It is existentially frustrating to imagine that each of us is running around the world, our own individually perceived worlds, trying to connect and communicate with each other. We have developed a system of communication to elicit feelings, thoughts and ideas that we wish to share. However, many times words don’t suffice to convey what we mean. We do not think in words and ideas. We form words and ideas in an attempt to express our feelings.
Communication is a pregnancy of sorts. In a speaker’s mind, a feeling or thought is conceived; translated and spoken as words; heard; and then ultimately gives birth to a new feeling or thought in the listener’s mental capacity. For example, when I say “bird,” a picture is painted in your imagination; a new life-form within your mind– an idea and related feelings of a blue jay or a seagull appears out of nothing, within your thoughts. Incidentally, this mental manifestation represents your apprehension of the word and is independent of the speaker’s intentions.
Words have incredible power. Words create worlds. Words translate feelings and enable empathy. They shape our reality and our delusions. Words help us connect with each other. Unfortunately, words are also a source of miscommunication. We are greatly limited by words when what we have to express is highly complex or emotional. Love, hate, happiness, frustration, beauty– These are beautiful words, yet they are words we only know from our own experience. Words often fail me. They can be so inaccurate. Words simply cannot express deep feelings and emotions the way intently locked eyes and a genuine smile can.
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