Lessons on Personal Development: #8 For Your New Year’s Resolution, Use TWO WORDS Instead of a List
An incredibly effective way for achieving what you truly need and more.
I’ve been thinking about the “one word” concept for New Year’s Resolutions since reading an article about it. It is true that every time we begin the new year with big aspirations, desires, and resolutions, but by April, many of us well-meaning people have fallen short of our lofty goals, and by December 1st, we already feel like underachievers. I realized that the article’s content was completely true: instead of focusing on so many things, we should focus on one or two at most. And you will do far more than you can think!
Most people will passively do exactly what they did last year. Whatever you do, don’t let that person be you. — Richie Norton
Last year, my two words were LEAP and GRATEFUL. And yes, your words may be nouns, verbs, adjectives, or anything you need at the time.
A LEAP is a jump or spring to a large height or with great force. Quickly. Suddenly. With full strength, a brave heart, and a lot of faith that you can actually jump so far away and reach out to whole new levels. Levels you’ve been dreaming about for a long time. And, remarkably, while focusing on the word LEAP, I took not one, but three huge leaps and exceeded my expectations, even for goals I didn’t have in January.
In addition, I planned to be GRATEFUL and remind myself of everything good that will happen in my daily life in 2021, as well as everything bad that won’t. And I did so and felt fantastic! I was grateful for people, clean air, purple skies, great taste of food, everything. And surprisingly, when I did so, many more great things happened to be thankful for, opening up fresh brighter prospects that were embraced by the LEAP mantra, turned positive due to hard work, and left room for even more gratitude.
I’ve already decided on my two words for 2022: NOW and BUILD.
To enjoy NOW more than ever instead of rushing ahead. I know I won’t do perfectly every day, but having one word will remind me to take a breath in the moments that I would normally run through. Becoming less distracted, less preoccupied, noticing even more little things around me, enjoying new sensations — emotional, visual, mental, audial. One thing at a time. The tendency to have fewer and fewer tabs open in the mind at the same time, until there is only one open for a longer amount of time.
I want this to be my year to BUILD. Building purposes, directions, things I will be proud of, processes, ideas, new feelings, new life scenarios, new strengths, new relationships, an even brighter future. Anything! Let’s see what my construction portfolio looks like in December 2022. :)
So, how about you? Do you have any specific words in mind? Are there any words that can get your adrenaline pumping and make you dream right now? If not, I’ll give a list of word suggestions at the end of this article. Just listen to your current needs and trust your gut feeling when you notice a word that speaks to you even slightly. Choose the words lightly and without pressure. They will blossom into what you truly desire, making you a better person for yourself and others.
You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. — Martin Luther King
Until next time!
PRESENT
GIVE
LOVE
GROW
FOCUS
BOLD
FAMILY
CONNECT
BELIEVE
MINDFUL
ME
CALM
BALANCE
HAPPY
GRATEFUL
KIND
CREATE
FORGIVE
BREATHE
FUN
SLOW
ADVENTURES
ACCOMPLISH
CHERISH
CHANGE
EXPLORE
IMAGINE
TRAVEL
FAITH
LEARN
STRONG
COLOUR
EMERGE
CLARITY
GROWTH
THRIVE
ACCEPTANCE
HUSTLE
CALM
ORGANIZE
PURPOSE
BREATHE
PATIENCE
CONFIDENCE
BLOOM
ENERGY
