One Little Word® 2014
Make your word visible: Order your own word from recycled matericals created by artist Colleen Attara here.
My One Little Word for 2014 is thrive.
This year, more than any other I can remember, I'm starting off the year with questions. What does it mean for me to thrive? What does it look like? What does it fee like? Are there areas in which I'm already thriving? What's realistic vs. visions of what I have in my head of what it means to thrive?
Open was an awesome word for me last year. It was a touchstone as I navigated my way through growing pains and man oh man did it work in a million different ways I could not have imagined when I started 2013. More often than not when faced with a decision, I chose to open more rather than closing off which was my number one intention last year. That said, I feel like I've been spinning in circles a lot this past year. I've been reacting vs. being proactive and have been dealing with a variety of issues related to stress and growth (totally all part of my own life journey).
To me thriving is optimal living. It's being present and awake and stepping up to be my best self physically, emotionally, spiritually, creatively and within my relationships.
It's not a quest for perfection. It's an opportunity to continue choosing to let go of things outside of my control and to figure out who that best-me-right-now really is.
It will be a whole new journey and I'm here to tell you I welcome it wholeheartedly.
Bring on 2014.
This year I invited my friend Elise Blaha Cripe to film a little video about her experience with One Little Word. One of the reasons I admire Elise is that she is awesome at follow-through and documentation. I've loved reading about her experience with her words over the last few years on her blog and she inspires me consistently with her projects and her real-life reflections.
Here's Elise in her own words:
Thank you Elise for sharing about your own journey here.
Are you considering selecting a word for yourself (or letting one find you)? There's no right or wrong. The main thing to remember is that this is your word. It's not for your child, parent, partner, spouse, sister, etc.
And what do you do with this one little word?
You live with it. You invite it into you life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities.
SHARE YOUR WORD THE COMMENTS | I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2014. In the comments feel free to simply leave your word as your comment or write a bit about why you are choosing this word. In a couple days I’ll combine all the words into a single post – super inspiring to see all the words in one place.
If you’re new to the concept of One Little Word, you can read some of my previous posts here: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
ONE LITTLE WORD® 2014 | To help keep your One Little Word® more visible throughout the year I offer a year-long workshop featuring one prompt per month. Read all the details and sign up here. Registration is $5 off until December 31.
Balance
Too often I go crazy trying to do everything just right, and I end up just kind of giving up on everything. So this year I want to find balance, be realistic about what I can do, and be present all year in all parts of my life. :)
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I love this idea...my word is HEALTH. This is a really valid word for me on many levels. Thank you for this!!
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Peace. Inner peace, outer peace, peace with decisions I make, peace with decisions others make (this one is a biggie).
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My word is ONward....
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Think.
And just like years before, suddenly it's everywhere.
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After being sick 3 times in one month and losing my physical fitness, my routine, my purpose etc ONE word kept coming to me
EQUATION
I need to keep the equation balanced in order for me to be happy. Even just getting a cup of coffee in the morning or going to yoga on Tuesday mornings. I need to really look at what things will keep me going, keep me fulfilled and keep me having a positive outlook. I need to keep those components/practices up so that my life equation is where it needs to be.
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[…] was the catalyst for my One Little Word in 2014. As I’ve sat at this keyboard over late nights and early (early!) morning cups of coffee […]
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My word for 2014 is...BECOMING.
I'm finally at an age(48) where I'm becoming more of the person God wants me to be. I am becoming more me, not who everyone expects me to be or wants me to be. Becoming more open, more relaxed, and definitely becoming more comfortable in who that is! :D
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BOLD: Be BOLD in my DREAMS. BOLD in my JOURNEY. BOLD in my FAITH. BOLD in my CHOICES.
Thank you Ali for all your hard work on OLW to give us a place of community to share and encourage each other.
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I thought I had already picked my word, Action. But yesterday another word kept coming to my mind. PRACTICE. I thought I would just use "Everything takes practice"as a mantra but think I will be picking PRACTICE as my word for 2014
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My word is MORE. Not in a "me,me,ME!" kind of way but as in I want MORE time in the Word, more gentleness and kindness from me toward my family, more light, more focus...I want MORE of all of my previous OLWs!! So, for 2014, my word is MORE.
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Presence saw me through 2013 and was a guide both at work and at home but I ended the year seeking more connection to those dearest to me. For 2014, I chose Hearthstone as my word to represent a renewed focus on those who have been the solid support for me. It reminds me of those who endure in my life and encourages better work-life balance in my decisions.
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I've known my word for the past month and it has already started working its magic. I am turning the big 4-0 this year and had planned to choose Explore, because we are hopefully going to be starting a new chapter in our lives and I wanted a positive word to help me embrace the new adventure. Adventure was my word in 2010 when my daughter was born and we moved to start grad school. That was an awesome word. Have also had simplify, focus, awake and move. I think I have found I do better with positive words, and am feeling the need for that again. Everywhere I look right now, the word magic is just standing out and it feels right. So, here I go! I know it was Elise's word and I'm hoping to channel some of that some energy--noticing the good, being open to adventures and the unknown, belief that it will work out. Seeing the magic in the everyday. So that is my word. Magic! Thanks Elise for sharing your story here too. Love to both you and Ali!
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for em it'll be BALANCE
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all-in.
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My word found me this year as well. Mine is FORWARD. Focusing forward, moving forward, paying it forward... I love reading these words. Such a beautiful tradition.
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make
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Succeed. I want to make plans and actually succeed at doing them.
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My word for 2014 is MINDFUL.
After really engaging in the search for my word, the phrase "Being Mindful, Telling Stories" wandered into my life. I'm looking forward to see how it all connects.
~Marilee
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I think i'll be choosing
JOY.
Find JOY in something everyday.
Joy was my word last year. I loved thinking about and looking for bits of joy throughout the day. It made me a more positive person. I almost picked it again this year but then thought, the word never really leaves you. I hope you find joy every day!
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My word is WITNESS. I hope it will remind me to observe carefully, to not jump to conclusions too soon, to allow people and places to just be who and what they are (acceptance, not attempts to control). I want to listen to the witness in my head, not the judge... I think it may also mean to speak my truth cleanly and directly...to "bear witness" to the realities I see and experience.
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Release
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my one little word for 2014 is WORK. See post on it here: http://amandaroseblog.typepad.com/my_blog/2014/01/one-little-word-for-2014.html
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My word is "true"
I'm the direction of staying true to myself my beliefs no matter how much growing pains may arrive.
And in the year maybe that word will represent something else ?
My last years word was "value" and through the year it was always in my mind.
Thank you for your realness about your life.
Nicole Prather :)
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My word is FOCUS. It came to me last month. I have several projects that I have ideas for, but sometimes I find it easier to do nothing. I'm not sure if I'm afraid of failure or afraid of getting out of my comfort zone. This year I want to focus on these projects and get in the habit of doing and out of the habit of not doing.
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