One Little Word® 2016 | Whole
For 2016 I'm going with "whole" as my One Little Word®.
Since 2007 I've been choosing (or letting a word choose me) a word to focus on over the course of a year. I love the process of walking with a word for 12-months and seeing how it works in my life. Some years it's been super visible and other years it's been a slow burn below the surface. I tend to choose words that have layers of meanings and can be applied to my life in various ways: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I love learning more about the word throughout the year and taking the opportunity to reflect each month via the process of working on the prompts from the workshop and via taking action on the things I'm inviting into my life.
If you are interested in hearing me talk more about One Little Word® and my choice of word this year, check out my friend Elise's Get Crafty podcast where we both share our words for 2016 and talk about our experiences living with a word. She also includes a link in the show notes to a past episode where we talked about the process as well.
A lot of times I begin my year with a question or two related to my word. This year my questions to myself are this:
What does it mean to be whole? What does that look like and feel like?
I'm interested in investigating "the pieces of the whole." What are the pieces of my own life that work together to create the "whole" and in what areas do I need to be letting go and in what areas do I need to hang on tighter to create a more "whole" life for myself? And where does acceptance fit into this? Lots of great questions for me to explore and wrestle with and ponder and learn from.
I'm also interested in investigating more emphasis on whole foods - maybe try Whole 30. And I want to continue making yoga a priority as I work on the "whole" of myself - the physical, the mental & emotional, etc.
Two specific quotes that are resonating with me related to "whole":
“I am a broken person. And I know exactly where my cracks are and how deep they run. I don't pretend to not be a broken person and therein lies the big difference. Because the truth is, we are all broken in places, but it is those who know exactly where and how they are broken, who also know exactly where and how they are whole! And we may not be whole in all places and in all ways, but we take whatever wholeness that we do have, and we make good of it. And we try hard to work on the broken parts, and we ask for help when we need it.” - C. JoyBell C.
“I want to die living. And I want to be remembered as one who lived with purpose, joy and feeling. I want to spend my time learning what goes into a whole and happy life, then building that life the best I can.” - Steve Goodier
Some years I'm super clear at the start what I want to invite my life and what I want to work on throughout the year. This year is less concrete but feels "just right" for 2016. Remember, there is really never a perfect word - there are any number of words that can work for any one of us in our lives at a given time - don't get hung up on choosing something perfect.
I have no idea what will happen in my life in 2016. I know, because I've been around the block a time or two, that it will likely be a mixture of awesome and tough - those beautiful highs and lows that we all experience throughout the course of a year. My hope is that this word will play a role in my continuing quest to fully live the length and width of my life.
Let's do this.
PS | The lovely "whole" heart talisman featured in the photo above is from my friend Liz Lamoreux's Soul Mantra shop. She'll make one for you too - order a custom bracelet, necklace, or talisman here.
SHARE YOUR WORD THE COMMENTS
I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2016. In the comments feel free to simply leave your word as your comment or write a bit about why you are choosing this word. Next week I’ll combine all the words into a single post – it's become tradition and 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, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
JOIN ME IN MAKING OUR WORDS VISIBLE
To help keep your One Little Word® more visible throughout the year I offer a year-long workshop featuring one creative prompt per month. Read all the details and sign up here. Registration is $5 off until December 31, 2015. I've also created a selection of products to help you document your journey with your word - check those out here. During the One Little Word® 2016 Kick-Off ordering period (between now and 1/31/16), items featured on this One Little Word® 2016 page are eligible for free shipping domestic and $5 international. If you add any other items from the shop to your cart, normal shipping rates will apply to those additional items.
My "One Little Word," for 2016 . . . is //forward//.
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THRIVE .....bring it on hey yay!
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My word is persevere.
2015 was a year of discovery for me. Finally discovering what I need and want out of my life. Discovering what path I wanted to take. Then things didn't quite go as planned and I let fear steer the ship for too long. So this year is all about further developing my goals and dreams. I will persevere in 2016. This past year I learned so much and I am excited to see where 2016 takes me.
I have chosen Persevere, also. I started to make some changes in my life last year (Begin) and now I will persevere...
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Show up
It's *killing* me that's it's not one word, lol, but oh well. Sometimes you pick your word, some times your word(s) pick you. =)
If you *really* want it to be one word, would "arrive" work?
I love it!
How about "present"?
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My word is complete. Complete has many parts to me in my life. It is not just about physically completing some of the projects I have started but also a quest to feel more complete where I am in my life. I have been struggling with this as a stay at home mom of five with a part of me that sometimes longs for the dreams I had in my younger adult life. Striving to find peace where I am at in a more internal mind set of being complete.
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Revive. With the kids now a little older, it's time to revive some of the old me....and the things that I love to do and be.
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Rise.
Rise to the occasion.
Rise above the negative.
Also, raise people up.
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My 2016 word is Mindful. I can't tell you how much these past 2 years with OLW have meant to me! It is the gift I give to myself now every year. I always learn so much about myself and I've grown in ways I know I never would have without this class. Thanks for putting so much into it, so that we can all get so much out of it. Can't wait to see where my word takes me this year!
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My 2016 word is Mercy to go along with the Year of Mercy. I hope to include some study of the pope and his teachings.
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Is there another source for a 6 x 8 album? Or will you get more options in your store?
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Last year I chose "breathe" as I was struggling through my infertility journey.
This year, I'm going with "embrace" with the hope that it will help me navigate through all of the changes that are sure to come with Baby Girl who's due less than two weeks from now!
Isn't it amazing how different our lives can be after just 365 days?
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TIME
I want to spend my time (number my days) doing things that will create a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12)
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STRIVE
I wanted an active word this year (after "free" in 2015). Lots to work for and to STRIVE toward.
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My word is ENOUGH. It has to do with personal spiritual growth, contentment, and uncluttering. Surely the word will grow throughout the year. I have felt it speaking to me already!
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2014 Passion
2015 Trust
2016 Joy
I am looking forward to exploring the word Joy this year:)
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Strengthen
-my marriage
-my friendships
-my mind
-my body
First time participating, super excited for what 2016 has in store for me and my family.
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Confidence
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Happy New Year everyone :) My word for this year is SOUL
This was my word several years ago and I loved "soul-searching."
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Thank you for inspiring us again this year with your words. This year I have two LOVE and Celebrate, excited to see where they lead me this year.
Love your word Ali !
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This is my first year I am actually going to do this, I have a lot I want to get done... First is picking my word - either "complete, completion" strengthen or thrive... Someone please help, it's not "speaking to me" except maybe something said to me about "strength"??
I usually think of my word as a phrase or two words and that helps me. Example: "strength to finish the project" "strength to say no to sugar" "mental strength to clean the closet" "physical strength to finish the workout" "strength to say yes to make time for myself"
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Focus
2016 will be a year of change for me both professionally and personally. To be more successful in both areas, I need to keep my focus on the task at hand and not be overwhelmed with trying to take care of too many things at once. I also want to be clear on what my focus is, what the task is and why.
I'm excited to join this year and many years to come!! Thanks, Ali for offering such an amazing opportunity :)
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Zuversicht
This is German for reliance or confidence.
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Happy.
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My OLW for 2016 is HAPPY. For the first time it really chose ME and not the other way around - so exciting!
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Comeback will be my word ... I think
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