Buzzing off words

I have lost count of the number of times I have heard one form of these or another. I also have lost count of the number of years I have spoken them.

Those words, and sentences, that seem to make some i’m-busy-and-important-come-listen-to-me sound. We’ve learnt to call them buzzwords. You know them when you hear them, from executives, at luncheons…and in several places.

As a teenager, I had thought the bigger and deeper the words you use are, the more it shows of how intelligent and knowledgeable I am. And almost every meeting I went - at the United Nations, with some corporate or political heads and several of these conferences - had a way of confirming my bias.

That was my “ego ideal” at work. It wants me to “win” and be admirable, and behave in ways that make me win the most approval - even if that means shielding me from the truth about my biases.

This bias is unhealthy. It is a disease, and I should have known.

It wasn't until my early twenties, I came to the full awareness of this while explaining a phase to one of my younger siblings.

Instead of "let’s think outside the box", I've now learnt to say "what can we do differently, or what other option can we imagine?". Instead of "let’s synergize efforts", I now say "let’s work together". What is the purpose of words if it can't be understood by a child? 

I'm not yet cured completely of this disease. It still comes to me once in a while.

When I hear others do this same thing, it no longer impresses me. Instead, I welcome them with a non-judgemental smile, hoping that they will one day find light and heal from their “buzzwordsritis” (I didn't just do that again :), did I?)

Simple is always best. It doesn't present you as less intelligent, rather, the opposite. Yearn for simple, always.