Here we are at the beginning of a new year. Don’t you love the feeling that you get to start all over again with a blank slate? You can rewrite your story for 2019. That’s what it feels like to me. We have 365 days of new opportunities to do or be whatever we choose. Each day is a new start. You can get out of debt, lose weight, train for a marathon, travel more or be more social. Whatever you choose to do this year is up to you. You are trying to be your best self so why not this year?
Are you a New Year’s resolution kind of person? I like to think of things a little differently. I try to set my short and long term goals for the year and then choose my “word of the year.” I’m not sure if you’re familiar with that concept. Basically you are thinking about the word that will define you and your goals for the entire year. Here are some guidelines on how to choose your word of the year.
First, reflect on your past. It’s good to know where you have been and where you want to go from here. Reflecting on past experiences over the last year will help you think about your future goals.
Come up with your goals by thinking of the different areas of your life. Include relationships, finances, fitness, career, health, and spiritual. See how your word relates to all these different categories in your life.
Lastly, be committed to change. I love this quote by Bob Goff. “Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later.” You have to be willing to move forward and evolve. If you stay where you’re at you will just keep repeating your history of old habits that aren’t working.
My word of the year is INTENTIONAL. I want to be more mindful of everything I’m doing. I want to be intentional with what I eat, who I spend my time with, how I spend my money, what I do in my down time, how I deal with stress and staying on schedule in my business to name a few.
What is your word of the year? You may be thinking of course I can just set a resolution or word of the year but how do I keep it going past January? Here are some of the ways I keep my goals present in my everyday. I keep them visible in my calendar. I have them in my weekly and monthly sections. Also, writing them down just makes it more official. Be accountable. Tell someone your plan of action. Telling someone means you said it aloud. This is so important. Start out staying it alone in your car, but graduate to telling someone. Make a vision board that shows your goals or you achieving your goals. This is a great motivator. Sometimes this is the only thing that has saved me from some late night binges.
I just wanted to mention that growth isn’t always measured in numbers. Our society is so obsessed with the numbers game. Yes, we do need to pay attention to some numbers as we are productive citizens, but usually it is more than that. Take progress pictures or keep a journal to show how far you’ve come. Sometimes it’s more of a feeling, a purpose, or your confidence boost.
I hope 2019 is your best year yet. I would love to know some of your goals or resolutions. Leave a comment below letting me know how you are planning to change in 2019. If you are doing the word of the year I would love to know what yours is and why.
