Since list making is a hobby of mine, it’s only natural that I’m inclined to make a list of New Year’s Resolutions each year.
Several years ago I started calling them goals and would space out when I’d start trying to achieve them over the course of the year. However, eventually it seemed the same unaccomplished goals were on the list year after year. So, after years of not winning the lottery – one of my annual goals – last year I decided to make a change. Instead of setting goals or making resolutions, I picked a theme word for the year.
The word I picked for 2014 was FLOW.
Over the past few years, it has felt like everything I did required a lot of effort. I felt a little like the Greek god Sisyphus. I was always pushing a boulder up a mountain, and if I got to the top, there was another boulder and another mountain waiting for me. Unlike Sisyphus, on occasion I would make it to the top. I wanted things to feel easier and flow.
For me being in flow meant:
- Not trying to control what I couldn’t control.
- Not push forward if I wasn’t clear on what I wanted to accomplish or if something was impossible to accomplish.
- When stumbling blocks appeared, I’d seek solutions to work around the challenge instead of trying to plow through or change the challenge.
Staying in flow this year hasn’t always been easy. But by the end of the year, I’m getting the hang of it. Here’s an example of my efforts to stay in flow: In December, I hosted a slumber party for a group of ladies that get together once a month. Since my house was party-friendly, and by that I mean very holiday decorated, I also planned to host a Winter Solstice Party. Then, the unexpected happened. I broke a tooth that had to have a root canal, but it was also infected. This turned into two weeks of dental fun that left me feeling yucky.
Prior to my flow year, I’d have had the party anyway because it was on the “to do” list, and I’d already mentioned it to several people. But this year, my flow wasn’t up to hosting another party, so I didn’t. I respected the flow of my December and can have a party when it’s a better time for me.
I’m still working on embracing flow, but the New Year is upon us – so it’s time to pick a new word.
My word for 2015 is LOVE.
I’m still figuring out exactly what that will mean for me, but at first thought it’s about:
- Love most of what I do or change it. I say most because I’ll never love getting a root canal, for example, even if I’m grateful I can get it.
- Love the people in my life enough to let them be where they need to be – even if that means a change in our relationship.
- Love myself enough to take care of myself.
- Spend more time doing things I love – spending time with friends and family, yoga, travel to new places, reading, and writing are at the top of my list.
I’m sure this year will be full of challenges to my 2015 LOVE theme word, but I’m eager to go with the flow and embrace them.
[Tweet “Have you picked a theme word for 2015? Mine’s LOVE! What’s yours?”]
I hope you have a happy, health and prosperous New Year!!
I’d also love it if you’d join me by picking and sharing your theme word for 2015 in the comments below …
Written by Pamela Gail
Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998.
The Society is grounded on Pamela’s four key Practical Happiness Principles:
Pamela identified 31 Types of Happiness that are on the SOHP App Happiness Counter to make it easier to recognize moments of happiness.
Pamela also plans and organizes the Society of Happy People's annual happiness celebrations:
She's also a speaker, trainer, and author.
A few of her personal smile starters include her monthly book club, yoga, traveling and meeting new happy people.
Hi, Pamela! Good post. 🙂
I never make resolutions or lists for the year ahead at New Years since I make goals & plans for change & the like throughout the year. I also don’t pick a word for the year at New Years. What I’ve done for at least 15 years or so now is to choose a theme for the year ahead & a Scripture verse or passage on or around my birthday. If at all possible, I go out into nature on my birthday & spend at least a few hours praying for the year ahead. That’s when my yearly theme & Scripture is decided. Sometimes I repeat them because I wasn’t done with it the one year.
So, really – this is the same or similar thing; just at a different time. 🙂
Love your site. LOVE this thought-provoking question. I’m asking everybody.
Spirit … is my word of choice for 2015. Synonyms … life force, attitude, enthusiasm!
Hope is going to be my word or theme for 2015…whenever things don’t turn out as I had hoped, I am going to hold onto the hope that they will at some point in the future…
My word is COURAGE…..courage to ask for what I need, courage to shed the family coat of anger and be a happier person. Also, if here is tension in a room, courage to ask what’s going on to those who may know what the problem is. So my one word for 2015 is COURAGE.
My word for 2015 is FUN. I forgot what that was in 2014. So this coming year,I plan to refocus,redefine it and make time for simple pleasures and lightheartedness.FUN
bring it on;)
BELIEVE……
Believe in the abundance that is there for the asking
Believe in miracles
Believe in the goodness of others
Believe in myself
Believe that everything is going to work out for good.
I really like the idea of having a theme. I think my word will be, CONTROL. I need to feel more in control of my surroundings and not let them control me. I also need to learn to let go of control; l need to be comfortable with letting comments, issues, events, etc. run down my back and not try to fix or change things, feel hurt or react negatively.
Thanks Pam, for again making me think and bringing peace.
Happy New Years!
Mine, for this year, is TEETH!!! AND LOVE IS ALWAYS GREAT!! 😀
My word for the year is HOPE…. with all the unrest in the world I began to lose hope. I plan to regain my hope in 2015.
My word for this year is health. For various reasons that needs to be my focus this year. Thanks for giving me a moment to remind myself of that fact.
My WORD for 2015 is ….
BELIEVE
Believe in the abundance that is there for me just for the asking
Believe in miracles
Believe in the goodness of others
Believe in myself
Believe that everything is going to work out
BELIEVE
Believe in the abundance that is there for me just for the asking
Believe in miracles
Believe in the goodness of others
Believe in myself
Believe that everything is going to work out
My word (which I would have NEVER thought of until reading this) is going to be “Self”. Self love, Self Heath, Self Confidence, the list could go on. Thank you for this thought provoking process!
My word for this year (which I NEVER would have thought of before reading this) is going to be “self”. Self love, Self Health, Self Confidence, the list could go on and on. Thank you for this thought provoking process!
my word is EXTREME!
My word for the new year is FOCUS. I love the idea of having a word vs. a resolution. If I continue to think about the word FOCUS then I will be able to achieve my goals 🙂 and it will help me in all areas of my life! Thanks for the great, thought provoking post!
Acceptance. Accepting what is, no matter what it is. Most important of all, accepting me for what I am: raw material out of which I can build as I please. I can’t change the raw material, but I can choose what to do with it (thank you, Cody Hunter).
SMILE…. it’s contagious!!!!!, the gift that keeps on giving
My word for 2015 is ENJOY. I lost some of my joy in 2014, with family deaths and illnesses. I affirm that I live in joy!
Puzzle. We are merging two business sites this year and it is my goal to help put it all together with the help and support of others.
Lemonade. I’m going to look at everything with a positive attitude. If I’m gifted with lemons, I will make a nice refreshing lemonade!!