Spark These 3 Conversations with Your One Word
{One Word 2023 August Linkup}
Link all of your ONE WORD blog posts below. Share an update about your One Word in the comments.
Have conversations with others this month about your One Word. Make a list of three people you can discuss your word with, and pencil in a time to do it.
Whether in person or online, here are a few questions you can ask (revise as needed to best suit your word):
- What does my word mean to you?
- What do you think is the opposite of my word?
- Do you think about this word rarely or often?
- Where does this word pop up in your everyday life?
- Can you give me suggestions for better experiencing or practicing this word?
Listening and talking with others about your word can spark new insights and intentions as you practice it throughout the month.
I’ve appreciated the conversations I’ve had so far with others about my word HUMAN. One of the interesting insights I heard was:
“The opposite of human? Fake.”
I hadn’t thought of that. Our full human self is our full authentic self. It takes a lot of human courage to voluntarily be vulnerable.
I’ve been rereading Brené Brown books this month as I deal with my own humanness and vulnerability. In Daring Greatly, she says,
“Vulnerability is the core, the heart, the center, of meaningful human experiences.”
When I’ve asked others, “How can we be better humans?” some of the answers included:
- Be aware more of commonalities among people.
- Listen and share time with other humans.
- Stay grounded with your own body and your own humanity.
I agree. How would you answer?
Now to continue the work. . . .
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This August linkup for One Word updates will remain open for two weeks through midnight on Wednesday, September 6. Each link shared here will also be shared with our One Word Facebook group.
Next month’s One Word linkup will open on Saturday, September 23.
If you’d like to receive our monthly One Word emails and ideas, .
What are you learning about your One Word through conversations with others? Leave a comment here about your One Word.
How can we be better humans? My answer is to get in touch with the one Who created us, and better understand what He said. To me, that means to love Him and to love others, so to be more human is to understand love.
A beautiful answer for being human, Lisa. Love is always an appropriate response!
Great question, Lisa. I’m sure the answers that you received are varied. All I know is that I cannot be a better “human” without my dependence on Christ. It is because of my relationship with Him and the Holy Spirit within me that makes me a better person. I have to be willing to “trust ” Him and know He will empower me to live Christlike.
Following love like Jesus taught is the best example of being human, I agree, Horace.
“Our full human self is our full authentic self.” I’ve been pondering what it means to be “authentic” and love this definition! My word is “simplify” and as I go through a lot of transition this year, simplifying the process has been part of the journey. I’ll be writing more about the journey and what I am learning in the upcoming months. Thank you for keeping us on track with our word for the year!
I’ve pondered a lot about authenticity this year too, Lynn. It’s not as easy as it seems on the surface. And even harder to live out. 🙂 I’m glad that Simplify has been a relevant word for you this year!
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for hosting again.
Being better humans starts by not being too hard on ourselves and not seeing others as competition because of comparisons. It helps me to ask God every day, ‘Can I see others the way You do? ‘ This way, I embrace who I am, appreciate differences, and seek guidance in our interactions.
Greetings,
Aritha
I love your reply about being human, Aritha. Since there are so many of us humans around, we struggle with not comparing ourselves to others, but we each have our own given lane that we thrive best in!
You have obviously been having some great conversations about your word! It’s such a unique word, too!
I assumed that Human would be a complex word, but it has still surprised me by the breadth and depth that it can go! It has been interesting indeed. 🙂
Great prompts Lisa!
blessings, Jennifer
Thanks, Jennifer. It stretches me to think about and practice my word from a lot of different angles.
Great questions to help everyone think a bit more deeply about their WOTY.
Thanks, Joanne. Asking the questions forces me to work through them myself too. 🙂
Interesting question. I think that my answer would be to “embrace empathy”