Episode 46: One Word Can Create Results
Focus and Guidance
It’s about creating a vision and moving it toward it using one simple word or phrase.
Enjoy!
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(The notes below are only a brief summary of what is discussed in the podcast. Be sure to listen to get all of the goodness! If you would like a full transcription of the episode, please send an email request to: angie@angie-robinson.com. We’d be happy to provide that!)
We are in the tail end of 2022 – which means there is a brand new year right around the corner. Possibility. Fresh starts. Hope for change.
What is it about January 1st that makes most of us feel like we can conquer the world?
I definitely subscribe to the belief that we don’t need to wait until January 1st…or Monday…or until we make more money (or insert any other thing) to start making changes in our lives. But I also have no problem leveraging the “I can do anything” energy that comes this time of year - even if there is nothing magical about the stroke of midnight on January 1st.
However, I no longer set New Year’s resolutions. There was a time long ago that I attempted. But I wasn’t typically very successful. When I realized that sticking to them was a bit of a challenge – I softened the term to a New Year’s “INTENTION”. It’s like I went from “I’m doing this no matter what!” to a “I’ll give it my best shot but no promises!”. Both left me feeling like a failure if I didn’t actually follow through.
But there is something I do every year that always makes an impact. I choose one word to focus on.
A single word or phrase can have so much power. When that word is a point of focus while going about everyday life – it can significantly shape and shift what and how decisions are made and the lens in which people and situations are viewed. It helps to bring clarity to the things you’d like to create in your life and the way in which you want to live. It can act as a motivator and guiding star throughout the year.
It’s for those reasons that I have made it a practice to choose a word to focus on every year. And I love it. I love the guidance and I love the impact.
The first time I intentionally chose a word to focus on for the year was in 2012. As a scrapbooker and documenter (hobbies I don’t seem to have much time for in over the past several years) – I follow several leaders in the creative space. I was intrigued by a project by Ali Edwards called One Little Word®. As a participant in her yearlong workshop – you are sent monthly creative prompts (starting in January and ending in December) that help keep focus and perspective on your word. I gave the workshop a shot – and I was hooked.
Note: you certainly don’t need a workshop to select and focus on a word. It’s worked as an accountability tool and reminder for me, but not necessary!
Grounding myself with a word each year provides me with direction and guides my actions. It is a simple way to keep myself in check and aligned. And – it’s always applicable in all areas of my life!
I think you should consider it too.
How I Choose a Word
Choosing a word can feel like an overwhelming task. But it doesn’t need to. Nothing has to be set in stone! I’ve learned not to put pressure on myself. There is no need to compare to others, impress others or get others’ approval. I own it, love it and live it.
I usually start to think about my word in the November / December timeframe. Sometimes it comes quickly – and sometimes it doesn’t. There are three things I typically do:
Begin with the end in mind. I ask myself this series of questions (and answer them):
What would I like the next year to bring?
What I’m I most excited about for the next year?
What am I most nervous/apprehensive about for the next year?
What would I like to have accomplished by the end of the next year?
What do I need more of in my life to make that happen?
What do I need less of in my life to make that happen?
Notice what I DON’T do: I don’t beat myself up for things I didn’t do last year. I might look and see what was missing from last year - but I don’t use it against myself.
Listen and notice. With these questions rolling around in my head (some answered, some not) – I will typically start to see things, read things or think of things that jog a thought or idea pertaining to a possible word. I pay attention to those nudges and typically start to see a theme.
Explore Google and the thesaurus. As ideas come to me – I just write them down. If I don’t have a solid word, I might use on online thesaurus to see if something else pops up or Google ideas. I can pretty quickly give a thumbs up or a thumbs down on words. And when you know – you know.
It might sound like this is a major time-consuming process – but it isn’t. Besides writing down a few thoughts and doing a little thesaurus work – it simply becomes something I think about during the regular day-to-day. And it usually won’t take long for my word to appear.
There is no right or wrong on what type of word to choose! It might be an action word one year, and a behavior-based word another. Everything goes!
No matter the word I choose – I love that it always applies to all areas of my life – like work, relationships, parenting, health, spiritual and fun! It guides my mindset and how I show up.
Bringing My Word to Life
Personally, I believe that making your word visible is important. Documenting my word through a project like One Little Word® is valuable because of the 12 prompts received throughout the year. It guides reflection, perspective, energy, direction and celebration for my word.
One of my favorite ways to make my word visible is by creating a vision board. This can be done physically (we’re talking glue, scissors and lots of magazines!) or digitally. I always keep it somewhere that I see it every day.
When the year is over – I’m typically ready for a new word, but the current word doesn’t just go away. I tend to carry my past words with me. It’s fun to look back and see the impact that the word had and continues to have.
Past Words Tell a Story
Looking back on past words tells a story about your life. I can look at each year’s word and recall why I chose the word, what impact it had and how it shaped things for the next year. Even the two years where I didn’t choose a word is part of that story! Reflecting back is a great way to see how far you’ve come. It’s all worth celebrating.
Here is my word story:
2012: Purpose
2013: Balance
2014: Gratitude
2015: Space
2018: Jump
2019: Confidence
2020: Elevate
2021: Dare Greatly
2022: Release
Here is an example of how one word can lead to another. In 2021, as I was focusing on Dare Greatly – it brought to my attention many of the things that were getting in my way. I know that if I’m really going to create the results I want in any area of my life – I need to spend time on the barriers. Ignoring or resisting them doesn’t bring about sustainable change. Getting real with them will.
So for 2022, I chose the world “release”. I wanted to release what gets in the way so I could create the freedom and space to really become.
Things that I focused on releasing were things like:
Limiting beliefs
Misaligned expectations (of myself and others)
Unhelpful habits
Fear
Physical clutter
The “shoulds”
I find it helpful to look at the dictionary definition of the word to make sure it resonates with how I would like to see my upcoming year.
The definition of RELEASE is: [verb] allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free
Simply reading the definition and saying the word out loud already caused a shift in me.
My Word for 2023
The word I have chosen for 2023 is: AMPLIFY
Definition: to make larger or greater (as in amount, importance, or intensity) ; to expand; to increase in effect
I’m excited to see how I can amplify - show up with greater intensity - in my business and my life in general. I’m ready.
I really love this practice of focusing on one word. It has become a practice that I have come to rely on. For the word to really do its job – it does need to be approached as just that – a practice.
Keeping it top of mind and activating it in everyday behaviors and decisions is where the magic lies.
Side Note: Choosing a word for any experience is powerful! For example – when you are setting a new goal – you can choose a word that represents what you need most to accomplish it or a word that reflects how you want to be when you reach it. If you are leading a team – you could all choose a word together that represents what you want to focus on or how you want your clients to experience the work you do. So many ways to leverage the magic of one word!
What do you think?
Do you choose a word or a phrase for the year?
How have you seen in impact your life?
Links / References
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