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Just One Word for 2015
by Cristina Broomfield, MA, LPC
It's that time of year where people make New Year's Resolutions. At the beginning of the New Year we often stop and consider the direction of our lives and take inventory for change or improvement. What's at the top of your list? Do you make New Year's Resolutions? This article offers up a new concept when considering this traditional practice and presents a challenge that is sure to change the way you think about New Year's Resolutions, and maybe, even change you!
New Year's Resolutions typically turn into a "to-do" list that may include losing weight, earning a promotion at work, or meeting Mr. or Mrs. Right. These resolutions can set us up for failure for various reasons, including the reality that many of our promises to change are overwhelming. They can cause us to break them before the end of the first month! Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen, in their book, My One Word, share that "It's time to lose the long list of resolutions and do something about one thing this year instead of nothing about everything". These authors promote the idea that we need to pick just one word that represents what we most want to focus our attention on for the year. We can then concentrate our efforts with that one word in mind.
This new approach has seemed to catch on across the county as more people join the "One Word Movement". This process provides clarity by taking all of our big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single focus...and focus is what is required. The reality is that most of us live in a fast-paced and demanding environment which divides our attention. By simplifying our goals into one word we can more easily focus on those goals.
So how does this work? People interested in choosing their "one word" need to first brainstorm about what type of person they would like to become. This brainstorming process can take a few days or a few weeks. Most people don't have any problems coming up with a list of areas in their life they would like to see change. Slowly a vision for the kind of person someone wants to strive for takes shape. The next phase includes listing one word character traits describing this desired person. A list of nouns or verbs or adjectives are all acceptable. Just keep brainstorming! Once this list of character traits is complete, one would need to start removing some of these descriptive words until the list is down to just ten. Continue to remove words that resonate the least. It is important to note that picking one word for the year allows for new words the following year. There is no right or wrong word...just the need to make a final choice. Once a short list is formed, take some time to write a definition out of those words. Look them up in the dictionary, review the synonyms of that word, and perhaps replace that word with one that is close to the same meaning. Finally, pick your word! This can be easy for some and tougher for others. The idea is to come to a place where total focus can be placed on just one word. The other "front-runners" can be put on hold until it is their time to be moved forward. Concentration on one word must be the end result of this process if there is to be any real change.
This short overview of forming a One Word Resolution is really something that has been shared to encourage readers to think differently about how to make lasting changes in their lives. Reading more on this subject is certainly encouraged. This challenge to everyone to consider developing "One Word for 2015" may end up becoming a New Year's Resolution that really works!
Adapted from My One Word written by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2012.
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