“365 new days. 365 new chances.”
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Welcome to a fresh perspective on setting intentions for the year ahead. Discover the transformative potential of selecting a theme or focus word to guide and inspire your journey through 2024.
Years ago, I attended a retreat and the instructor passed around a basket with slips of paper. Whatever you picked was meant to be your theme word for the rest of the year. My word was “peace” and I almost cheated and picked another word.
I mentioned in a previous post, how peace used to feel more like a mystery rather than a goal. Peace was a fairy tale to me as much as enchanted castles and talking animals. Even so, I actively made “peace” my theme word for the year.
See also: The Path to Peace: Exploring Advent Week 2 – Thought, Word & Deed (katierea.com)
I wrote the word “peace” and placed it on my bathroom mirror, beside my bed and on my refrigerator as reminders. I researched peace and found Bible references concerning peace. I took prayer and meditations classes, and I took my first mindfulness course. I absolutely fell in love with mindfulness and meditation. I incorporated the different styles of prayers I was learning through the year. Peace slowly became a reality for me.
I found out just how transformative a theme word could be.
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A single word shaped my experiences, drove my actions, and elevated my year to new heights. I experienced profound peace as I hadn’t been able to before.
Let us embrace the power of intention as we explore the impact of a theme word on your personal and professional growth.
As we approach 2024, you may be interested in choosing a word for the coming year as well.
Embrace the Concept of a Theme Word
Embracing the concept of a theme word for the year can be a powerful way to bring clarity, focus, and intention into your life.
Instead of choosing New Year’s resolutions, I choose a word which acts as a guiding principle. It helps to shape my mindset, choices and actions throughout the year.
What word helps to encapsulate what you would like to focus on for the year ahead? What would you like to improve this year? What do you feel you need? Was there anything lacking in your experiences in 2023?
Whatever word you choose will be a guiding beacon through 2024.
Selecting Your Theme Word
Choosing a theme word should be a thoughtful process. Consider words that resonate with you on a deep level and align with your values and aspirations.
Try Prayer:
There are many words to choose from. Sometimes a word comes to me through prayer. One time in Centering Prayer, I received the word “Obey” as I was trying to justify not following where God was trying to lead me. I had to let go and obey where God was leading me.
Centering Prayer Exercise:
- At the start of Centering Prayer, choose a sacred word or phrase as you sit in God’s presence. Take a few minutes to choose before your time of silence. If nothing comes to you, pick a Psalm or repeatedly say “Jesus” or “Thank you, Lord.”
- Then I set a timer for however long I’d like to sit in silence. 5 minutes, 10 or 20. I use my phone or my Centering Prayer app.
- When you start to get distracted or engage in your thoughts, come back to the sacred word or phrase.
- When the timer goes off, remain in silence for a couple more minutes.
- Thank God for this time together. Amen.
Other times I will already see a theme I need to work on for the coming year.
Sometimes I choose a word from the Bible. I will sit and read and ask for a word to come to me. Here is an example with several potential theme words:
Paul writes, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23, NIV
Try an Activity:
- Reflect on the past year. What do you need more of in 2024? Where do you want to see growth and improvement?
- Brainstorm any words which come to mind. Jot all of them down.
- Which words resonates with you the most. Highlight them and try to narrow down your list.
- Choose a word and live it out throughout your year.
300+ Word Of The Year Ideas For 2024 (With Meanings For Each) (thegoalchaser.com)
Setting Intentions with Your Theme Word
Once you’ve selected your theme word, it’s essential to set intentions around it. If I had ignored my theme of “peace” it wouldn’t have been very effective. As mentioned, I set the word around me to remind me of my goals.
As yourself, how do you envision incorporating this word into your daily life? How can it influence your decisions and behaviors? By establishing clear intentions, you’re more likely to stay aligned with your chosen theme throughout the year.
The impact of a theme word extends beyond surface-level resolutions. It offers a more profound, holistic approach to personal development, allowing you to explore the interconnectedness of different areas of your life and how your theme word can positively influence each of them.
As such, I usually incorporate my word throughout my life experiences, but some people pick a word specifically in relation to their careers, relationships, health, spiritual life, or personal growth.
Regardless, your theme word can serve as a compass, guiding you towards alignment with your goals and values.
Cultivating Mindfulness and Awareness
Ultimately, having a theme word encourages mindfulness and awareness.
It is important to occasionally prompt you to regularly check in and evaluate whether your actions and choices are in harmony with your theme word. I can sometimes get off track. I’ve let weeks go by before I realize I haven’t incorporated my word in a while. If that happens, don’t be self-shaming. Simply remind yourself of the word and your goals. Reflect on the word for a time.
This heightened awareness can lead to greater self-discovery and personal growth.
Conclusion
Choosing a theme word can be a powerful, yet simple practice. It can significantly impact your mindset, goals, and overall success in 2024.
By selecting a word that encapsulates your aspirations and values, you can maintain focus, motivation, and clarity throughout the year. This strategy can guide you toward personal growth and achievement, making it a valuable tool for elevating your year.
New Year’s Resolutions may be easy to abandon after February or March but having a theme word has helped me to encompass my goals year-round.
I’m between the words “courage,” “play” or “joy” for the year 2024. What words are you considering?
This year I survived. Next year, I want to:
artofpoets.com
Listen actively. Learn actively.
Forgive freely. Connect genuinely.
Express gratitude. Practice patience.
Act authentically. Embrace positivity.
Challenge assumptions. Set realistic goals.
And more importantly, live a little more,
one moment at a time.
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See also:
Practicing the Fruits of the Spirit: A Book Reflection – Thought, Word & Deed (katierea.com)
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