Transform Your Life: Master the Art of Word Alchemy!
Words can inspire. And words can destroy. Choose yours well.
Welcome to Hope Sparks Substack.
I’m diving into:
The Why - I use words to instigate a path of creativity, originality and consciousness.
The How - Made up words can shift the way we feel and act (and ultimately change our trajectory).
Spotlight - on new collaboration with fellow Coach Julian Guderley. We’re on a mission to fajondilize the dictionary.
Reads and Recs - Dive into raising your word frequency
Why Words Matter
This is a bit of a personal post. I’m going out on a limb (as I do) to show you how I use words to levitate my life. My goal is simple—demonstrate through action what’s possible for you if you play with words (even just a bit).
"Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." -Rumi
Words have a potency beyond measure. They are not only syllables uttered. But vessels of intention, carriers of energy, and architects of reality
Words have the power to change our lives. Period. Yet, most of us follow the same language paths. We use same same words of our generation, our culture, our education and industry. Think about it, we rarely step off the beaten word path.
Oh, but some do.
And they stand out.
I take note of these brave wordsmiths, don’t you?
When I read new or powerful words that rise from the deep— my ears perk up.
The potency of a word is magnificent.
"Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate, and to humble." -Yehuda Berg
This girl has been tapping into word energy since I was little.
I have always been able to feel a word lift or sink a room.
I’ve noticed the following.
When we use words without care or attention, there is often a ripple of impact. Words swirl into feelings. These feelings can cause a disconnect between people. It can even send them to spiral into difficult emotions that cause subtle rifts. Just from a word!
Yet, when we use words with care, creativity and ingenuity we can open doors. These intentional word choices have immense influence. I believe our words have the ability to cause profound shifts in consciousness and understanding.
I first discovered words as a catalyst for connection with my younger brother James. As young as 3 and 5 years, we’d pass made up words back and forth, letting them wriggle and writhe in our imaginations. Our process was simple:
Clear the mind.
Open the language door. Let whatever felt like coming out—fall out.
Don’t judge.
Trust the imagination. When it’s given space, it won’t lead you to sameness. It leads you astray. That’s the point.
Let sounds flow.
Feel the word bust out. Add energy and enthusiasm. Allow the word’s unique character imbue the sound.
This word play never failed to sync us. When we landed on a word that made us roar with laughter our eyes would glint with fierce pride. The wordy exercise is a super power between us siblings. And James and I still use many of these words to communicate in texts and conversations.
Fast forward to my adult years. On honeymoon with Charlie, I realized we shared a fascination with word play. The two of us spent hours mashing up words we had gleaned from our global travels. We would collide two words, or take a word from another language (for example: punekike, kune kune, bajaj) and skip the real definition. Instead, we’d feel into what the meaning was for us. Then we’d write it in our little book and take every chance to use it. This exercise wove a tight bond. Words remain one of our foundational connections.
We have extended our wordplay to our family lexicon. I like to think of it like a language we’ve co-created with our kids—a way-in to see them and hear them uniquely.
I’ll share a few of my favourite made up words with you today.
One in particular tops my list. I use this one as a litmus test when I meet new people.
Fajondilizer - someone who rolls up their sleeves and plunges into life, acting now and asking questions later. Someone who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty, who doesn’t flinch at taking risks. Someone who reaches deep into the core of each of us and dares us to suck the marrow out of life.
I share this word far and wide. When it comes out of my mouth people of all ages respond. It prods, pokes and stimulates discussion 8/10 times.
It’s a true testament to the power of words.
Some of my favourite responses have been,
“Ewwww that’s disgusting. Sounds like a sexualized, pretentious thing. What IS it?”
“Oh, that’s a funny word. What on earth does it mean?”
“Is that a real word? Tell me more”
When I share it, they respond. Then we engage.
I share the word meaning. And the fact that I made the word up. It fascinates people that we have the choice and opportunity to make up our own words.
To fajondilize, or to be a fajondilizer is a word has defined my life in many ways.
A word? Yup. It’s acted like a compass, pointing me to the north of change. I’ve even created a manifesto from it.
Fajondilizer Manifesto - “I hold within me the power to change”
Being a Fajondilizer means:
Claiming one’s unique essence (aka being ‘authentic’) moving through life.
Going all in, rolling up your sleeves to whatever you’re invested in.
Discovering a mastery of the material plane to know exactly when the delusional and unimaginable are the perfect ingredients to your unique mix.
