Have you ever tried to set new years resolutions? Then two months later you have already fallen off the wagon and are back to your old ways. I have been there and done that. Then I learned about choosing a word of the year.
The word of the year is an overarching theme that you would like to see throughout the year. It’s more about personal growth than just a to-do item on a list of goals.
In 2018 my word was FOCUS. I wanted to focus on my family, health, and business. While I had specific goals that I wanted to accomplish throughout the year I knew if I stuck with my word and FOCUSed then I would achieve more.
WHY CHOSE A WORD OF THE YEAR?
Your word of the year is your guide for how to achieve your dreams in the coming year. This is something you can apply in little ways throughout your life instead of making big audacious goals. It’s like your theme song for the year.
HOW DO I CHOSE A WORD OF THE YEAR?
REFLECT
These questions will help you see what changes need to be made in your life.
What could I use more of in my life?
What could I use less of in my life?
What characteristics would I like to have?
By the end of the day, I feel ______.
How do I want to feel?
After answering these questions give yourself a day or two. Then come back to it and you’ll have a better sense of the direction you would like to go in the coming months.
WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS
What do you want to accomplish in 2019? This can be both big things and little things. I suggest having a list of both.
Is there something connecting your goals, an overarching theme?
VISUALIZE
What would the perfect day feel like?
How do you feel in the morning when you wake up? Throughout the day especially at work? What about at night just before bed?
Do these feelings match with you how you want to feel on your perfect day? Maybe, maybe not.
Now, relax and ask yourself “what word do I want to focus on in 2019?” This is simple, but after you know how you feel about your current state and how you want to feel on a perfect day it will help you see words.
CREATE A LIST
Think about your reflection and visualization. What words come to mind?
Spend 15 minutes or so writing down all of the words that come to mind. Just write, don’t cross anything off.
After your initial 15 minutes let your list just sit. Throughout the next few days continue to add words to your list. Something may jump out at your while shopping or while talking on the phone. Jot these words down too.
Sometimes our word comes to us at the strangest times.
REVIEW AND REFINE
Review your list words and narrow it down to your favorites. Circle or highlight your top 5 words.
You should see a theme in the words you wrote down.
Do any of the words jump out at you? Do any of the words make you excited? nervous? scared? at ease?
If a word scares you, you are probably on the right track! You want to step out of your comfort zone to achieve your goals and live your dream life. Change is never easy.
Live with your top words for a few days. How do you feel when you think about that particular word? If you aren’t loving the word cross it off and move on.
COMMIT TO YOUR WORD
You should have one word left on your list after refining and living with your words for a few days. Are you ready to commit yourself to it for a year? I hope so!
If you can’t commit yourself to that particular word, then you need to go back to your list and continue to refine it.
You want a word that excites you and makes you feel empowered. The word helps you stop making excuses and take action. You want to be able to implement and live with your word of the year.
WHAT’S YOUR WORD OF THE YEAR 2020?
I would love to know what word you decided on for 2020. What word have you committed to?
A word of the year can be very powerful. Write it down where you will see it every day. Keep it in your house and in your car. Keep it in a planner and in your phone.
When you are making big decisions ask yourself if this decision aligns with your word of the year.
Your word of the year should be the guiding light that helps you make big and little decisions. It will help you navigate your best days and your hardest days.