Welcoming the new year

Welcoming the new year

Laying a foundation for my creative business, moving to a new house and reintegrating as a family, the death of my grandmother, and reinstating creative rhythm in my life; Let’s just say 2011 has been  intense for me. It is a good thing I had Grace, my word of the year, to back me up.

Before we begin something fresh and new, it is important that we feel some completion on what has been. I highly recommend that you spend a bit of time reflecting on the past year. What did you learn? Who did you spend it with? How did you feel? What did you accomplish? What have you let go? Think about it. Talk about it. Write it down. Feel it, acknowledge it, cherish it, and release it. 

Forward we go! Now think about what you want for this coming year. How do you want to feel this year? What do you hope to experience? How do you envision your year to be? If you could choose one word or phrase to focus upon this year, what would it be? 

WHY do this?? Really, for one thing, it is hard for many people to choose ONE word, which is why I think its perfectly fine to have a phrase or a theme, an image…as long as it is something you will EASILY remember. Second, how is picking a WORD really going to benefit you or I? 

Having done this for many years now, I can attest to the power of choosing a word for the year.

This is how I see it.

When we have ONE word to revert back to throughout the year, it is that much easier to stay aligned with our purpose.

For example, by the end of 2008 I was feeling pretty overwhelmed. After some reflection on what I really needed in my life, I chose the word Breathe for 2009. It soon became clear to me how important this word was for me. Not only was I learning to breathe more physically, but I was attracting more breathing space in my life. I began simplifying and releasing things that were not essential to my well-being. I also became aware of how the word Breathe was key to adding space between my gut emotions and my response/reaction. I never imagined all that my word of the year would bring to me, but I knew in my heart that it was the right word. Sometimes we aren’t so sure, or we are resistant to our word.

By the time 2010 was nearing, the word Grace came to me. At first I was like, Okaaay…? The grace of God? Being graceful like a dancer? What is this going to mean for me, and why do I need/want/choose it? I wanted to say “But I AM graceful.” And while it is true, I can be quite graceful, this wasn’t about learning to be graceful. It was about practicing GRACE. In so many forms that I’d have to write a whole ‘nother post about it. So Grace it has been through 2011. Breathe remained as my underlying foundation, interlacing and overlapping with Grace. My words surprised me in many ways, and I think the most profound experience I had with Grace in 2011 has been learning to have Grace in relationships, including communication. Easier said than done my friends, and I have a looong way to go. But WOW it really helped me to have that word to focus upon. 

As for 2012, my word came to me in a phone conversation with a dear friend: SOLUTIONS! 

In her words to some of our friends…

Michelle and I had a profound phone convo earlier today… leading to a proposed planetary word of the year for 2012… “Solutions” as it seems to work for the both of us and I think, heck that should be the focus for 2012 for it seems with this new energy that the collective consciousness is no longer willing to wait, complain, excuse etc. etc, just Solutions from here on out. And maybe with the consensus focusing on “solutions” in 2012… SOLUTIONS is what will manifest. 

 

The whole world is invited to share SOLUTIONS in 2012!

Okay, enough of MY word. 

What is YOUR word this year? What is your theme, your focus for 2012? It may be exciting and powerful, it may seem strange or boring at first but yield great results for you, it may focus on something specific or broad. Bottom line, it’s YOURS. Feel it out, some part of you will know it is the right word for you.

Please share your word in the comments below. =)

Cheers to 2012!!

Love you all,