The allure of the New Year’s resolution compels many of us to begin creating a list of goals every December to be accomplished in the next year. Many of these goals focus on improving health, developing new habits, or making changes to our circumstances. The promise of a “new year, new you” entices many of us as we strive to grow and become better versions of ourselves.
This year, however, you might try something different to facilitate intentionality and growth through the year to come. Instead of setting a goal, we can choose to pick one word to be the theme and lens through which we will grow in the coming year. This practice, which many online creators and professionals have written about, provides a meaningful way to posture ourselves in the year to come to facilitate the growth and learning we seek.
Start by asking yourself what you hope for in the year to come. Perhaps you want to strengthen your relationships or begin to take walks with your neighbor. Maybe you need more rest in the new year or, alternatively, crave more opportunities to use your creativity. As you make the list of things you hope for, evaluate whether a theme seems to emerge from the list.
Once you’ve chosen a word, practice using this word as a guide in your day-to-day life. It is a prompt for self-reflection along the way, and it facilitates focused learning and perspective-taking. There is no wrong way to pick a word for the year. It is a practice – the habit of bringing to mind the word you’ve chosen and looking for how it shows up in your life.
If you try this out, be sure to document how it has shaped you throughout the year. Here’s to the year to come and all the words that guide us!
About Maxine Iida:
Maxine is a Resident in Counseling actively pursuing her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure. She is passionate about working with folks struggling with their relationships with food and their bodies. She has experience offering individual counseling to teens and adults. She specializes in depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and family or relationship issues. Her experience also includes leading group therapy for teens and starting a women’s psychoeducational group to focus on self-esteem, body image, and health. To learn more about Maxine, visit HERE!