The word that has discovered me for 2017 is Acceptance.
“Acceptance is a virtue that doesn’t require any form of doing in the “physical sense” of the word, it’s a chosen way of being.”–The Power of Acceptance
After quite a few years of selecting a word of the year, the process has become more fluid. I use some of the tools I listed at the bottom of this post but I’ve come to discover my word by taking a meandering path, jotting down words that stand out to me and letting them sit with me for some time until my word for the year reveals it’self like a beacon. Over the past two years, I have noticed this is especially true. I have chosen words that are on the periphery, I dance around the edges until I can simplify the feeling that I’m trying to get to the truth of and voila, my word pop’s out to me while reading or talking to others. I write the word down, near all the others and continue to let it sink in. But I usually know it when I discover it, or really…my word discovers me!
Resilience, buoyant, still, trust, expansive, surrender, compassion, supported…these words were all swirling around as I dug into what I wanted to discover in 2017. Acceptance seems (to me at least) to be at the center of many of these feelings. By learning to accept myself I will discover many of these feelings along the way. By making a conscious choice to accept (myself) first, I empower myself to see the best in each situation, to trust that everything is exactly in order. By accepting (myself) I surrender and open myself to more than I could have ever imagined for myself.
Acceptance allows us to release fear, let go of what we can’t control and expand into our true nature, fully supported, loved and guided.
- I accept my imperfections and my perfection
- I accept Possibilities, mystery, magic
- I accept the unknown gifts waiting for me
- I accept guidance and support
Perhaps this sounds very simple, but simple things are always the most difficult. In actual life it requires the greatest discipline to be simple, and the acceptance of oneself is the essence of the moral problem and the epitome of a whole outlook upon life.– C. G. Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul
acceptance (noun)
- the act of taking or receiving something offered.
- favorable reception; approval; favor.
- the act of assenting or believing:acceptance of a theory.
- the fact or state of being accepted or acceptable.
When you set an intention, there is no possibility of failure.
Are you planning to choose a Word of the Year (or One Little Word)? If so below are a few links that might be useful for you as you select (or finalize) your word. .
Ali Edwards (word ideas)
Christine Kane (Word of the Year Discovery)
Susannah Conway (Unravel Your Year)
Thinkmap (a visual thesaurus to help you visualize your word)