Bummer.
It is not that we don't want to lose weight or go to the gym, we do! We want to read more, spend quality time with our spouse and children. And we have a burning desire to be punctual and keep our office neat and tidy. So why is it that, even with a strong commitment and best intentions, our resolutions get tossed out the window by mid-January? Maybe we should resolve never to make resolutions!
The best example of someone who doesn't bother to make resolutions is my friend Anne. She is an accomplished artist. She is very visual and chooses to view life and all it has to offer through amazing eyes. Needless to say, Anne does not live by a list of shoulds and should nots.
Rather than write a list of resolutions, Anne picks a word for the year. One word. That word is the filter she uses to help her make decisions and determine her direction in the coming year. The idea of choosing a word sounded like a lot more fun than making a list of stuff that I hoped for but probably wouldn't do!
I'm happy to report that this is the fourth year I have chosen a word to help me navigate the coming year. I love my word. I chose it. I own it. It is my word for my day, my week and my life in 2010. It will serve as a guide for my decisions, thoughts, words and actions.
Anne's idea of choosing a word for the year has had such an impact on my life that I have started doing the same with my coaching clients. Last year, a client was dealing with drastic, unwelcomed and painful changes. The two words she chose were intended to help her view the changes with eager anticipation rather than dread. She chose the words EXPLORE and DISCOVER. Those two powerful words helped her get through 2009 with flying colors. This year, she has chosen HOPE. I have no doubt her word will serve her well.
So what word or words would you choose for the coming year? Take a few days to think it through. After all, it's got to be a pretty powerful word to carry you through an entire year! Visualize who, what and where you want to be at the end of this year then choose the word or words best suited to guide you toward that vision.
As an illustration, let me offer a few examples of words I might suggest for others to guide them through 2010...
- Tiger Woods - Monogamy
- Conan O'Brien - Perseverance
- Barack Obama - Really Change
- Bill O'Reilly - Humility
- Simon Cowell - Courtesy
It is my hope and prayer that all of you reading this will choose a word that will serve as your guide to help you achieve your ultimate goal this year!
All the best in 2010!Jean-Ann Cooper
