A good friend of mine recently told me that she wasn’t so fond of the traditional approach to new year resolutions. She described it as sort of a stress-inducing list of high expectations to achieve that, perhaps, no longer even resonate as worth pursuing as the year goes on. I’m apt to agree with her as I’ve rarely, if ever, completed a resolution list that I’ve made for a new year. And honestly, she’s right. It does typically feel like just another laundry list of things to do that you eventually become reluctant to finish at all. After the tedious planning to follow a routine to reach a body goal or save a certain dollar amount, Life goes on lifing and knocking my plans right out of reach. And of course, with failed plans comes the self-judgment soon followed by habitual self-sabotage coping mechanisms.
And ain’t nobody got time for that.
So, when my friend presented a new idea for setting the tone for the new year, I was excited; primarily because of its simplicity. No laundry list. No super high expectations. Just one single word.
I admit, the hardcore manifesting practitioner in me felt compelled to challenge the lack of specificity in the one-word method. A blanket theme could certainly leave holes for undesired outcomes. For instance, focusing on “wisdom” could open the gateway for the strife necessary to become wise. And we all know what comes with more “money” (the phrase is “more money more problems for the youngins too fresh to know lol). However, the more I gave it some thought, that dilemma really turned out to be an invitation to buckle down and decide what’s truly important and what I can do without.
At first I thought I’d go with consistency but that didn’t quite resonate and I challenged myself to reflect on why. The idea of consistency seems reasonably obvious but actually isn’t. Much like frequency, it can be quite broad but, also, in honoring all the work I’ve already put into various areas of my life, it’s actually something I’ve already achieved. I may not engage in all the things I’d like to every single day, but generally my focuses and activities in life are consistent with one another and I do the best I can on a daily basis. After some more thought and reflection, my word for 2023 finally hit me like a ton of bricks: COMMITMENT.
I suppose the reason commitment resonates with me more, is because my Inner Guide knows that commitment requires a bit more focus and determination to move things forward. Regardless of being tired, scared or not in the mood. While consistency pushed me to keep on keeping on, commitment makes sure I’m trucking in the most aligned direction. When committed, I’m more solution-oriented, compassionate and patient. It allows me to stay driven and not give myself a way out when things get bumpy. I don’t need to rush because I’m in it for the long game. There is no end goal. It’s a way of being in every case of my life, from health and wellness to relationships and professional aspirations.
Now remember, this is just my thought process. The beauty of it is that it doesn’t really need to make sense to anyone but you. Of course, I think that’s the best approach to life in most cases. However, narrowing things down to a clear value doesn’t just create a list of things to do, it creates a personal standard for how to be. And that is the most important thing.
Does this seem like a method you’d use? If so, I’d love to see what your one-word resolution for 2023 is in the comments.
And I hope you all have a happy New Year!
Self-Care & Spirituality for the Sensitive Soul 