I hope you’re enjoying this week of holiday celebrations! As we get ready to turn the page on a new calendar you might be thinking about your goals for 2017. We are all familiar with New Year’s resolutions, but have you tried selecting a single word to serve as your guide? Several writers and bloggers have proposed the idea of one single word for the year (find out more here and here). Essentially, you choose a word that speaks to you and the person you would like to become. It is your touchstone, your mantra, for the next 12 months. Broader than a resolution, your one word is a guiding principle for all areas of your life. I tried this in 2016 (I actually selected a phrase: good enough) and I think it is a powerful tool. If you are interested in trying it, here is how to get started: Think about who you want to be a year from now. What traits do you want to cultivate? What do you want to accomplish? Make a list without censoring yourself. Look for common themes and write down several words that resonate with these ideas. Set the words aside for a time and come back to them. See what jumps out, what feels right. This is not so much a rational choice but an emotional one. There is no wrong answer. Once your word is chosen, place it prominently where you will see it: on your computer, bathroom mirror, and car dashboard. Put it on your phone’s home screen. You really want to keep it in the front of your mind for the year and use it when you are making decisions. Ask yourself, how can I live this word?
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