New Year’s resolutions—I’m still pondering them. I’ve been thinking if I even wanted to make any this year. Why? Well, like most people, by February or March, my good intentions go by the wayside, and then guilt sets in. Honestly, my indecision is why I haven’t written about the new year thus far.
I wanted to share some new insights for this new year. In 2018, I will choose a word or two that will capture my hopes and inspirations for the New Year. In other words, I’m going to select a theme for 2018. Here are three reasons why you might consider this method.
One word or a phrase invites simplicity.
There’s something about a brand new year that encourages you to become an overachiever. You plan to start a fitness regimen, get a new job, find love, get out of debt, eat healthy, spend more time with loved ones, go back to school, or any other goals.
But having just one word or phrase to guide you can simplify your resolutions. Not only does this decrease stress, but it also makes it easier to focus. You’re more likely to achieve big things when you’re not feeling pressured to do it all.
One word or a phrase challenges you to be intentional.
Often, resolutions become like a dessert bar filled with cakes, candy, cookies, ice cream, and other goodies. You want one of everything, so it’s easy to load up on the things you think you’re supposed to want.
But what if you flipped the script? What if, instead of trying to take a bit of everything, you just picked up one decadent dessert like a creamy cheesecake topped with a sweet cherry glaze or a slice of melt-in-your-mouth peach cobbler? What if you embraced the sweetness of now with a simple choice?
One word or a phrase shifts your focus.
It’s easy to fixate on what you don’t like about yourself or your life. For example, if you’re in a bad situation that you can’t change, you may keep saying “stuck.”
But choosing one word to embrace can shift your focus. What if you used the word “purpose” to remind yourself that there’s a purpose for the situation you’re in? Or what if you chose the phrase “this too shall pass”?
Don’t stress over finding that one word (or two). Here are helpful resources.
- Alece Ronzino shares a writing exercise to hone in on your thoughts and feelings about yourself and your life. Alece’s ideas are helpful if you like to journal and write about your inner self.
- Dawson McAllister adds a spiritual dimension to one-word resolutions that resonate with my heart. Dawson’s advice helped me realize I needed to turn to God for His guidance. Our lives are a gift from God, and we should spend our days doing and saying things that bring greater glory to our Creator.
Remember, our word resolutions are not goals like “save money,” “lose weight,” or “go to Rome.” Instead, we will work to apply that word to every life area, situation, and task that we will find ourselves in.
I’ll close this post with my wishes for a happy and fulfilling New Year. I also thank you for visiting my blog. And, I offer one final piece of advice from Dawson McAllister: “Pray about it and ask God to give you clear direction on your word for the year and then ask Him to help you stay focused.”
What is my 2018 one-word? It’s “aware.” I want to know each moment, action, word, interaction, and thought. I also want to experience a greater awareness of God’s presence in my life.
Happy New Year, my friends!
Editor’s Note: This article was first published on January 22, 2018, and updated on November 3, 2023. We’ve fixed a broken link and enriched the content to improve your reading. We also moved it to the INSPIRATION & PERSONAL GROWTH Category from Personal Growth.
