What Word Is You?

in , ,

Word associations have powerful effects.

Tapping into what are called ‘mental lexicons’, words generate explicit and subliminal impressions.

Impressions make stamps on the mind, forceful in the shaping and expression of identity.

So what word is YOU?

Coming into the New Year, here are three ways to use word associations to shape your personal identity and your work in 2024.

  1. Word of the Year

For aspiring people, choosing a focus ‘Word of the Year’ has become a popular exercise.

The selection signals intention, and serves as a guiding principle for goal-setting in the calendar year ahead.

For inspiration, The Goal Chaser website has compiled ‘300+ Word Of The Year Ideas For 2024 (With Meanings For Each)’.

Included are a set of questions to help you pick your word.

2. One-word brand identity

Jay Clouse, founder of Creator Science, advises digital creators to ‘become associated with a word or idea’.

He offers ‘selection’, ‘expression’, and ‘repetition’ methods for the tool.

3. Word mapping: the lexical field

Once you’ve chosen a word, map a broad set of connotations for the word.

For example, the word ‘freedom’ has many context-based connotations, including words like: choice, pursuit, mobility, movement, flight, travel, liberty, independence, leisure, holiday, peace, creativity, art, spirit, expression, growth.

ChatGPT can supply word connotations using tailored prompts, for example: ‘What are 50 non-political word connotations associated with the word 'freedom’?’

Every word also has its own hinterland, if words are mapped outward from their first-degree connotations, and then outward from those, and so on.

Using the example of ‘freedom’, mapping outwards from ‘choice’, you get: decision, option, selection, preference, alternative, opportunity.

Word connotations and hinterlands create a lexical field around the original word, inspiring the creation of varied, related content towards a coherent brand image.

Whatever word you choose, use it to guide and empower you in the year ahead.

You deserve to have a fantastic 2024.

Start by choosing how you want to define it, for yourself.