Word for the Year (Stealing this from Eowyn)

[pam]

Last year Eowyn brought up a great idea. That would be to select one word that you wanted to concentrate on for the year.

This year I took her up on her challenge and chose the word strength. I have kept a word doc of quotes, talks and anything I could find on the word strength. I did really good for about the first 6 months and then for whatever reason haven't added to it.

I want to do this again for 2014. The word I've chosen is "Motivation." So much of what I don't get done is due to lack of motivation.

So I'm challenging you this next year to do this as well. What word would you choose? One word only.

[Guest]

You did a lot better than I did. My word was "light": to be, have and seek light and lightness in my life. This has honestly been a pretty heavy and dark year in every way. I could have tried a lot harder, though.

So I think my word this year will be "joy". Finding, having, and making joy in spite of whatever is going on.

[pam]

It's probably because I lacked motivation to continue it. :)

[Quin]

I have to admit... This scares me a bit.

In the whole Murphey's Law sense.

I came up with many many words, and immediately went to every way those words could go horribly wrong in my life. ::blushes:: Because that's what I do. I do things like ask HF to help me be brave (bad idea) and am immediately faced with 10,000 scary things. One after the other after the other.

I seem to walk around with metaphoric hands clasped over a metaphoric mouth.

Because when Im thinking about something, I inevitably end up chatting with G about it.

So a word magically appeared in my brain.

We'll see how it goes.

Sufficient.

I'm writing it on my arm in sharpie as we speak. Type? Read? Whatever.

This is an amaaaaazing idea.

And it totally freaks me out!

Q

[Wingnut]

I chose the word "Do" for this past year, and while I didn't accomplish everything I had wanted to do, I did get a lot of my list done, particularly professionally. I've started to think about a word for 2014, but nothing has stuck out to me yet.

[pam]

I chose the word "Do" for this past year, and while I didn't accomplish everything I had wanted to do, I did get a lot of my list done, particularly professionally. I've started to think about a word for 2014, but nothing has stuck out to me yet.

But the positive thing is you did get some of your list done. That's an accomplishment.

[applepansy]

What a great plan.

I think I'll choose Grateful.

I printed it out in script as big as it would fit on a piece of paper and I'll hang in somewhere obvious today. :)

Edited December 16, 2013 by applepansy

[Wingnut]

But the positive thing is you did get some of your list done. That's an accomplishment.

Oh, definitely! And I'm certainly pleased with myself for the things that I did DO this year as part of that "goal."

[Wingnut]

I did one more thing today that I've had on my "do" list for many months. I made an appointment that I really needed. It's not until February, but I was glad that I finally did it.

[Maureen]

I've been trying to find the right word and Wingnut's 2013 word is perfect. "Do" is the word for me for 2014.

M.

[Guest]

Interesting! My family had a sit down discussion on what we plan to accomplish in 2014 and we came up with good, clean nutrition! Yep. I guess that's my word. Nutrition.

And here's our first quote:

Be generous with things that are beautiful.

~Nick Stellino

You wonder... how is this related to Nutrition? Well, Stellino said the quote while admiring his pasta... :)

[Wingnut]

I think I may need to have two words. I like the word "fearless," but as it relates to my professional life. One of the things I DID this year was to really launch my business. I filed paperwork with the state, etc., took on a couple of big projects, and have been doing a lot to get my name out in the local community. It's a start, but it's not enough. I think I need to be fearless this coming year, with regard to work. Not so much in that I can't be afraid or nervous to do things, but rather that I do them anyway, even if I'm less than confident.

In my personal life, though, I kind-of like the word "care," or some form of it. I want to really care about myself this year -- my weight, my health, and other things. I want to work more on caring for others as well. One thing I had thought of a month or so ago (in the last three weeks, I've taken meals to three different new moms!) was that I'd like to have about two freezer meals per month that I can easily fall back on, without having to stress or feel tapped out if things get busy like that again (or if I'm being too fearless at work...:) ). Being more prepared in that department can help me care for others more readily.

