My OneWord for 2017

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I choose OneWord that I want to embody for the year. Well, I don’t actually choose the word, the word chooses me and I get to say yes or no to it.

As part of my end of year ritual, I accept my word and create a vision board. As I was winding down 2016 I took much longer than I normally do to complete both of those tasks.

A Struggle

I struggled with my word for 2017 not because it was, like last year’s, a hard word but mostly because it didn’t seem to make sense to me.

For the last few years, my OneWord has been a verb. An action word that inspired me and gave me a glimpse of what might be required of me in the year ahead.

This year, like clockwork, a word presented itself to me in mid-November. This is usually when my word first shows up but the word that showed up was a noun, not a verb. I wasn’t sure it would be my word because I had gotten used to action words and a noun seemed wrong, at least in my head.

But the word persisted and though I kept trying to listen for a different word, I eventually accepted that my OneWord for 2017 would be CHOICE.

CHOICE not Choose

I wanted to try to make my word choose because to choose made sense and choice felt incomplete somehow.

Choice is an option, an opportunity to select something. Choose is making that selection. I want to be in action but I think Spirit wants me to remember that I always have options.

I believe our power to choose is the single greatest gift we have as human beings. But before we can exercise that power, we must know that we have options.

We may feel trapped, backed into a corner, and unable to get out. But the truth is there is a way out IF we can change our perspective.

Instead of deciding things are impossible, I get to ask, “How can I make this work?” “What options are in front of me?” I get to shift how I look at and engage with the circumstances of my life.

My CHOICE

At the end of last year, I found myself thinking “I have no choice” a lot, mostly around my business. I don’t think I realized it until I started pondering why CHOICE would show up as my word for 2017.

I see now that the surrendering of so many things last year has positioned me to own that it REALLY is my CHOICE the kind of life and business I build for myself.

Letting go of other people’s expectations, or at least no longer allowing them to be factors in my decision-making, has re-empowered me to embrace my choices. They are my choices and while everyone won’t agree with the choices I make, at the end of the day they are still MY choices (to own without apology).

My vision board this year is a reminder of that for me. As always, I let my intuition guide the creation of my board and in every part of this board I see a reminder of the power of CHOICE.

I want to do more speaking this year, whether or not that happens is my CHOICE.

I want to write a book this year. Whether I finish it or just get it started this year is my CHOICE.

I’ve set a goal to read 24 books this year. Making time to read those books, despite feeling the pressure to get work done, is my CHOICE.

I also want to be more visible in my business this year. It is my CHOICE what that will look like for me.

The CHOICE to Shine

2016 took a toll on me and if I’m honest, I’ve been hibernating a little these last few months. But I’m feeling ready to come out of hiding.

The peacock on my board is a reminder to me that it is okay for me to make the CHOICE to shine. She is a symbol of embracing infinite possibility. Her presence on this board anchors the conviction that what will happen for me this year is up to me. The CHOICE is mine.

I can continue to let old stories and beliefs stop me or I can make CHOICES that embody new truths. If I can live into this word and this board in 2017, I have a feeling this year might be one for the record books .

Now it’s your turn! What’s your OneWord for this year? I would love to hear. Share in the comments below or head over to Facebook and let me know.

Here’s to 2017 being the year we both rise into our greatness.

From my heart to yours,

P.S: Would you like to create a vision board of your own that can act as a guide for you in 2017? Then enter your info below  to download my FREE Vision Board Guidebook. It will walk you through everything you need to do in order to intentionally set yourself up for success this year.