Why I Chose Sanskrit to Anchor the 30 Values in The Affection Economy
Some languages aren’t designed to sell. They’re designed to centre. To soften. To return us to the truth of who we are.
When I began writing The Affection Economy, I knew I didn’t want to fill another book with business jargon or overused leadership terms. I wanted something deeper. Something that invited stillness before action. Reflection before direction.
That’s why I turned to Sanskrit.
Not as decoration.
But as a deliberate act of slowing down.
Each of the 30 values in this book is accompanied by a Sanskrit word, not to sound poetic, but to anchor us in something older than productivity. Something that calls the body into the conversation, not just the brain.
Why Sanskrit?
Sanskrit is a language of breath.
Each word is designed to be felt, not just spoken. It invites rhythm, resonance, and reverence.
It’s the language of many meditation practices, spiritual teachings, and sacred philosophies, but I’m not asking you to be spiritual to receive it. I’m asking you to notice how your body reacts when you read:
Santosha (san-TOE-sha): contentment, deep inner peace
Abhaya (uh-BYE-yuh): courage, fearlessness
Karuna (kah-ROO-nah): compassion that leads to action
Satya (SUT-yuh): truth, honesty
Shraddha (shRUD-duh): unwavering faith, even without proof
Don’t they land differently than “alignment” or “bravery” or “authenticity”?
These words bypass marketing speak and go straight to the soul.
It’s Not Decoration. It’s Deprogramming.
In corporate life, we’re taught to cut to the chase. Keep it sharp. Keep it strategic.
But values aren’t PowerPoint slides.
They’re felt. Lived. Chosen.
Sanskrit reminds us to breathe. To pause.
To feel into a value before we perform it.
In a world where speed and scale are often prioritised over substance, this choice to root the book in Sanskrit was about slowing the reader down, not for effect, but for integration.
You can’t build a values-led life at a sprint.
You have to let the values speak back to you.
A Note on Cultural Respect
I use these terms with reverence. While I am not of Indian heritage, I hold deep respect for the traditions that have carried these teachings for thousands of years. Each term has been chosen with care, defined in plain English, phonetically spelled, and rooted in context so readers of all backgrounds can engage without appropriation.
This isn’t about adopting a philosophy that isn’t mine.
It’s about honouring a language that helps us all come home to ourselves, no matter where we begin.
Bringing the Values to Life
Every chapter of The Affection Economy begins with a Sanskrit anchor, followed by real-world stories, case studies, and practical activations for individuals, communities, and organisations.
Because this is not just a book about values.
It’s a book about how to live them — one breath, one decision, one brave act at a time.
Author’s Note:
This piece was originally published here on The Story Maker. It is available for republication, syndication, or editorial adaptation.
For commissions or licensing, please contact Jet Swain.
