The Power of Words

 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 sometimes 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. 

Words may bring light and power to you as you grow your self-awareness, and identify the exact coordinates of your gifts, strengths and resources, and map your inner terrain. The kind of insight that the right words can bring is truly enlightening, as you let go of words that no longer work for you. Below you will find groups of words under headings including: Mental Formations, Parts, Metaphors and Feelings. Don't be worried! Before we get into these words, let's start with defining what these titles mean. 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 in Buddhist psychology (mindfulness) are considered to be the impermanent 'seeds' or structures of emotions, perceptions, energies, patterns or potentials, that arise in our conscious minds from 'store consciousness' (the unconscious region of the mind) in response to internal or external stimuli. This concept is closely paralleled with psychological 'parts' in depth psychologies, which helps to personify complex constellations of mental phenomena, making them more relatable.

• Parts can be understood to be the different aspects of you that may transform and heal, however remain fairly consistently part of you throughout life. For example, the free, joyful creative and playful child within you, and the inner perfectionist/critic may both be considered as separate parts of your psyche, or as some like to call them, the 'little people of the psyche'. Each part is an autonomous, complex personality structure and constellation of mental formations, which may theoretically be understood as a different configuration of self, or distinct neurological network in the body and brain. It's estimated each person may have something in the region of over seventy parts, many of them latent, whilst some may be active in the unconscious or conscious regions of the mind.

• Feelings are the sensations in the body associated with the mental formations and parts. Feelings are how we track what mental formations and parts may be present.

• Metaphors are ways we can paint pictures of our inner world using active imagination, which help to give our mental formations context and make parts become clearer to identify in our mind-body experiencing. Metaphors may also introduce shifts in perspective, new connections and insights through the power symbolism to unite different aspects of the psyche.

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?  Glancing over these lists may assist you to start writing your journal, or inspire the words that you may want to use in communication in therapy or relationships. 

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.

If we think of the consciousness of the mind as the soil of a garden, then 'seeds', 'flowers' or 'weeds' are metaphors that we may sometimes choose to use to describe mental formations.

Psychological Parts:

There many roles that different psychological parts can play in our internal system. The roles that parts 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, Self-like 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 mental formations and parts appear if we explore 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 stands tall amidst the stormy seas of uncertainty. 

A lonely, ragged child finds a safe harbour to rest and heal.

A wrathful warrior carries a spear and a shield.

A serenely flowing turquoise river quickens and leads to an excited waterfall.

Feelings:

Feelings are how we experience mental formations, such as emotions and attitudes, in the body. When we're aware of how our body feels, then we are able to become more aware of our mind, which is rooted in the body, and 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.