I was never good with New Year’s Resolutions.
First, it was something you HAD to do. Because people would ask you ‘So, what’s your resolution for the new year?’. And if you didn’t have one, they’d look at you funny.
Second, because I found that they only lasted for so long. Like those many people you see in the gym in January and who disappear come February.
A resolution is like an action item on your To Do list. You can easily procrastinate. You can delegate. You can blame it on the weather or someone else.
In 2009 I took a coach. And she introduced me to the principle of choosing a WORD of the year instead of a resolution. Verb or noun. But just ONE word.
And it has made all the difference.
Here’s why:
- A resolution addresses the DO level of your life. If I DO this (exercise), then I will HAVE that (a healthy body), and then I will BE that (confident).
- Choosing a word, turns the thing around and starts you on the BE level. It starts you from where you want to BE. So if you want to BE confident for example, your word of the year could be COURAGE.
- Awareness: once you have chosen your word, the whole world starts shifting. Not massively at first. But your word is with you all the time. It will pop up in everything you think or do. Whenever you shy away from something it will make you think ‘How would a courageous person handle this situation?’.
- Baby steps: a word is not a to do list. It doesn’t say ‘you have to go to the gym 3 times a week in order to achieve your goal’. It allows you to go at your own rhythm.
- Bigger and better: a word is a much broader topic and hence engulfs your whole life and not just the fitness part for example. So you start shifting little things, but in more than one area in your life.
In 2010, my Word of the Year was CREATE. Read all about it here.
In 2011, it was CONNECT.
Both words Create and Connect have brought be to create my own non profit Create and Connect asbl. So you see that a word of the year can even become the name of your company!
When I chose the word CONNECT, it was all about connecting the dots, the people, the activities, under one hat. Alignment of all the things that I like. Alignment with my intention.
It was a very busy year. I did a lot of networking (i.e. connecting with other people) and realised that this really cost me too much time and energy (I still have a day job! and a family to take care of) and that I needed to focus more on the activities that I really wanted to concentrate on, that brought me joy.
So who says you can’t change things along the way? 
During the year, I changed course a little bit. I stopped networking to get clients for my employee volunteer programs. And I focused on setting up a retreat. The Create Your Life retreat has now been launched and is already half full. And it was much more fun and cost me less energy.
Would I have set a New Year’s Resolution at the beginning of 2011 it would probably have been ‘Start my own Business’. It would probably have seen me run in all directions trying to achieve that. But it would have missed the point, the intention. It would have missed the change of course during the year that was necessary.
So the Word of the Year has really served me very well over the last years. And I have come a long way. A word accompanies you during the year. It is with you every day, in every action. And that makes all the difference.
My word for 2012 is REAL. Because in order to achieve things, I often forget who I am and what I really want. I forget to go deep, within myself to look for answers. I still listen too much to my ego, to other people and opinions. I want to be the real ME, 100% in 2012. So I hope that word will guide me, and tick on my shoulder every time I am doing something that is not aligned with the real me.
I will let you know how it goes.
In the meantime, think about what your word of the year 2012 could be…
Leave a comment with your word of the year if you dare. Announcing it to the Universe makes it real!
And when you’ve done that, send me an with your word and your postal address and I will send a little Word of the Year gift to you as recognition for your courage.
Wow! Great idea. Hard to pick just one though….and the two you used are kind of perfect for me at this stage in my life: Create and Connect. Both of them speak to me so I guess I’ll walk around with both this coming year. Thanks for the great inspiration!
