Better Than New Year’s Resolutions: Find Your Word of the Year
Instead of New Year’s resolutions, I now come up with a Word of the Year.
This is a simple way of focusing on something you want more of this year, based on the idea that what you focus on, grows.
More than New Year’s Resolutions, your Word of the Year can help inspire and guide you throughout the year.
In 2013, my word of the year was PASSION. I used PASSION to guide the way I lived my life and the choices I made in both my work (starting this blog, leaving an 8 year career in advertising to share my passion for healthy living as a Health Coach) and my private life (from going to Australia with my husband to everyday activities like cooking, yoga or reading that I am passionate about).
For 2014, I decided my word would be LIGHTNESS.
I want to bring more lightness into my life, in the form of fun, taking things less seriously and enjoying life more.
I want to laugh more.
I want to lighten up my thinking and worry less.
I want to keep eating nourishing foods and moving in a way that allows me to feel physically light in my body.
I want to remember Eckhart Tolle’s quote that “Life isn’t as serious as the ego makes it out to be”.
I want to live lightly in every sense of the word.
So how do you go about finding your word of the year?
1. Connect to your desires.
Take some time to yourself, and really think about what you WANT out of life in this moment.
You might want to try listing everything you can think of even if it seems frivolous. This can include anything from the new iPad to getting married to going to Thailand on holiday.
2. Identify the feelings behind what you want
Once you have your desire list, identify how getting what you have listed will make you feel. What is the feeling you are chasing? As Danielle LaPorte writes “You’re not chasing the goal itself, you’re actually chasing a feeling.”
For example, maybe you want an iPad because it will allow you to feel connected. Or going to Thailand will help you feel adventurous. And perhaps you want to get married because what you are really looking for is stability.
3. Choose the word that attracts you most
Now go back to your list and look at the feelings you have written. What comes across most clearly or really makes your heart sing? What word makes you feel expansive, inspired, turned on?
Play with the idea that this might be your word of the year for a few days before deciding on this. You can try writing several words out on post-its around your home to see which you feel most drawn to.
Once you have your word of the year, you can really own it by creating a collage of images that remind you of this, creating an affirmation around it (I desire to live lightly) or simply having it written out somewhere you can see it. You can even use it for email or social media passwords as a daily reminder (for example: livinglightly2014).
I would love to hear from you – what’s your Word of the Year?
Better than New Year’s Resolutions – find your Word of the Year! Click to Tweet!
If you want to start the year off with the support you need to lose weight or simply make healthier life choices, why not book a free Health Chat to find out whether Health Coaching is right for you?
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9 Comments
First of all, many thanks for this inspiring post with this apparently simple but challenging proposal! I played with the idea and unfolded the concept for some days, and finally it turns out that THE word of the year, for me, is: CLARITY.
Which means a lot, and specifically:
– a vision
– the ability to focus and resolve issues
– the ability to make choices rather than willing everything and get lost
– the ability to express things sharp and precise
– the ability to select the fundamentals and going there rather like a bee than a butterfly
– the ability to express my desires and needs (instead of shifting them or denying them)
I would strongly appreciate that we keep in touch regarding our respective resolutions during the year. May the force be with you,
Cheers,
Cassiopée, this is very inspiring! Clarity is a great word, and like you said, it encompasses so many aspects.
I was thinking of checking in with everyone via the newsletter every month, just so that we can all stay on track
May the force be with you too!
I love this idea and put out the question a few days ago. And the word finally came to me in the middle of last night: AWARE. This year I want to be more aware of myself, the moment, the world. Switch the autopilot off more often and be more in charge and present.
Elina, I love that the word just came to you! And aware is a wonderful word. I hear it as an affirmation as well: I am aware. I am sure it will bring a lot of richness to your life!
Indeed much better than New Year’s resolutions (gave those up years ago)!
I will play around with my word for the year for the next few days and see what I come up with …
That’s great, let me know what you come up with
What a cool inspiring post!! totally making more sense than the endless list of new years resolutions that are never really being accomplished! After reading your post, my new word for 2014 came spontaneously like an evidence: I chose SURPRISE
Bonnes fêtes de fin d’année et tout de bon pour une année 2014 en toute légèreté!
Thank you Julia! I love the word surprise – may you be open to all the beautiful surprises 2014 will bring!
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