Beyond EAP celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024 – a fact I still can’t quite believe!
I don’t need to tell you that lots of things have changed in the past decade (we all remember Covid, after all). But one particular change I’ve noticed is in the language I’ve been using to describe self-development and wellbeing.
Just as fashions change, so do the words we use.
We humans are constantly expanding our vocabulary, since new words are added to the Oxford English Dictionary every year.
Often these words reflect generational changes, as young people begin to carve out a distinctive identity for themselves through language. Case in point: the Oxford Word of the Year for 2023 was “rizz”, which is a word no teenager would have needed to look up (but I most definitely did!)
Yet words also reflect shifting ideas: as well as describing something that’s brand-new they can help us to see a familiar concept in a different light, or reflect updated ways of thinking.
For example, it wasn’t so long ago that it would have been perfectly acceptable to talk about negative mental health in terms of “loony bins” and “nutcases”. Thankfully, if we used those words today we’d be firmly taken to task.
Self-help or self-care?
The world may feel like a scarier and more aggressive place than it once did. But I believe that the new words I’m using in my therapy sessions point to a more enlightened and compassionate society.
Over time, 20th century expressions like “self-help”, “personal growth”, and “self-improvement” have given way to “self-care”, self-empowerment” and “emotional intelligence”. These feel like softer, more uplifting ways to look at our overall wellbeing and the idea that we are able to shape our individual destinies.
I am also aware of the fact that “maternity coaching”, which is an area in which I personally specialise, is starting to seem outdated as a term. “Parental transition support” feels more inclusive and are the words I use the most today.
We are also honouring vulnerability and recognising trauma.
“Vulnerability” isn’t a word I would have used often in 2014. But in 2024 many more people are taking the positive and powerful step of embracing their vulnerable selves (helped by the pioneering work of talented people like Brené Brown).
In turn “having a hard time” is being recognised for what it so often is: deep trauma. When we name trauma, we have a greater chance of understanding and overcoming it. In the past, we might have said dismissive and unhelpful things like “pull your socks up”, but we now talk about “building your resilience”. A simple word-change like this can be transformational: allowing space for healing and growth.
Of course, it is always worth noting that different terms will resonate with different people and that the language of self-development and wellbeing is necessarily diverse.
How has language changed for you over the years?
Reflecting on language has been a useful way for me to gauge how far we have come in therapy terms. So much so that I’ve started a glossary of the words I’m using now, as a ‘time capsule’ of sorts!
I’d love to know if you have experienced any similar revelations, or if you have any questions about the terminology we use in our Beyond EAP sessions.
If there is an employee that you’re feeling concerned about, we would also be happy to arrange a confidential discussion about our supportive services, which are completely bespoke. Find out more by visiting our Services page.