I recently recommended one-word New Year's Resolutions. There's also a lot of internet buzz around picking your three words for the year, which is another way of setting focus. Using words selected with great care is an effective way to set your mind to make things happen.
And it's official: Occupy is 2011's Word of the Year.
Of course, it's one thing to dream up a word at the year's beginning, and another to decide what word was actually applicable in retrospect. I might start out with "indomitable" as my word, and end up with "vulnerable" when I look back on my journaling of what actually happened.
Keeping a journal lets me see the path that led me through the year, how I proceeded, say,
• from confidence to leadership or
• from hopefulness to joy;
• or indeed from leadership to humility,
• or from hopefulness to prayer.
The practice works for individuals, organizations, governments, and societies.
So how did last year's word morph from 2010's app to 2011's occupy?
From app to occupy. That's the story of last year. From gadgets to global movements.
If you've been journaling all along, it could be informative to look at the very first and very last pages of the year, and make a note of the dominant words. When you write them out with an arrow connecting them, what comes clear to you? This could be a way to see the arc of your journey, even to discern what the Universe is trying to tell you about the larger picture of your life.
I mean, if we're progressing from app to occupy, that tells me our consciousness is rising a notch. Turning attention to social justice makes more sense for our times than burying our noses in apps. (I know apps make the world go round, but they need not be our greatest collective passion right now.)
Similarly, if you track your personal words of the year, the story of your life will assume much sharper definition and you'll be able to see more clearly where you are headed.
If you haven't been journaling, of course, you should get started write now so you can do this tracing of your experience and open yourself to the epiphanies!
The Word of the Year in 2009 was "tweet" and 2008's word was bailout. Just to complete the story:
• chaos (bailout) led to
• unbridled chatter (tweet) that led to
• inventions (app) that led to
• revolution (occupy).
Now if 2012 gets labeled productivity, at least this part of the story will have a happy ending.
Though it's not about endings, of course. It's about the continuum and enjoying the flow. Our stories are ongoing, like soap operas or adventure comic books. They're far more delightful if we can see the poetry in them.
Have you ever tracked your word flow throughout the course of a year? Was the word you chose on Day 1 very similar to or very different from day 365? I've started this year off with "uniqueness"; wonder what my word will be come December? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences!
We’re currently holding our first 27 Days Self-Discovery Journaling Challenge of the year and we’ve scheduled the next one for April 2-28. You can Sign Up Now and we’ll contact you in late March with the course details. The course is Free. Your only investment is the price of the workbook.
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