The Power of Name (Part One)

Many ancient stories discuss names in great detail. The Holy Bible goes through the lineage of many patriarchs and ascribes merit to each name for deeds or actions. The Iliad talks about family histories and recounts events. Powerful connections are given between name and deed. People called on power in names. Stories in several oral and written histories describe events where divine intervention or calamity occurred by calling on a name.

Names are powerful. They describe an individual. They can prescribe a blessing or denote a curse. It is important to consider this importance and beware misusing any name given to anyone or thing.

In this first article, I challenge the reader to consider what he/she/they/it/etc. calls the reader in reference to name. What do you call yourself? What power do you proclaim on yourself or rob from yourself?

When you use your name, do you say it with reverence or disapproval? What do you really call yourself? If your name is for example, Bob, what do you mean when you say that name to yourself or identify yourself? Do you say it as though it had no value, no worth, or did not deserve anything good? Or, is Bob a name to be noted, trusted, valued, or cheered?

Daily, even moment to moment in ourselves, when we reflect, we find ourselves and identify that self by a given name in speech. Definition may be rash or prolonged. It could stem from a permeating emotion or multiple emotions. It is vital to recognize that a life pattern is set by how we name ourselves in the most private section of our existence-the heart.

When you say your name, it is not a literal calling out your name in the sanctum of your soul, but a projection of your interpretation of how you rank or what role you occupy in reality. It is a power that defines your connection to several key aspects or philosophical questions in life. A few to mention specifically are free will and self-fulfilling prophecies.

If you say that you are a victim of something, does that mean that you will be a victim or that you are currently a victim? Notice, I did not use past tense. You can be a victim of an event that has occurred undeniably. You were in a motor vehicle accident. You were a high school graduate. Things happened and you experienced them. When we talk about "being or having" something versus "becoming something or will have something in the future," we are discussing identity or "name." This "name" is rooted in choice or choices. Free will is connected to what an individual calls him or herself. Imagine, if you always say that "I am a high school graduate" instead of "I graduated from high school," you are saying that your identity has a current connection to that event. You could say that you interpretation or perception of what a high school graduate means impacts your decisions or even free will. For example, if you are 18 years old and just graduated from high school, you could view that as a large accomplishment. You may say, "I am a high school graduate," but the meaning of that statement may be "I am capable and successful in education." The meaning or "name" of "capable" may encourage you to believe that college or any other education goal is something that you have several choices in what you want to become with very few restrictions. Your idea of free will in education may be "I can become whatever I wish to become." On the other hand, what if you are 45 years old and have been at the same job for 25 years after graduating from high school. You think " I am a high school graduate" with the belief that you can only go as far a high school graduate in your career. You may even feel that you are not very or poorly educated. You may say "I am a high school graduate," but you may mean "I am not very good at school and cannot progress past the education that I got in high school." So, free will can be impacted by the "name" and meaning that we attach to anything or ourselves.

Let me be clear, whatever someone accomplishes should be celebrated. The previous example is just regarding interpretation by the individual and could use any number of examples. It is sad that when we "name" ourselves or aspects of our life. We create unknowingly an expectation or even a plan for the outcome. We can create what are called "self fulfilling prophecies" or events that manifest from our thoughts and words into action. For example, if an individual states "I am going to fail _________," then more often than not, he or she typically fails _________. It is important that we consider our words as powerful and use them responsibly. There is extreme power in what we call ourselves or what we state regarding events or aspects that define our lives.

Today, we discussed the power of naming ourselves and aspects of ourselves. In Part II, we will discuss naming others.

Thanks,

The M.A.D. Dad