Whoomp, there it is. I really thought long and hard about this: the one little word I want to guide me this year. THRIVE.
I love this exercise so much more than making resolutions at the start of a new year. A resolution typically focuses on what we lack or want to fix in our lives – and I don’t like my motivation for doing anything to come from a negative space. For me, choosing a guiding word is more about living with intention and focusing on what’s possible.
Last year, my word was bliss and it definitely helped me be more conscious of so many moments when I felt purely content and deeply happy. The year before that, I chose overjoyed; during an extremely tough year, that word sometimes whispered to me in the darkness, reminding me to find joy anyway.
Those past two years, my words focused on how I wanted to feel. This year, I chose a word that focuses on what I want to do. I went through lots of possibilities: fly. soar. excel. build. expand. trust. flourish.
As I looked at synonyms, thrive jumped out at me and said: yes, of course. Thrive encompasses all of those words I was considering – plus it holds extra-special meaning for me, since my dad was so committed in his work to helping youth thrive. In fact, I went to LA this past fall with my mom and brother for the opening of the Thrive Center for Human Development at Fuller, which my dad had been so looking forward to be a part of.
While I was looking for my word, thrive had already found me. It feels right.
So, what feels right for you? I’d love to know the words you’ve chosen to guide you into goodness this year. And I also wanted to share some lovely resources…
Find + Honor Your Word of the Year
Christine Kane offers a great, free toolkit for finding your unique word. Just go to her blog for details.
Kim Mailhot, “Queen of Arts,” has created darling boxes in which you can place a word rock – custom made with your word of the year (pictured at left).
Ali Edwards, another champion of this great exercise, is launching her One Little Word Workshop for 2013.
Liz Lamoreux will engrave your word of the year into one of her stunning necklaces. And so will The Rusted Chain – and add a sweet little pearl to boot.
Looking forward to seeing your words. Happy New Year, everyone!
Liv,
last year my word was “ready”. I am a green artist and repurpose plastic into art and I was picking through a trash bin at a plastic fabricating company and actually pulled out each letter of the word “ready. Each letter is a different size as each letter came from a different piece of signage. It was amazing. Thinking hard about my word for 2013. I love it when the universe speaks.
Oh my gosh, totally love that you repurposed old letters to create your word as a way to infuse your art and passion into it. So great!!
I came up with my word a few days ago and was amazed at how I just knew. My word is “unleash” … to stop holding back in all areas of my life – to let go and run ahead at full steam with everything I’ve got : )
love it! yes – when you’ve got it, you just know!
Mine is UPLIFT as I hope to be uplifting to others in a great way this year. So much better than a resolution for me as well. http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2012/12/may-you-be-uplifted.html
Inspired by your “word of the year” I let quotes with that year’s word come my way (as in I don’t actively search for quotes) and I collect them in blogs called “the year of living…” For the past two years I’ve done “happily” & “fearlessly”. Still looking for this year’s word, I’m sure it will find me soon…
I’m thinking BALANCE is the word for me this year.
Thanks for the inspiration – I truly love this idea!
Ahhhh – balance sounds good. Would love to know how it influences your priorities this year!
i love how you speak
of honoring the word
that chooses us…..that
really speaks to me.
thanks, Liv, for being such
a beautiful light
and I wish you joy and thriving!
-jennifer
Thank you, dear sweet Jennifer, who has such a way with words. All of them.
This is my first year having a word. I really chose 2 that go together. This year I am “choosing health”. Already this has helped me move positively into some healthier habits!
Thank you, Liv!
Jennifer
I love the resources you’ve shared here. I chose glitter as my word for several reasons. This year is my first time doing this so it will be interesting to see how the year goes
Liv, I love what you have to say. Always enjoy your blog. Thank you for proding me into choosing a word. I have chosen a word for 2013. It is “emergence”. It came to me after reading a magazine article. I am still sorting out it’s meaning , to understand it to the full extent, but simply put, it is an unexpected result from some simple things coming together. ie. clouds, water, freezing temp = beautiful snowflake! I am going to remain open to all of my artistic life experiences coming together to form something new and unexpected. Who knows, I might create a masterpiece! At least it is fun to think about the possibilities.