How would you describe someone in one word?
It’s a tricky proposition — one I recently put to the test when I asked friends and family which word they’d use to describe me.
The answers I received were as fascinating as they were wide-ranging.
- Bold
- Loyal
- Engaging
- Generous
- Welcoming
(For the record, the word I’d use to describe myself is “Driven.”)
Now, I know this sounds like a good spell of ego-baiting. But as someone who equates fishing for complements with fishing with dynamite, I can assure you that is not the purpose of this exercise.
No, the One Word Challenge is as much a deep-thinking exercise than anything else. And it’s more important than we’d prefer to admit.
Why do I say this? Because we live in a world where we take far too much for granted, even though we know we shouldn’t. And in particular, because we fail to recognize the fleeting nature of time and words until they’re taken from us.
This pervasive behavior allows us to live carefree, to enjoy our time with one another free of the foreboding that hangs on our eventual separation. Yet, it inevitably leads to regret at the end. To words left unsaid. To moments left unspent.
The solution to this conundrum is twofold. First, we must make every effort to cherish every moment we spend together. And second, we must refine our methods of taking stock of all we have.
That’s where the One Word Challenge comes in.
You see, we have a tendency to be long winded and eloquent when singing each other’s praises or sharing memories. This trend allows us to connect powerfully through emotion. It’s why we have speeches at weddings, at funerals and after winning awards.
But speeches should not be the only way we size each other up.
We still must be able to distill our relationship with others down to the basics. We must understand on a basic level what draws us to those we hold most dear. We must determine what they bring to us and what we give to them.
And it doesn’t get more basic than one word.
Now, this all might seem like little more than a framing exercise. But it’s much more.
I say the One World Challenge is a bridge.
It allows us to get to a common ground of understanding with those in our inner circle. To be aware of what draws us to each other, what we learn from each other and what we can do with that knowledge.
In an experiential society, this communication can help define our achievements while ensuring we stay true to our core. It can help inspire us to reach for the stars, yet still keep our feet rooted in the ground.
This delicate balance is what moves the world forward, and it’s best expressed in a two-word exchange.
So, go ahead and take the challenge. See how powerful one word can be.