Our ability to think comes with many flavors. It’s certainly a result of having different senses that can be used in a variety of combinations. And it’s possible that such a broad definition of thinking might not be considered as thinking by everyone.

That’s because of the connection between language and thought.

Words convey a meaning, usually a meaning that is shared. However, nuances will emerge and require people to consult with one another on how these nuances might alter their understanding of a word. Especially when words have different meanings that might all be valid in the given context. Communication trains us to wonder what others might have meant.

The word thinking may have a different meaning for all of us. Defining the meaning we give a word subsequently transforms any thinking that uses this word.

Thinking depends on the words we know and are capable of using.

In June, I attended a conference in Denmark. We were invited to experience hygge, a Danish word unknown to most of us. The conference organizers provided us with multiple experiences with hygge to help us understand it. In the process, I learned how different it is from the German gemütlich or the English cozy.

Coming home, I had a new concept to think and express myself with.

But it’s only through regular use that I’ll develop an understanding of how it makes sense for me to use it, and when. Our experience doesn’t translate automatically into sentences.

The richness of our thinking depends on our regular practice in writing, speaking, and wrestling with words.

Interestingly, speaking multiple languages seems to limit the amount of vocabulary that remains easily accessible to me; at the same time, it sharpens my understanding of individual words. However, it only happens if I invest time in reviewing these words and perceiving how they are shaped by the context in which I use them.

Learning to express oneself is learning to think. The desire to express oneself enhances our ability to think.

It’s a useful reminder whenever we let others define how we express ourselves.