Each year for the past couple of years, I have picked a theme for the year. This theme is something that I feel reflects where I have been over the previous year and where I want to go in the coming year. It is usually an area that I think I need to work on and that can help me reach my goals. Some years I have also chosen a “word of the year” that is a guide for the year as well as a mantra for when things are getting difficult. Finally, each month I choose a monthly theme that compliments the yearly one and brings a little more focus to a particular thing that I need to focus on.
The theme for 2022 is “Make It Happen.” Over the past couple of years I have been frustrated with myself for letting all kinds of excuses get in the way of what I really need to get done whether it is blog/coaching work, running, household chores, or even fun things I’ve wanted to do. I think I am making the choices that are best at the time, but in the end, it’s not getting me closer to where I want to be. The 2021 theme was “Make Today Count” which was a good one. It helped me do something each day that “counted,” and yet I was still frustrated at my lack of progress.
Over the past couple of weeks, I have really thought about what I want and if it is really the right path for me. I thought about who I am and the direction I’m going and why I haven’t gotten there yet. What I realized is that what it all comes down to is wanting to live on my terms and be who I really am. I don’t want to be a watered down version of myself or pretend that some things are important to me when I really don’t think that they are. I also realized that while some of my excuses are valid—we need groceries or clean laundry or the dog is throwing up—some are just crap, and I need to get over myself.
Now this is the exciting part! I have spent a lot of time over the past two weeks figuring out what steps I need to take, laying out plans, defining goals, and looking at strategies. I had a couple of ideas for yearly themes and settled on the one that I think will be most impactful for me. I reflected. I analyzed. I contemplated. I rediscovered who I am and who I want to be. I thought about my drive, my motivation, my why. I am not kidding you, I was so excited to launch 2022 and my plans that I could hardly sleep the past few nights.
I chose “Make It Happen” because I don’t care if my excuses are valid and are really actual reasons that something isn’t happening. I need to let nothing stand in my way.
- When the weather is cold, and I don’t want to go out to run—Make It Happen.
- Need to write a blog post and a coaching plan? Make It Happen.
- Kitchen needs cleaned up and yet I am exhausted and just want to go to bed? Make It Happen.
The time that is going to pass while you are doing these things is going to pass anyway. Why I should I let it pass unproductively? I know that if I Make It Happen and accept nothing less until those things are done, I will come out of this year more productive, happier, healthier, and with a renewed sense of purpose.
I think I summed it up in the statement that I wrote in the Long Term Goals section of my planner:
“You are the only one who can do this. Excuses will always be there. You are wasting time you could be spending being happy and making more of a difference in the world. I don’t care how—just Make It Happen.”
My Word of the Year is Progress.
Peace from The Edge,
Julia
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