What’s in a Name

“ What’s in a Name?”

A few months ago we put out a survey to see whether or not we should change the name of the Miracles workshop or not. The reason we felt it might be necessary was that when Sounds True took over the publication of the Radical Forgiveness book, they changed the subtitle.

It used to be “Making Room for the Miracle.” Our Miracles workshop connected with that subtitle, so it had meaning. But they changed it to, “A Revolutionary 5-Stage Process to Heal Relationships, Let Go of Anger and Blame and Find Peace in Any Situation.”

This is, in fact, much more descriptive of the actual process and indeed the workshop itself, but it doesn’t roll off the tongue as well. It’s not as memorable, either. But it does communicate what the person might expect to achieve either by reading the book or doing the workshop.

Anyway, we asked you all whether, having lost the connection with the original subtitle, we should change the name of the workshop. Well, we had lots of suggestions but nothing really decisive emerged.  

There was a clear split between those who had done the workshop and, having experienced a whole series of miracles in their lives since doing the workshop, very much wanted to keep the name the same, and those who felt it needed to change so people would instantly get what it was about.

Quite honestly, we are still in debate about it ourselves. We are, in fact, in the middle of a complicated process right now looking at what we need to update about our brand and positioning, so this question is one among many that we will be looking at. For now though, it stays as “The Miracles Workshop.”

Those of you that have your own business, will know that names count and that you have to keep adjusting things to make sure you are still communicating with the people you wish to be in touch with, in the right way. You will also realize that titles, banners, logos, and pictures matter a great deal.

So, that’s the process we are in at this time. Don’t be surprised, therefore, if you see some changes in our website in the near future, for example. Or, that I might be offering some new services and products. It is an exciting process.

Another thing that has changed over the last few years is how the word Radical has become much more ubiquitous, to the extent that it has started to become meaningless. Not that I am going to give up using it for Radical Forgiveness, since that is my brand and it remains strong, but I do have to be watchful that it does not simply get lumped in with all the other subjects to which the word radical is now being attached for no other reason that the word has become rather fashionable.

It’s interesting how we take a word that means something extraordinary and then use it repeatedly to describe what is ordinary and commonplace. Take the word awesome, for example. It used to mean that we would be awe-struck by something if we came across it. Now, today, even an ice cream is awesome.

The word Radical is heading in that direction now as well, so I want to make sure that Radical Forgiveness continues to be seen as extraordinary and radically different to anything else out there, with the possible exception of A Course in Miracles with which it has some similarity. That, too, is about forgiveness but not the kind we’ve all been conditioned to believe is little more than letting bygones be bygones.

It’s worth looking at the dictionary definition of the word radical. It gives two. First, it adds gravitas to the subject to which it refers in that it implies having got to the very root or essential core of that subject. Second, it also makes the subject, if not exactly revolutionary, certainly is cutting edge and very much out of the ordinary.

Unfortunately, it has also become associated with extremist politics and even terrorism. This has caused some foreign publishers to avoid the word altogether. Nevertheless, I think I can still get away with using it to qualify a word like forgiveness, at least in the U.S. and UK. But I still need to keep my eye on it.

Brad Blanton wrote a book in the early 90s called Radical Honesty, and I am not ashamed to say I followed his lead and called my first book, Radical Forgiveness. But at that time the word radical still carried its true meaning and, with my book anyway, led people to ask themselves, in what sense is this form of forgiveness cutting edge or phenomenon in a way that is radically different to ordinary forgiveness. It was more than just a cute label. Same with Brad Blanton. His approach to being honest was truly radical too.

But that has changed. If you look in Amazon, you will even see now, two or three books with the title, Radical Forgiveness as well as other books with Radical in the title. That word is now over-used and degraded. Without the word Radical to qualify forgiveness, people will default back to how it was seen when the word radical was not attached to it. These changes could easily blunt my message and my brand.

That’s why it is important that I keep finding ways to explain just how different Radical Forgiveness is from traditional forgiveness and the extent to which when we embrace the worldview on which it rests, we are changed by it. I mean, fundamentally changed. Jolted out of our slumber, if you will. Awakened to a wholly new reality. When we embrace the underlying assumptions of Radical Forgiveness, we see everything through different eyes.

Neither is it just about healing some terrible trauma or grievance that occurred in the past and is therefore only applicable to a few people who need it. Radical Forgiveness can do that really well, of course, and do it very quickly, but it is so much more than this.

It is a way for anyone and everyone to deal with everyday problems and challenges as they occur so as to move through them with ease and grace. It is a way of living consciously and with awareness of how everything is connected and meaningful, so we don’t become trapped in fear and wallow forever in victim consciousness.

It’s about finding peace and happiness in our lives and being responsible for what happens instead of blaming everyone else or beating ourselves up for making mistakes or not being good enough.