I'm not sure "care" really works, but it's getting close.

[pam]

Wingers, I think that's one reason I chose the word motivation. It can encompass many things in my life that require motivation to continue doing. So many things I wanted to get done last year and didn't because I lacked the motivation to do it.

[pam]

I'd like to hear what you all are doing with your words during the year. Perhaps that would "motivate" me. :)

[Wingnut]

Wingers, I think that's one reason I chose the word motivation. It can encompass many things in my life that require motivation to continue doing. So many things I wanted to get done last year and didn't because I lacked the motivation to do it.

Well, that would be the appointment I made yesterday...I get medication for my lack of motivation.

[pam]

Well, that would be the appointment I made yesterday...I get medication for my lack of motivation.

Sometimes mine is called a 5 hour energy shot. :)

[Guest]

I'd like to hear what you all are doing with your words during the year. Perhaps that would "motivate" me. :)

I got us a Ninja Blender. We have a bad habit of not eating vegetables. The veggie shakes would improve that. I hope.

So, my contribution to your motivation... 1.) identify ONE problem and break it down to its smallest problem component and make that component be THE problem, 2.) map out a project plan to solve the problem component, 3.) gather tools to help you solve that one component of the problem, 4.) solve the problem component, 5.) Work on the next component. This may be as simple as, Problem: My mail is piling up on my countertop. Components: a) I don't have a mail basket, b) I need to find time to go through mail, etc... to more complicated ones like, Problem: I have cancer. And everything in between.

It's easier to be motivated if you got smaller chunks to work on at a time. It's the same concept as a checklist.

Edited December 31, 2013 by anatess

[pam]

I got us a Ninja Blender. We have a bad habit of not eating vegetables. The veggie shakes would improve that. I hope.

So, my contribution to your motivation... 1.) identify one problem, 2.) gather tools to help you solve the problem, 3.) map out a project plan to solve the problem, 4.) solve the problem. This may be as simple as, Problem: My mail is piling up on my countertop... to more complicated ones like, Problem: I have cancer. And everything in between.

Hehe..I'm already ahead of you. I have an entire spreadsheet of 5 things I need motivation on. I have it broken down into days. One day at a time. I thought about starting a blog to keep me accountable...but I lack the motivation to add another thing to my plate at the moment. :)

[dahlia]

I've been thinking about this. I think I'll choose 'better.' There's a lot I can do better this year - get out more articles, be a better teacher, be a better VT, be a better advisor, etc. I think 'better' is more realistic than trying for perfection in everything and then being disappointed in oneself.

Of course, this will not stop me from looking for perfection in others. : )

[pam]

I really like the idea of choosing a word rather than making resolutions.

[Guest]

Hehe..I'm already ahead of you. I have an entire spreadsheet of 5 things I need motivation on. I have it broken down into days. One day at a time. I thought about starting a blog to keep me accountable...but I lack the motivation to add another thing to my plate at the moment. :)

How about a reward at the end of x number of days worth accomplished? Like, ice cream at the end of 1 thing and.... shoes! at the end of 5 things... or something to that effect? Or if you want to do the "Lent" method - deprive yourself of something (like facebook) until one thing is accomplished.

[pam]

I can't deprive myself of facebook because facebook is one of the ways I make my living as a Social Media Manager. :)

[applepansy]

When I first read this thread and chose the word Grateful, I printed out the word in a large script font, which filled a sheet of paper, and taped it to the wall in the kitchen. Not one other adult in my house has said a single word about it hanging there. :) But... there seems to be a bit of a change in attitudes. Maybe I'm imagining this but I'm going to be hopeful.

I think each month, or my brain gets tweeked by the Spirit, I will print out other words and tape them up around the house.

hmmmmmm, I think my next word will be Hopeful. :)

[pam]

I even started a pinterest board for my word. :)

[Wingnut]

I even started a pinterest board for my word. :)

This one?