The way things turn out is the way things turn out. Things don't
always turn out the way they look like they're going to
turn out. Things may not always turn out the way you'd like
them to turn out. Things may not always turn out the way you
expect them to turn
out.
But they always turn out the way they turn out. In fact, looking
back, you can tell what your intention was by the way
things turned out. And that's a subject for another conversation on
another occasion.
It didn't turn out that way. It turns out to be an essay on how
transformation
recontextualizes
language, how dictionary definitions fall short of conveying what words
bring forth when spoken in transformed language, how dictionary
definitions of words are sometimes inadequate in accounting for
transformation.
I looked up the definition of exuberance in the
dictionary. Almost always, the dictionary is a useful reference for the
correct usage and meaning of words. But when the dictionary definition
omits much of what a word implies, when it falls short of
conveying everything a word can imply, the omission itself makes a
convincing point for what's missing.
What's Missing
What's missing is transformation. That's completely
understandable. Unless the dictionary is written by transformed men and
women, transformation will be missing as a
backdrop,
as a
context for definitions of words. Transformation
recontextualizes
words. Transformation
recontextualizes
language. In a transformed life, language no longer only
describes the world (untransformed language). Instead
language generates the world (transformed language).
Dictionary definitions of words which fall short of accommodating
transformation may have to be re-thought through and re‑worked
entirely to convey the usage and meaning (and, ultimately, the
generative effect) of words spoken in transformed
language.
What's also missing from dictionary definitions, directly as a
consequence when transformation is missing, is the sense
of
presence of Self.
One of the reasons dictionary definitions of words written in an
untransformed context only cater to untransformed language is because
they don't embody
presence of Self.
Here I'm using
presence of Self.
(capital ess) like a context, not like something
individual, not like
ego.
Presence of
Self
won't be embodied in dictionary definitions of words when it ought to
be embodied for no reason other than it wasn't present in the lives of
the writers who constructed the definitions in the first place.
Transformed language dictionary definitions will require familiar
dictionary definitions to be re-worked and re-written entirely to
accommodate transformation and include the context
presence of Self.
The deeper I got into this essay, the more I realized
"exuberance" is a perfect case in point of a word whose
dictionary definition remains untransformed and will have to be
re-worked and re-written.
Definition
exuberance
noun
from the adjective
exuberant
(especially of people and their behavior) very energetic
<unquote>
It's my opinion the dictionary definition of "exuberance"
doesn't fully express ie falls short of what
"exuberance" really is. The quality "very energetic" isn't
enough. You can be "manic" and therefore have the quality "very
energetic". But "mania" and "exuberance" are worlds apart. I assert the
dictionary definition of "exuberance" doesn't go far
enough in conveying what "exuberance" really is. I see I
have three options:
I could go to another dictionary to look for a definition I prefer;
I could let the dictionary definition of "exuberance"
be, and instead use it to illustrate my point, to use it as an
example of the inadequacy of a dictionary definition in accounting
for transformation.
I could write my own dictionary and define "exuberance"
the way I like it defined, the way I think it should be
defined.
So instead of speaking about "exuberance", I'll first speak
about the impact of transformation on words and language, then I'll
define "exuberance" the way I like it defined, the way I
think it should be defined.
By the way, it's not a one way street. Transformation impacts
words and language. Words and language impact transformation. And
that's also a subject for another conversation on another occasion.
Words And Language
Nothing is the same after transformation. I mean that quite literally.
I'm speaking, of course, precisely and exactly about "nothing". I'm not
speaking (although it may sound like it) about "nothing is the
same". I'm speaking about "nothing" as nothing. I'm
not speaking about "nothing" as the antithesis of
everything.
Try this on for size. Say "Nothing is the same after transformation.".
Say "Nothing is the same ... after transformation.".
Not "Nothing is the same after transformation.".
That's the subtlety of words and the power of language for you right
there.
But unlike nothing, language isn't the same after
transformation. Language after transformation ie language
transformed has at least two essential distinctions which
aren't present in language before transformation ie in language
untransformed:
generative power rather than mere descriptive,
narrative power;
I'd like to say the opposite is also true: that transformation isn't
the same after language. But that's patently absurd. Why?
Transformation comes forth through language.
Transformation starts with language. I can't say
"transformation isn't the same after language" because it
implies transformation was there before language. No.
Before language there wasn't transformation.
Language Transformed
Werner
Erhard's
thesis "Human beings are
constituted in language"
starts an entirely new way of looking at both what (and
who) human beings really are, as well as what language
really is. The
spoken word has creative
power,
as in "In the Beginning was The Word", as in "Logos".
Who you are is
constituted in language.
In an earlier, health conscious time, it was said "You are what you
eat.". In a later, wealth conscious time, it was said "You are what you
wear.". I would like to propose, instead,
"You are what you
speak.".
You are your
Word.
You are what you speak. Who you are is
constituted in language.
Language generates (or, better, declares) who you are.
Language generates transformation. By transforming your conversation,
you transform your life and all of Life. Notice you're only transformed
as long as you're in
Conversations For
Transformation.
When you're no longer in
Conversations For
Transformation,
you're no longer transformed.
Exuberance Transformed
When it's spoken ie when it's incorporated in language,
"exuberance" shouldn't only convey an element of
transformation, but it should also evoke ie call forth a
sense of the
presence of Self.
There's
nothing wrong
with the existing dictionary definition of "exuberance", even
though it doesn't convey an element of transformation or evoke ie
call forth a sense of the
presence of Self.
It's OK the way it is.
However, its existing dictionary definition doesn't account for how
"exuberance" is spoken in (or by, for that matter)
language transformed.
Definition
exuberance
noun
from the adjective
exuberant
(especially of people and their behavior) joyfully energetic,
enthusiastically driven, powerfully intent, filled with and inspired
by the
presence of
Self
