The fifth principle of Kwanzaa is Nia: Purpose
Words have their own creative energy. I realize this years ago, when my son was little I tried to correct his school work by critiquing all his mistakes with little success. We argued a lot and he was not listening to any suggestions. Finally I got discouraged and was ready to give up. Then one day he showed me a project he was working on but instead of criticism I just exclaimed "Beautiful!" That one word was like magic he started beaming and later opened up about his school work. My first intentions were good but since then I have learned that positive input works better. And I also realized that I was the only one to give him words of encouragement.
We often say some hurtful things to each other but embracing positive words is also a part of our heritage. In African praise songs, words are used by the community to empower warriors before they go into battle. They sing songs that describe the strength, valor and wisdom of the young men. Today when we send our children to school or out to work they are entering a battle zone and need that same empowerment and support to succeed. The fourth principle of Kwanzaa: Nia: Purpose gives us an opportunity to examine how we communicate and empower each other. Today we have an opportunity to spread words that light up our hearts, our community and the world.
For inspiration on the principle of Nia read Donavan's Word Jar to a young person. This is the story of a young boy who loves words and collects them in a jar. Then give them a word jar describing their best qualities. Here are a few words to add to their jar:
supportive kind attentive cooperative
stimulating enthusiastic perceptive wise
warm reassuring encouraging dependable
loyal thoughtful considerate influential
affectionate vital tactful zestful
helpful accepting refreshing inclusive
thorough valuable sensitive consistent
creative curious intuitive resourceful
leader directive tender responsible
alive steadfast forthright reasonable
loving insightful energetic uplifting
honest trusting friendly right on
careful positive useful observant
sympathetic aware neat cool
delightful empathetic inspiring zealous
clever reliable open astute
funny optimistic free organized
careful
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