Irrepressible

Today, on this Monday, October 13, 2025, happens to be two holidays this year: Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Although most public schools are closed in honor of the holidays, I, too, am an advocate for the Indigenous People.

When you know what took place with the explorer Christopher Columbus and how the use of violence and slavery had subjugated the native people he encountered after landing in the Americas in 1492, then you will understand.

This week, I find myself revisiting a word that will not leave my head, it’s “Irrepressible.”

Merriam-Webster defines irrepressible as “impossible to repress, restrain, or control.”

IRREPRESSIBLE Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster

When I look at the three words repress, restrain, or control, which are connected to impossible, it’s my task today to tell you why I can’t get the word “Irrepressible” out of my head.

For many, this word may not be in your vocabulary or one that you haven’t used in a while but give it a chance.

It was given as the Word of the Day during one one my Toastmasters meetings last week and is still stuck in my head today.

What was uncanny was how three designated speakers for the evening all displayed being irrepressible.

One spoke about Domestic Violence, one spoke about Emotional Intelligence, and one spoke about Finding your purpose again.

Repress– REPRESS Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster

These are things we do that we may not like, such as injustice, subdue our thoughts, manage self-control or anger, and exclude from consciousness our thoughts that we repress from memory tied to abuse.

Restrain- RESTRAIN Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster

These are things we prevent from doing, exhibiting, or expressing.  We limit ourselves, and sometimes we deprive ourselves of a specific pleasure or ability that is within us.

Control- CONTROL Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster

These are things that we may see others doing and subconsciously watch as a person exercises restraining or directing influence over their anger, as they regulate their emotional intelligence at various levels.  It’s also apparent in relationships and in the workplace that those who exercise power over a person or organization.

During the pandemic, we witnessed all types of control and how some people could not handle the solitude of not being able to communicate.

The speeches that I mentioned earlier, Domestic Violence, Emotional Intelligence, and Finding Your Purpose Again, all had elements of what I wrote about above.

Sometimes it’s impossible to sleep when we have thoughts in our heads that we want to write out or speak about. We hear the analogy “what keeps you up at night.”

The word “Irrepressible”, as I drill down, is one of those words, as I mentioned, that may not be in your vocabulary; however, in your unconscious mind, you are doing these things daily.

It’s almost like the expression “You can’t put your finger on it,” but you know it’s happening.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we should all be aware of those who have had to repress, restrain, or control the forces within them, becoming “Irrepressible” human beings.

DVAM 2025: With Survivors, Always | Domestic Violence Awareness Project 

Emotional Intelligence is one of my favorite topics because of all five tenets or components.  Self-awareness, Self-regulation, Social skills, Empathy, and Motivation.

Again, it’s that awareness, specifically self-awareness and self-regulation of those who have had to repress, restrain, or control the forces within them become “Irrepressible” human beings. Sometimes we must do a better job as well as exercising empathy for those we me on the street, because we have not walked in their shoes.

Emotional Intelligence Theories & Components Explained

In Finding Your Purpose Again, I’ve always enjoyed reading books by the late Dr. Myles Munroe.  One of them is “Living With Purpose: Devotions for Discovering Your God-Given Potential.”

I’ll leave you with one of his many quotes about the graveyard or cemetery.

“The wealthiest place in the world is not the gold mines of South America or the oil fields of Iraq or Iran. They are not the diamond mines of South Africa or the banks of the world. The wealthiest place on the planet is just down the road. It is the cemetery. There lie buried companies that were never started, inventions that were never made, bestselling books that were never written, and masterpieces that were never painted. In the cemetery is buried the greatest treasure of untapped potential.” ~ Myles Munroe

It’s within those words written by Dr. Myles Munroe that I know I must always follow my dreams and live out my purpose. What about you?

Maybe now you understand why the word “Irrepressible” continues to resonate with me so well.

Today, my challenge to you is to think about your one word that stays on your mind that you can’t seem to forget about, and what lessons have you learned from it?

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/irrepressible/