WHAT IS YOUR CARPE DIEM?

I have been a little overwhelmed with work, duties, and obligations lately. I was trying to prioritize what to take action on, trying a little self-motivation. So, I just randomly said “carpe diem” to myself, hoping for some action to get out of planning mode and into action mode. ‡ After all, the phrase seems to work for so many others.

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Carpe diem! This is popularly translated as Seize the day! Some scholars say that the Latin word carpe is more akin to the English equivalent pluck. What does seize or pluck the day mean for you? Yeah, it really doesn’t resonate with me, either. It is hard to wrap my mind around seizing something as metaphysical as a “day” or “time.” How do you seize what you can’t touch? (I know, it isn’t meant to be literal.*) 

Thank you, Mr. Roget 

I went to my Thesaurus and looked up “seize.” Here are some alternatives that are more meaningful for how I use the phrase. More importantly, these words are more meaningful in propelling me to action (the point of the mantra, after all).

1. grab 
2. snatch 
3. confiscate 
4. commandeer 
5. take control of 
6. capture 

Well, items 1 – 3 are too … physical. Again, hard to confiscate something you can’t grab or snatch. However. I can easily “commandeer” my day or time. (Yes, I have control issues.) I definitely need to “take control of” my day and take it back from other people’s priority lists. Additionally, I can “capture” my time back from the time sink of email or web surfing. 

Meanings are in people 

I encourage you to do this exercise. What phrase will motivate you? Tweak it until it truly motivates YOU. You can look it up in the dictionary, search the Thesaurus or ask others. However, until it means something to you, it just won’t work. Now that I have a better translation for carpe diem, it really does propel me into action. 

What do you need to seize/pluck/grab/snatch/confiscate/commandeer/take control of/capture today? What is the one thing that will propel you forward toward your goals? What motivates you? What do you want more of in your life? 

A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. 

All things are possible,  

Elisabeth 

Elisabeth Adler-Lund 
Executive and Life Coaching 
Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 
E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com

‡ This is why motivation doesn’t always work. 
A) You have to tie it something specific. It can’t be random. 
B) It has to mean something to you. If money isn’t your motivator, more of it won’t push you into action. 

* In Horace, the phrase is part of a longer poem. Literally: 
(Latin) … carpe diem quam minimum credula postero. 
(English) … Seize the day, trusting as little as possible to the future. 

There are many similar phrases on making the most of now, the present, because life is short and time flies by: 
“Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” 
“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.” 
“Time flies when you’re having fun.” (Often said ironically.)