A few years ago a former boss gave me a book entitled “One Word” by leadership gurus Dan Britton, Jimmy Page and Jon Gordon. The book is written with the purpose of guiding you through the process of choosing One Word to define your personal and professional journey for the year ahead. There is no right word or wrong word, only the premise that you use this One Word to help guide your decision making and your goal setting, and to help you improve your relationships – and thus improve yourself. I’ve chosen words in past years such as Proactive, Change, Encourage and Adventure. Some words have been easier to embrace than others and some words have forced me to do things even when I was afraid or unsure of the outcome. As a result of this level of discomfort, I am confident that over the past few years I grown and learned more than previous years, and I have also opened my heart and head to opportunities that would perhaps have otherwise passed me by.
When I consider my achievements and regrets of the past year, sometimes my One Word for the next year becomes apparent. Which goals I did not meet and why? What am I disappointed about? What would I like to do more or do better? Which relationships need work and why? What are my current passions? What worries are keeping me awake at night? What internal battles am I fighting and what do I need to find peace?
My One Word for 2019 is Love. Very simple. Not rocket science. Somewhat obvious.
Social media has allowed us to “love” everything at the click of a button. We love our families, our friends and our significant other, yet we also love bacon, thunderstorms and a video of a hang-gliding dog. Love is a strange adjective; it means something different depending on the situation. We certainly don’t feel the same way about our husband as we feel about our friend’s picture of the homemade pizza she made for dinner! As I focus on Love this year, I will be discerning in how I use the word and not casually throw it around to describe anything and everything. I will study and fully embrace the different types of love and also be mindful about way love can be used to manipulate. Real love may be patient and kind, but it is also painful, messy and exhausting. However, as human beings we share an innate need for love; we all have a “love tank” that needs to be filled regardless of our age, marital status, or place of birth.
There will be people in my life that I lose this year. I want them to feel all the love they can while they are here.
I want to focus on my relationships with My Chosen Few. I am so fortunate to have this small group of people in my life who really “get” me, and one of my biggest regrets from 201 is that I may have allowed one of these relationships to be irreparably damaged.
I must remember that love does not equal dependency. My relationships must be based on mutual support and understanding, and this year I must permit myself to let go of the ones that force me to give far more than I receive.
I must work on loving myself. Don’t worry, I don’t have serious self-esteem issues and I am not a self-absorbed narcissist, but I know I have a tendency to self-sacrifice for the perceived good or happiness of others. It’s time to love myself enough to put myself first sometimes: say no to additional responsibilities or burdens, embrace my chosen passions fully and entirely and stay focused on my own physical, intellectual and emotional health.
What’s your One Word for 2019? How do you plan to live this word out in your daily life?
My Chosen Few 