Developing a Vocabulary for Success

A good vocabulary is an essential element for life and learning. My father had an incredible passion for learning new words and he took every opportunity to instill that same passion in me as he helped me study my vocabulary words in grade school. I have vivid memories of him pronouncing the words backwards and I would have to spell them correctly. His goal was for me to know them so well that I could literally spell them backwards and forwards. If anything, it helped me create visual images of the words rather than having to memorize their correct spelling.

Words are important to us because they help us communicate in an articulate manner. Words help bring clarity to our thoughts and life to our ideas. The following are some words that are foundational to how we develop patterns of success.

·         Intention (noun): the thing that you plan to do or achieve; an aim or purpose.

·         Purpose (noun): the reason why something is done or used; the aim or intention of something; the feeling of being determined to do or achieve something; the aim or goal of a person; what a person is trying to do, become, etc.

·         Plan (noun): a set of actions that have been thought of as a way to do or achieve something; something that a person intends to do.

·         Goal (noun): something that you are trying to do or achieve.

·         Success (noun): the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame; the correct or desired result of an attempt; someone or something that is successful; a person or thing that succeeds. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary)

Live with intention and purpose. Make a plan for your life and establish goals that will place you on the path to success. If not, life is lived from one purposeless event to another. There are no plans or goals. We merely exist waiting for something to happen. Would it not be better to live with intention and purpose?

There is a better way to live described as:

·         Coram Deo: Living Coram Deo is to live one’s life entire in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the Glory of God. To live all of life Coram Deo is to live a life of integrity. It is a life of wholeness that finds its unity and coherency in the majesty of God. (http://www.ligonier.org)

Praying that we impact our students in such a way that they live life entirely in the presence of God.

Oed Maroc,

Elton O. Brooke, Ed. D.