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| Photo by Catherine Singleton via Creative Commons |
Instead of making a New Year's Resolution, I adopt a Word of the Year. If you have not heard of this concept, you can read this post by Jess at her blog Cultivate & Navigate.
Basically, selecting a Word of the Year (WOTY) helps people to avoid failing in the ways the New Year's Resolutions often end up. Instead of focusing on a specific behavior, the WOTY (aka focus word) can take on different shapes and meanings over twelve months. It's an act of meditation that encourages changes in thoughts, words, and behavior. What that looks like specifically can transform from day to day.
I like that better. When I selected a New Year's Resolution, I often gave up four to six weeks into the year. Over the last nine years, I persist through the entire year thinking about my focus word.
I usually pick something that will stretch me. I may not always incorporate the focus word into my character completely, but I usually learn a lot about myself and adopt some strategies for self-improvement along with self-awareness.