What a synchronicity! I was up late last night pondering on my word of the year for next year. At the start of 2011, I chose “flourish”. My symbol for flourishing was the lotus flower because it grows beautifully and gracefully, while being centered in its world. I wanted to remain centred – not compromise life in one area (eg health), while flourishing in another (eg career). With a gift of money at Christmas, I somehow found a physical ‘touchstone’ symbol too – a gorgeous thumb ring called a ‘flourish ring’. So what’s happened? In January, I realised I didn’t move my body enough and had never been one for sticking to exercise routines or punishing regimes. However, I followed my desire to just move and stretch – and began a home DVD flow yoga practice. I’ve been practicing a few 30 minute sessions a week every since, along with relaxed coastal walks and I feel so much better for it! In February, I bought a key piece of professional kit for my business and within days I was earning more money that I had previously. In March, I started and completed ‘Uplevel Your Life’ – a creative living course by Christine Kane. In May, for the first time in 3 years, I took a foreign holiday and discovered a beautiful, inspiring new place. In the summer, I began decluttering and released a lot of stuff in my wardrobe and home. My business continues to flourish with new clients and opportunities. My blog writing has become more meaningful and I have re-started creative writing in a way that allows me to proceed without putting myself under pressure – I am no longer writing a “novel”, just a “story”. I also began writing gratitudes and intentions and one of these was to return effortlessly to my personal happy weight – a place I have not been in at least 3 years. This month it happened – effortlessly. My word of the year for 2012 is an evolution of flourish. I want to continue moving onwards and upwards, intuitively, learning to make the most of the opportunities that comes my way – while staying balanced in the moment. The word is Surf. x
@ Lindsey: Yay for you! They are indeed great words. Speaking from experience, I could not have lived a year with the two in there… It is actually better to choose just one. Because it focuses your attention. Which one speaks to you more urgently? Which one do you want to start with? Do you want to create something and then connect? Or do you prefer to connect things first and then start to create? It is important that you get CLEAR on your intention. What do you want to BE during 2012? How do you want to feel at the end of that year?
Maybe that will help you to focus on just one. Trust me!
: Wow, what a great word for 2011! And look what and where it’s brought you! Big woopa yay to you for achieving all that (drumroll). And I really like the follo-up. It makes sense. The beautiful flower is now just gonna sway in the breeze, tending this way and that as things arise. Effortless. I am so proud of you for getting there. A word can make all the difference. And it’s definitely worth sitting up all night to find the right one
,
Do you want a little word of the year gift? If so, please email me your postal address and something will be arriving via snail mail in January to remind you of your word.
Mimi
What an inspirational post. Thank you for sharing your skill with words, thank the Universe for helping me find it. I’ve been working to find focus for the oh so many things dancing around in my head. So many ideas, so much juggling and so many different directions to run off in. Having a WORD to help keep focus is such a great starting point. Taking the time, and discipline to hone the concept to a single word, is nothing short of genius! After turning over and examining the nooks and crannies of several options, I am designating AWARENESS will be my word of choice. I am determined to be aware of each moment as it unfolds and make deliberate choices in those moments. A much more pro-active approach, I think. This should allow me to be more in tune with reality as opposed to some image of what should be in the future. Wow, you have really provided some food for thought. Thanks ever so much! Have a wonderful 2012. Sincerely, Maria
: Glad you found me, glad I could inspire you. Glad you found your word (that is no easy task!).
If you want a reminder, a little gift, of your word, send me an email with your postal address and I will send you a little something.
Awareness is a great word. As you go along in 2012, you will notice things, you will become aware. Of your word, of things around you (the good, the bad and the ugly). Awareness is a great first step. A first approach to life, daily life, life at a deeper level. Once you are aware, so many things will become clear, so many a-ha moments will start to happen, so many things will start to manifest…
I hope you enjoy it all.
Mimi
Great idea, Miranda! The first word that came to my mind was “focus” and I’ll stick to that one. It feels right. The funny thing is that I’ve never had any new year’s resolution in my whole life (as far as I can remember) and this is the first year that I have one. It already feels like a liberation and it will help me with my word. And vice versa
I’ve decided not to buy any clothes this year. This will save me time, money and it will help me focus on what I really want to do.
Yesterday I was in Maastricht with a friend and they really have nice shops but I didn’t feel tempted at all to have a look. And it really felt good.
Well, not that I want to persuade anyone else to do the same thing but to me personally it really feels good at this moment. Let’s see in couple of weeks
But thank you for this great idea. It’s something that can last a life-time.
All the best!
Edith
: Focus is an excellent word. I am glad you like the idea. You will see how this little word will continue to creep up on you
The first year I did it (my word was serenity) I kept being put in front of a mirror with my reaction to things. It helped me focus much more and become more serene in the end.
So yay to Focus!
Send me an email with your mail address if you want a little Focus gift to go with it…
Miranda