‘’Untranslatable words really have the power to uplift and transform our reality in many positive ways.’’ I find it incredible how certain words can enrich and deepen my understanding of the world. Some of them come from my mother tongue, but many others are often coming from foreign languages. Such words broaden the mental representations I can have of certain fields, concepts, sensations, behaviours, etc. They are called ‘’untranslatable words’’ because there is usually no close equivalent in our native language. Their individual definition can describe something very specific that you might have experienced before, or can be much broader and difficult to grasp because it would take a lot of practice and reflection to attain even a rudimentary level of understanding of what they mean. Either way, discovering their existence is already a big step forward in cultivating our open-mindedness. On that note, a few years ago Tim Lomas created a lexicography that references a long list of untranslatable words to help us enrich our understanding of wellbeing. Such a surprising source of inspiration and spirituality. If you prefer something with a bit more casualness instead, you can still browse through Urban Dictionary where you can find some interesting gems.
Studies show that 3 factors are decisive in sparkling creativity. ‘’(1) Create on the shoulders of your past’’: journaling or simply taking notes when you feel the need is the best way to recall and reinforce your past thoughts and experiences. ‘’(2) Practice creative visualisation’’: Get back to your notes and start refining your ideas. What’s clear in your mind is not always as obvious and smart than you might think. ‘’(3) Make space for mind wandering’’: Develop lonely activities that do not require your brain to focus intensively, such as walking or cooking, so you can let your imagination roam freely and explore new possibilities. I don’t believe that creativity is something we can force, so don’t make of these 3 points a checklist that you repeat over and over. Instead, try to adopt habits that will help you refocus your mind on the present moment with the least parasitic thoughts. It’s in the most unexpected situations that we get our best eureka moments!
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1. Untranslatable words
‘’Untranslatable words really have the power to uplift and transform our reality in many positive ways.’’ I find it incredible how certain words can enrich and deepen my understanding of the world. Some of them come from my mother tongue, but many others are often coming from foreign languages. Such words broaden the mental representations I can have of certain fields, concepts, sensations, behaviours, etc. They are called ‘’untranslatable words’’ because there is usually no close equivalent in our native language. Their individual definition can describe something very specific that you might have experienced before, or can be much broader and difficult to grasp because it would take a lot of practice and reflection to attain even a rudimentary level of understanding of what they mean. Either way, discovering their existence is already a big step forward in cultivating our open-mindedness. On that note, a few years ago Tim Lomas created a lexicography that references a long list of untranslatable words to help us enrich our understanding of wellbeing. Such a surprising source of inspiration and spirituality. If you prefer something with a bit more casualness instead, you can still browse through Urban Dictionary where you can find some interesting gems.