Mystic, Inner Storyteller, Inner Dancer, Inner Musician, Inner Chef, Inner Gardener, Inner Architect, Inner Engineer, Inner Athlete, Inner Artist, Inner Poet, Inner Scholar, Inner Philosopher, Inner Rebel, Inner Peacemaker, Inner Connector, Inner Boundary Setter, Inner Challenger, Inner Learner, Inner Teacher, Inner Protector of Vulnerability, Inner Embracer of Imperfection, Inner Receiver, Inner Giver, Inner Receiver of Love, Inner Seeker of Joy, Inner Source of Strength, Inner Connector to Nature, Inner Connector to Others, Inner Connector to Spirituality, Inner Connector to Creativity, Inner Connector to Playfulness, Inner Connector to Curiosity, Inner Connector to Wisdom, Inner Connector to Intuition, Inner Connector to Stillness, Inner Connector to Silence.
Metaphors:
We may explore how parts appear if we were to explore each of them with the imagination e.g. what they look like, how they dress, how they talk, what they say, want and need. We can extend metaphors further with images, that provide a setting for each of these parts. See some examples below.
A lighthouse standing tall amidst the stormy seas of uncertainty.
A safe harbour to rest and heal.
A mountain climbed, each step an ascent fueled by determination and perseverance.
Erosion, shaping the contours of our character. The bitter wind may sting, but in its icy embrace, we hone our inner resources, as we stand firm and become who we're meant to be.
A relationship is a tapestry woven with threads of honesty, laughter, love and trust.
A mask worn on the stage of social interaction, concealing the deeper layers of the true self.
Fear as a dark night, and courage as the dawn that paints the sky with hues of hope that colour shadows and softly illuminate fresh possibilities.
Dreams as celestial lanterns suspended in the vast night sky of possibilities. Each dream, a star, twinkling with potential. Navigating the darkness of reality, guiding lights illuminate the path, inspiring you to reach for the galaxies of your aspirations.
Feelings:
Feelings are how we experience mental formations, such as emotions, intentions and attitudes, in the body. When we're aware of how our body feels, then we are able to become more aware of our unconscious mind, which is rooted in the body, expand our awareness to respond to previously unconscious needs toward integration, healing and balance.
Light, Warm, Fluttery, Heavy, Constricted, Relaxed, Tense, Tingling, Numb, Lively, Drained, Uneasy, Cosy, Shaky, Taut, Buzzy, Sore, Buoyant, Exhausted, Tickled, Stiff, Supple, Compressed, Unsettled, Elated, Weighted, Quivery, Limber, Tender, Hard, Soft, Pulsating, Drained, Energized, Fatigued, Bristling, Frozen/Immobilised, Loose, Tight, Resilient, Brittle, Placid, Stiff, Coiled, Frayed, Agile, Stagnant, Jittery, Composed, Stuck, Unsteady, Calm, Agitated, Serene, Jumpy, Warm, Cool, Pounding, Clammy, Steady, Quivering, Heated, Chilled, Buoyant, Heavy, Shivery, Soothing, Abrasive, Subdued, Parched, Moist, Limp, Steeled, Bubbly, Hollow, Full, Radiant, Depleted, Vibrant, Wiry, Dragging, Stretched, Contracted, Loose, Confined, Open, Closed, Vibrant, Dull, Resonant, Muted, Bitter, Sweet, Palpitating, Fluttering, Anchored, Elevated, Pounding, Resonating, Flat, Sharp, Aching, Light, Heavy, Balanced, Unsteady, Fluttery, Solid, Agonising, Comfortable, Uneasy, Stable, Unsettled, Buoyant, Sinking, Inflated, Empty, Overflowing, Shrunken, Bloated, Giddy, Grounded, Disoriented, Centred, Disconnected, Connected, Focused, Scattered, Captive, Liberated, Buzzing, Dull, Radiant, Muted, Stabbing, Achy, Zingy, Throbbing, Pulsating, Stinging, Glowing, Numb, Stiff, Supple, Brittle, Resilient, Melting, Rigid, Fluid, Clenched, Loosening, Settled, Unsettled, Cool, Warm, Electric, Dull, Buoyant, Sinking, Engulfed, Free, Bound, Lofty, Drooping, Spry, Feeble, Restless, Still, Contracting, Expanding, Coiled, Unraveling, Shivering, Still, Restless, Dull, Piercing, Radiant, Damp, Dry, Parched, Moist, Pulsing, Still, Quivering, Stable, Wobbly, Radiating, Contained, Spreading, Restful, Tense, Buzzing, Silent, Noisy, Stagnant, Flowing, Rhythmic, Erratic, Contracted, Expanded, Nurturing, Neglected, Gentle, Harsh, Tender, Unyielding, Cradled, Abrasive, Harmonious, Dissonant.
Along with words, the arts (e.g. visual arts, music/sound, performance, dance movement) can help us to access and reflect on our feelings, metaphors, psychological parts and mental formations. These soulful looking paintings are by the artist Chagall.