My One Word for 2016

My One Word layout in my Midori Travelers Notebook.

I'm not really one for New Years Resolutions but this year I kept seeing people on my Facebook and Pinterest feeds talking about picking one word as an inspiration for the year and the thought was intriguing to me. I realize that I'm  a little late to the game posting this in February but I wanted talk about the word I chose for 2016 so I can check in throughout the year to let everyone know how my journey is progressing!

Generally, the first thing that I do when I learn about something new is obsessively Google it to learn as much as I can. I like to see what other people are doing and think about how I can incorporate other people's ideas into my own projects. In searching I came across two different websites that I found helpful.

The first site was  http://myoneword.org/ . I found this site very helpful because I could lay out a framework for going about picking out my word. Here are the steps they proposed:
1. Determine the type of person that you want to be.
2. Identify the characteristics of that person.
3. Pick a word.

“My One Word” is an experiment designed to move you beyond this cycle. The challenge is simple: lose the long list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick ONE WORD.This process provides clarity by taking all your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single focus. Just one word that centers on your character and creates a vision for your future. So, we invite you to join us and pick one word for the next twelve months.

The second site that I found was http://oneword365.com/ . I loved this site for a couple of reasons. First off, it had a word generator that gave several different suggestions. Second, they really works to build a sense of community and allow you to connect with other people that picked the same word (although as of right now there is no one else with the same word as me).

Forget New Year’s Resolutions. Scrap that long list of goals you won’t remember three weeks from now anyway!Choose just one word. One word you can focus on every day, all year long… One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live.It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your one word will shape not only your year, but also you. It will become the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps.Discover the big impact one word can make. One word. 365 days. A changed life.

So... I took the ideas from the two sites and set off to decide how I was going to incorporate this into my life. I wanted a word to focus on that I felt like I could commit to for the year. One that was broad enough that I could apply it to an entire year yet not so open that I was left without direction.

I started by thinking about the things that had gone well and not so well for me in 2015 focusing on the things that I actually have control over. I decided that in 2015 on too many occasions and in too many areas of my life had allowed myself to become sidetracked, spending my time and attention on endeavors like browsing Facebook cutting into the time that I had to devote to the things that I claim to value  like my health, my creativity, and quality time with my family. At the top of the post is a photo of the pages in my Midori Travelers Notebook where you can see some of my thinking when I was deciding on which word to choose.

To keep my One Word in the forefront I have been adding a sticky note
with the word written out into my weekly planner layouts.

In the end I decided that my word for 2016 is........ Thoughtful.

According to Google, Thoughtful is an adjective and it means "done or made after careful thinking; characterized by careful and reasoned thinking".

For 2016 my goal is to be thoughtful in every aspect of my life:

•      1. My time: I truly believe that how we spend our time is an accurate reflection of our                    priorities in life. If I say that my family is the most important thing to me but spend my              time surfing social media instead of talking with them that is very telling.When deciding            on how to spend my time some questions that I ask myself are- Is how I am spending my          time moving me towards my goals of connecting with my friends and family and                        creating art? If I am spending time on this what is it taking my time away from?
•      2. How I interact with others: It's easy to fall into patterns with friends and family. In this              age of smart phones its normal to not really be present with others even when they are                right in front of us. To be thoughtful in my interactions with others is to be authentic                  when I am with them- to focus on what others are saying without letting myself get                    sidetracked. I will also be thoughtful in my communication with others- Is what I am                  saying necessary? Is it kind? Is it useful? If not, probably better to keep it to myself.
•      3. How I treat my body: Like everyone else my life is busy. I often feel like I'm running in            circles and find myself eating whats fast and easy rather than one is nutritious. At the end          of the night it's easy to sit down and relax rather that get up and move. To be thoughtful is          to ask myself- Am I truly hungry or am I feeling bored and angry? Is this the best food              choice that I can make? Instead of driving can I walk to my destination? Rather than                  meeting my friend for a meal could we go for a walk?
•      4. How I spend my money: Like everything my goal here is easy to say but harder in                      practice. To be thoughtful in my spending is to eliminate impulse buys; to think before I            spend my money- Is this something that I need? Do I already own something that the                  serves the same or a similar function? Is this something that I could borrow?

It's only February but I can already feel a change in the way my time is spent and in my interactions with others. Being thoughtful of every aspect of my life has allowed me to pursue my art and and my goal to start a blog in ways that I was unable to in the past. I'm looking forward to how this focus will affect my life moving forward.

There you go. My One Word for 2016. I'm sure there'll be ups and downs but I'm excited for what the year will bring! I would love to hear your One Word and how you are incorporating your word into your life!

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  After deciding on my one word I saw this photo on Pinterest and have adopted
  "Good things come to those who hustle." as my phrase for 2016.
  To keep this in mind I'm using this as the home screen on my phone.

  
  

  
  
  

  
  

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