A fajondilizer has:
The confidence and internal fortitude to make change happen from within.
Presence to dig under the surface of life.
Discipline to pause and reassess.
A zest for living this one, wild and precious life.
See what I’ve done here? I’ve branded my own life with a word that holds true meaning for me.
When words fall prey to a condition called jargonnaise.
One of my toughest lessons around words is using too many.
"The secret of being boring is to say everything." -Voltaire
For all my zest for creative words, I have fought hard to not be so wordy. I have been known to add 6 words instead of a single zinger. I can also fall prey to the plight of jargonnaise.
Yes, it’s another made up word in my top three.
Let me explain.
Mayo. I’m a huge fan of the condiment. The unctuous texture. The creaminess. The ease in which I can whip and fold it into so many other sauces. I dig eating it straight up in its homemade version—or heck even Hellman’s on my sandwich. Yup, Mayo definitely works in the right context.
But Jargonnaise. That’s a whole other ball of ground down, over-used flavourless language. I made up this term to lump in same-same, cliched terms. Words used in boardrooms, business speak and unconscious brands. Jargon hides nerves and clouds communication. Weird Al made up a brilliant song about it here.
Jargon creep is insidious. It can spread into every context. Words that have lost their footing still fall out of people’s mouths. They feel strung together in too familiar combinations. Smart people. Distracted people. On the ball people. They all use jargon. I’m sorry to say, I even find myself pushing jargon out into the world.
I have introduced this term to my kids. They pull out the jargonnaise alarms when they hear me slip into that zone.
Turn on your own jargonnaise meter. I promise it will be enlightening.
When words express your feelings more than you can squeeze
I spend much of my time squeezing various people and animals. Hard. I don't want to cause harm (though sometimes it happens). I want to express profound love into physical form.
My third favourite made up word for you expresses this feeling.
Ralge—an all-encompassing, teeth-clenching, heart-exploding, eye-squinting brand of love that cannot be contained and must be delivered onto others to maximum squeezing effect. It’s the sound your heart makes as you deliver it forcefully; a sound that ripples from your core, squeezing and pulsating as it wriggles out of your throat.
Do you have a word that describe an expression of love?
My word invitation to you
My challenge to you is to infuse your words with personality, energy, and vibrancy. Watch how your days, weeks, and life transform.
Here are some ways into word play.
Word Audit Adventure: Dive into a playful exploration of your daily vocabulary. Do your words radiate sunshine or gather like rain clouds? Discover the colorful landscape of your mind through this journey. Are you pumped full of Jargonnaise? How can you loosen your language grip and try new directions?
Embrace Word Play: Unleash your creativity! Don't hesitate to craft new words that express your unique feelings and energy. Find someone you know will enjoy this activity and try out some word games. Who knows? You might spark a word revolution!
Self-Compassion Serenade: Swap harsh self-criticisms for words of kindness and understanding. Celebrate your quirks and imperfections with a daily self-appreciation. Make a list of the words that you gravitate to for positivity. What calms you? What settles and soothes you? Honor the power of language to bring us back to our centre.
"Words are seeds that do more than blow around. They land in our hearts and not the ground. Be careful what you plant and careful what you say. You might have to eat what you planted one day." -Unknown
Spotlight on new Collaborator
Sometimes I meet someone who immediately shares my love of words. People who hook into my favourites - fajondilize, ralge, jargonnaise.
Julian Guderley is that kind of guy.
Introduced by a common mentor, our connection began as word play at a Buckminster Fuller exhibit last summer. Since then it’s has exploded into a creative, expansive collaboration.
This coming week we’re launching a new online series where we’ll be weaving our word play with 22 luminaries from around the world.
It’s called - Breaking the Rules of Business As Usual. Watch this space (follow us on IG!) and get ready for the words to rock your world.
Words take you places. Trust me.
Reads & Recs
Seeking Language Large Enough with Krista Tippett and David Whyte. The notion of “frontier” — inner frontiers, outer frontiers — weaves through this hour.
Kriller - My brother’s latest project which also includes a new language with it’s own custom sound! A few words to mention: MORODERINMORDOR, to BUTTERPILLOWS to MINECRAFTSADLAMP.
Hilarious made up words to sprinkle in your life.
Share your made up words with me!
Help me fajondilize the dictionary. Leave a comment below with your words and why they play a powerful role in your life.
See you next week. If you enjoyed this read, please invite your friends. They may have some words too:)
In your corner,
With love,
Hope