Remembering what they are and doing something about them once the shine of the new year has worn off is another story, though - I definitely need to work harder on that!
One of the things I've done for the last few years is picking my "word of the year". Since Ali Edwards has trademarked "One Little Word" and I don't actually take her classes or do her album project, I'll just refer to mine as my yearly theme.
As usual, my word came to me without much trouble. I've got some behaviors I'd like to change, and to my surprise they're all related:
- Too much idle reading and Facebooking online rather than working on my blogs or businesses
- Too sedentary - not enough exercise
- When frustrated with my kids,I tend to disengage, instead of gently teaching what I want them to learn
- Hubby has pointed out that during arguments, I tend to just shut down and stop talking
I'm an introvert, and need lots of quiet alone time. That's not going to change.
But in order to grow my businesses, protect my health, mother effectively, and nurture a great relationship with my husband, I need to "stay in the game" and be willing to get my hands dirty, so to speak. I can't be passive anymore, with my time, with my health, or with the hard parts of my closest relationships.
At first the word I chose was "active", which is the opposite of passive, and encompasses all the things above. But I am more motivated by a verb than an adjective. I need something I can use as an exhortation to *DO* something.
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| This is a logo designed by Nick Harrison. I love that it's simple. And hot pink. |
So I decided on ENGAGE. It has multiple meanings, but I like the energy it represents, especially within relationships. Staying engaged rather than passive and disengaging when things get frustrating. Engaging in regular physical activity. Engaging in activities that further my businesses instead of wasting time reading articles about taking action.
I'm planning to make myself a handstamped sterling silver cuff bracelet with my word on it so I've got a constant reminder. As I've done in the past, I can make bracelets, keychains or necklaces in copper, brass, nickel silver or sterling silver for you too. Email or contact me via Etsy if you're interested! I'd love to work on a project for you.
So, what's your word for 2014? I love hearing what other people are working on!
I love your word.
ReplyDeleteMy family selected a word this year as a group - Learning - and I blogged about that today here: http://ajbsandme.wordpress.com/2013/12/29/december-29-2013-one-little-word-for-the-family/
I also have a personal word for the year, which I will blog about in the next couple of days - just one post a day is all I can manage and my son was so excited about our family word, I had to give it priority.
Oh wow, I LOVE the idea of a family word. And what a great one you chose. Thanks for reading!
DeleteGreat word! I try to come up with a word but I tend to forget about it by about the third week in January. I need to put more effort into it I think although since this year looks like the return to full time work year, time will not be something I have much of.
ReplyDeleteOoh, how exciting re: new job. I think just having a simple reminder with the word will be good for me to keep thinking about it. We'll see :)
DeleteIt's been interesting to see where my words have lead me in 2012 and 2013. Okay, maybe interesting isn't quite the right word for this year--"enough" took me places I needed to go, but let's just say there were lots of growing pains. And really, it's a journey that I'm still on. My word for 2014 actually came to me several months ago, but I kind of set it aside, letting my subconscious mull it over til we got to the end of the year. A week or so ago, I pulled it back out and thought about whether it was still what I wanted, and I think it is. I love your idea of an active word, one that has multiple meanings. Despite that, I'm going in a different direction this year. It occurred to me that with everything I've been doing to feel like I'm "enough," I don't feel happy. And since for the most part I have a pretty good life, I decided that I need a way to focus on the good things and not get bogged down with the stress and anxiety. So for 2014 my word is JOY.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your word. So much. It's going to be a great year for you :)
Deletewonderful word!
ReplyDeletei hadn't thought about it, but perhaps my 2014 can be: NOW. as in, a year to focus on what is happening now, live in the moment, avoid multitasking & mindless time-wasters, and really appreciate the beauty in life happening NOW which is so fleeting.
it might be a bit of a survival year [will have 2 under 2 for a bit starting in february] but i hate that 'get through it' outlook. remembering to savor it in all of its craziness NOW might help :)
I love yours, too! Mine last year was Mindfulness which was similar. And congrats on the upcoming baby - I didn't realize yours would be so close in age! Best wishes - the transition from 1 to 2 is challenging, but we have had some seriously magical moments between the girls, too. You'll do great :)
DeleteI'm totally with you that a new year feels like a clean slate. It's been a rough 2013 and I'm ready to be done. I have my list of SMART goals and while I was putting them together I thought about you and your "one word". I chose a phrase this year of "Be True" ... I'm still defining what all that means, but my goals are all associated to that somehow.
ReplyDeleteI like this. Maybe we can get together and work on our workbooks together too?
Deletethis thing lost my comment :(
ReplyDeleteI love your word so much! It's one of my top work values - to engage fully!
ReplyDeleteYou know that book I keep talking about? My one word. That guy was doing this "movement" with his church for way earlier than Ali.
Yeah, I figured a lot of people were probably doing something like this. But she has trademarked the phrase, so I should probably not use it :)
DeleteI SOOO relate to this Anandi, I do the same thing with disengaging and shutting down when faced with conflict. I was kind of thinking of using the same word until I realized that I probably have a LOT of work to do (possibly with a trained professional) because this instinct is really deep. Instead I chose "lighten up" as my theme---because I've been noticing that I've gotten even more rigid and driven by my lists and schedules, and I just frankly haven't been having very much FUN with life. Also we need to declutter our home and (damn it) lighten up our diet as well!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one too! I used 'reduce' a few years ago for some of those things and it worked well.
DeleteThis is such a fantastic word. I took the class last year but didn't get much out of it. I decided that my word this year should be big. How I apply that still rains to be seen. Happy new year to you!
ReplyDeleteWell, you're going to get REALLY busy soon :)
DeleteMy one word is fire. I have lost my passion for the things that I loved in my youth. I hope to bring those things back into my life and to be fired up about them again!
ReplyDelete