I was speaking with a colleague this morning who, I suspect, is getting ready to change jobs. The reason I know that is because she complained about how she was being treated by her current employer.
After she ranted about working such long hours and being, not so much mistreated but unappreciated for two or three minutes, I stopped her.
“You’ve created this, you know,” I said.
(Long pause.)
“Yeah but,” and she continued her list of injustices and frustrations.
I expect she didn’t expect me to “fix” her situation, but needed a set of ears so she could speak what was true for her. Sometimes, it’s not until we utter the words that describe our circumstances and hear ourselves say what we feel, that we can finally accept what is; the first step to taking action.
Words are important. The scriptures are filled with examples of words having power. In Genesis we’re told that God used words to speak the universe into existence. Later, we’re instructed to name the animals so we can have dominion over them. Countless times we are warned of the importance of keeping our word and to avoid making “oaths” that we’re not prepared to keep.
Besides having dominion over our environment, it’s through language that we make distinctions and recognize patterns. This is different from that. Those who can distinguish more subtle differences not only have richer lives, but some believe, larger incomes. (Obviously, this doesn’t apply to actors or sports figures!)
Vague language reflects vague thinking. I see this frequently among those in chiropractic who use the word manipulation and the word treatment rather indiscriminately. Is there a difference between manipulation and adjustment? Is there a difference between the word treatment and say, the word care? I think so.
Using these pairs interchangeably (or thoughtlessly) reflects a lack of precision, which in turn obscures understanding. Until the chiropractic profession can agree on the definition of adjustment, manipulation, care, cure, treatment, subluxation, health, symptoms and let’s not forget the word chiropractic itself, it will remain hobbled. It can assign its own definitions to these terms (most disciplines have their own vocabulary) but there must be widespread agreement and the rigor to use the appropriate language.