Another Try at One Little Word

Regular readers of my blog may remember early last year (!) when I was focusing on One Little Word. This is actually a formal program from the world of scrapbooking but is a meaningful way to frame and focus your year without the use of formal resolutions.

My word for 2013 was create, and for the first part of the year I did use it to think about what I was doing and how I could focus more on mindfully creating different aspects of my life.

But, as with many more concrete resolutions, I ran out of energy for it at some point. I still flipped through my focus cards most months, and it was still in the back of my mind a bit, but I don’t feel like I ended the year in a much more creative place than I started.

Still, I think the problem was more with my approach than with the idea of focusing on one word. I tended to think of spending time with my word as work and my focus questions as tasks or assignments.

I want to try it again with more of a sense of play and experimentation, with suggestions of things to try each month (along with mini goals to challenge myself with and keep me focused) but not try to make it a must-do that just gets added to the list.

It’s possible my word ought to be play, in fact, but the word that came to me a few weeks ago (right before going to bed, which assures me it’s a good idea) is grow.

I feel like I’ve been in a place of stasis for awhile. I’m just doing what I can to get through the day and not really trying to do better, challenge myself or up my game.

And I really need to do that.

You’d think the lack of a challenge would be somewhat comforting, but really it just feels like being stuck, stagnating. And that’s not comfortable at all.

My approach to the year is starting in a similar way to last year, with picking 12 areas of focus and hopefully illustrating them on cards I’ll keep in view on my desk.

Each month I’ll have some ideas of things to experiment with or think about. I want to try to make each month into its own little challenge to keep me focused on growth.

I know this is going to be a busy year. I’ve got another book to write with a rather tight deadline. The girl is turning five right after. I’m hoping to grow into some new opportunities — things I don’t even know about yet. And to grow into my sense of who I am as an adult, a mom, a wife, a woman, whatever else I am.

I’m excited to see where all this growth takes me.

Do you make resolutions or do something like One Little Word? I’d love to hear what you’re planning for the coming year!