Would freedom exist if there wasn’t a word for it? What about the feeling of shame, if it went by another name? The way that we experience life is very informed by the language that defines it.
Positive implications
Choosing your words wisely can have many positive implications on your life, that you might never even have thought about. In response to a hilarious video, meme, whatever have you, it’s common to respond with, “I’m dying at this” or something along those lines. It’s an odd turn of phrase that likely evolved from older phrases like “I’m laughing so hard I could die” or “I’m dead with laughter.” Social media, especially platforms like Twitter, Tumblr, and later TikTok, helped spread it as a quick, dramatic way to react to something hilarious—often paired with skull emojis to emphasize the joke.
But VALLEY says it’s time to leave that one in the past. Try replacing it with, “I’m living for this” (modify to add your own special flair). It sounds a little silly, but subtly incorporating positive language into your everyday vocabulary can have a bigger impact than you might expect. The words we use shape our mindset, and by choosing expressions that celebrate joy and excitement rather than exaggerating distress, we can cultivate a more uplifting perspective.
Word Choice Matters
Everyone and everything has gone casual these days. In the age of un-innocence where it’s cool not to care, people aren’t accurately describing their feelings or what they go through, and this lack of apt word choice is diluting our real life experiences.
Think about “the ick”; what does it even mean? With so many qualities and behaviors falling under the umbrella of “ick” we often forget to pay attention to the details and truly analyze the way we’re feeling. When we casually label something as “giving us the ick,” we might be dismissing people, experiences, or even our own emotions without deeper reflection. Instead of immediately shutting something down, try asking yourself: Is it a real deal-breaker, or just a passing reaction? Is it something that just bothers me or was that a serious red flag?
Language Co-Op Leads To Disillusion
On the flip side, let’s talk about love. Famous historic love letters include verbose wording like James Joyce’s “You are my only love. You have me completely in your power” or Virginia Woolf’s “It makes me rather dismal. It gets worse steadily – your being away.”
Since people don’t really write love letters anymore, the language of love has gone to the wayside. On the rare occasion it does come up, it gets beat down by psychological language us laymen have picked up. Sure, love-bombing is a real thing, but isn’t there still room for loving language?
Imagine rediscovering the joy of thoughtful, intentional language: a handwritten note that lingers on a coffee table, a carefully worded email that brightens a day, or even a heartfelt voice message that speaks directly to the soul. Wouldn’t life feel less sterile? Being intentional and using intense words to convey intense emotion can allow us to reconnect with the power of words to comfort, inspire, and transform.
Do you think before you speak? Let the VALLEY know if you plan on changing up your vocab by reaching out to us on Instagram @VALLEYmag.
