Yesterday I attended a training. When we went around the room (groan) to introduce ourselves, the trainer asked us to share our name, where we worked, and a word that described us.
The room was filled with social workers, so there were a lot of common words – caring, thoughtful, passionate, dedicated, etc. When it came around to my turn, I looked down at my paper. Our first activity had been to create a personal ad, chock full of words describing us, so my paper was full of words about me – creative, fun, positive, etc. But the word I finally chose? Easy-going.
The funny thing is, easy-going is one of a trio of qualities that I strive for and aspire to, but am never quite sure I have; the complete trio of qualities is peaceful, easy-going, and confident. I would love to be peaceful, easy-going, and confident – and I am those things, a lot of the time. BUT there are also times when I am crazed or anxious, controlling, and insecure.
However, choosing easy-going as my word had a funny effect on me: it made me feel easy-going. I had a pretty laidback manner throughout the two-day training. I went with the flow and I was pretty adaptable.
And you know what I realized? That is who I am, most of the time. I am easy-going; I go with the flow and I adapt to what’s happening around me fairly easily.
However, I am more than just easy-going. I have a lot of other words, too. I am sensitive and thin-skinned. I am introverted and creative. I am positive, passionate, and caring.
But our trainer asked us to pick only one word. And I think the word I chose, out of all the words I could have, says a lot about how I feel and, perhaps, how I want to feel. Some people chose words like busy, overwhelmed – I don’t know them, but I think their choice says a lot about how they’re feeling at this moment in time. And I think the easy-going aspect of my nature is what I wanted to focus on this week – not the parts of me that can get sensitive or fretful.
What’s your word?
