This will be my 6th year choosing a word as a beacon for the year. The word I choose will shine a light on where I’m headed, supporting my intentions, goals, desires and giving me a sense of purpose without feeling the pressure of success or failure (such as in the practice of resolutions). Over the past 5 years I’ve selected Clarity (2011), Soar (2012), Radiant (2013), Play (2014) and Choice (2015).
Since I’ve been practicing this for awhile I find that a little stillness and guidance is really all I need to let my word discover me. I begin with a list, start thinking about how I want to feel and become anchored in those feelings. Those feelings are usually tethered to a word that somehow sum’s it all up. This has become a bit of a ritual and practice. It gives me an reason to take some time out, reflect upon the year and how the word I choose has guided and taught me. I always discover a deeper richer understanding of the word I select at the end of the year than what I may have anticipated at the beginning of the journey. This year these are the the words that began floating around in my head as I plant the seeds for my 2016 intentions. Together they led me to discover the word Harmony for 2016.
harmony: a pleasing combination or arrangement of different things
- pleasing or congruent arrangement of parts
- internal calm :tranquility
- an interweaving of different accounts into a single narrative
The word goes so much deeper for me than the simple definition above. Being in harmony begins with observing yourself in relationship to the world around you and then radiates out to others. Finding a harmonious relationship (connections) requires insight, stability, balance, surrender (to the flow) and nurturing. To be in harmony is to be a part of the great collaboration of the universe. One melody may be sweet but many notes together create a harmony that can not be created by oneself. Sometimes being in harmony means being grounded, other times it means being in flow, sometimes there is harmony in collaboration and yet others may find harmony through alignment and or stillness. It is this combination and knowing awareness of what is needed to create a harmony that I seek to better facilitate and deeply understand for myself over the coming year.
Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.
–Mohandas Gandhi
Are you planning to choose a Word of the Year (or One Little Word)? If so below some of my favorite helpful tools. I’ve used a combination of these over the years!
- Danielle LaPorte-Core Desired Feelings, need more than one word? Pick how you want to feel!
- Susannah Conway-Find your word and Unraveling the Year Ahead
- Christine Kane-writing exercise
- Kim Klassen-an exercise in discovering
- Thinkmap-a visual thesaurus to help you visualize your word
- Huffington Post-a broader exploration of this idea within media
- Ali Edwards-word ideas) & a yearlong workshop