Less Nouns, More Verbs

To what noun do you aspire? The title. The label. The position. The level. The role.

We work hard to make an identity our own. We are chromosomal-ly programmed with the desire to pursue a place, position, and noun in life.

Once achieved, we then must navigate life wearing the costume that came issued with the role. Since the costume is one-size-fits-all, as it is worn by others, it never will fit quite right. It can be restrictive. Often heavy. Like a suit of armor. And it’s tough to it take off at night.

Though it feels like armor, it really doesn’t protect you against external threats. Instead, it can trap and suffocate what’s most important to you:

Your hidden talents.
Your passionate ideas.
Your meaningful contributions.

This is how the pursuit of nouns mess us up. We chase status and approval in our attempt to become people, places, and things that we are *expected* to be. That we expect ourselves to be.

But, an interesting shift happens when we turn nouns into dynamic verbs. Our journey comes back into focus. Pieces of the armor drop away. The weight lessens. Ideas start to breathe.

Artist becomes creating.
Doctor becomes serving.
Father becomes parenting.
Teacher becomes inspiring.

This is far from a “You should…” post — just Google my name for proof. The elimination of nouns to reveal your verbs is my life’s work at the moment.

The only way to move ideas into action is with more Life Verbs and fewer Life Nouns.

Verbs ensure that you move, learn, risk, create, serve, and love. These are the boxes on my paper that I set to be checked every single day.

Nouns are the place holders. Verbs are the journey. Consider your words carefully.

With gratitude,

-Joe

Olympic Gold Medalist | Performance Coach | Author

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