Happy New Year! I believe that 2013 holds great hope for a fresh start and renewal of focus.
Instead of a New Year's Resolution, I like to pick one word to focus on for the upcoming new year. One Little Word, a concept started by scrapbooker Ali Edwards, has hatched a new way of resolution and goal setting in my life. Ali believes that a single word has the power to be a 'ripple in the pond that changes everything'. Last year, my word was lighten. The year before that the word was balance.
This year I am stuck. I need help. I can't decide on the word for 2013!
I have mulled these words around for a few weeks:
- focus
- hatch
- leap
- vitality
- create
- emerge
- nurture
- abundance
- build/grow
- joy/play
- believe
- bliss
I researched the definitions of the top words and found a few quotes that represent the words to help narrow my quest.
FOCUS
Definitions:
- the center of interest or activity
- adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly
- concentrate
- A point at which rays of light or other radiation converge or from which they appear to diverge
- the distinctness or clarity of an image rendered by an optical system
- close or narrow attention; concentration
- to adjust to produce a clear image
- to direct toward a particular point or purpose
- to concentrate attention or energy
- focal point; center; zoom in
- the refocused light beam
- engross, engulf, steep, soak up, immerse, absorb, plunge, devote oneself fully to
- listen, hear, pay attention
- sharpen
- adapt, conform, adjust
Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed. - Paul Coelho
Instead of focusing on how much you can accomplish, focus on how much you can absolutely love what you're doing. - Leo Babuta
That's been one of my mantras - focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains. - Steve Jobs
It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. - Aristotle Onassis
You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. - Mark Twain
One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular. - Tony Robbins
When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance. - Joel Osteen
Foucs on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. - Greg Anderson
VITALITY
Definition:
- the state of being strong and active
- energy
- the power of giving continuance of life
- vigor
- life
- seeds
- the capacity to live, grow and develop
- physical or intellectual vigor
- exuberant physical strength or mental vigor
- the capacity to develop
- in good health
- saturating a room with excitement, energy, joy, sustenance (my favorite definition)
Love springs from the inside . It is the immortal surge of passion, excitement, energy, power, strength, prosperity, recognition, respect, desire, determination, enthusiasm, confidence, courage and vitality that nourishes, extends and protects. It possesses an external objective - life. - Ogwo David Emenike
A strong life force can be seen in physical vitality, courage, competent judgment, self-mastery, vigor and the realization of each person's unique talents and purpose in life. To maintain a powerful life force, forget yourself, forget about living and dying and bring your full attention into this moment. - H.E. Davey
Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager. - Susan Sontag
ABUNDANCE
Definitions:
- overflowing fullness (abundance of the heart)
- plentiful
- a very large quantity of something
- a positive condition
- ample sufficiency
- the ability to do what you need to do when you need to do it
The more we discover the magnitude and abundance of God's gifts, the more we will find ourselves. - Mother Teresa
If you are going to think anyway, you might as well think big. -Donald Trump
Keep your best wishes, close to your hear and watch what happens. - Tony DeLiso
A simply abundant world awaits. - Today expect something good to happen to you no matter what occurrred yesterday. Realize the past no longer holds you captive, it can only continue to hurt you if you hold on to it. Let the past go. - Sarah Breathnach, Simple Abundance
When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears. - Tony Robbins
CREATE
Definition:
- to do something that defines you
- to get inspired when you are working
- to bring into existence
- to cause something to happen as a result of one's actions
- to make; to produce; to originate; to generate; to form
- to build, assemble or to produce an idea or object
Be in the now to create and experience the WOW. - Steve Maraboli
You don't get what you expect, you get what you create. - Steve Maraboli
You cannot build a dream on a foundation of sand. To weather the test of storms, it must be cemented in the heart with uncompromising conviction. - T.F. Hodge
Believe in the magic that's in you, it's potential, what it can achieve. But most of all, believe in yourself and create a world where dreams become reality. - Charlene Wilson
Creativitiy is not so much a boundless well, but an all-you-can-eat buffet of elements for your creative endeavor. Eventually you've eaten your fill, and it's time to digest and then make something. But at somepoint, it will be time to return to the restaurant. - Vera Nazarian
BLISS
Definition:
- perfect happiness;
- utter joy
- felicity
- blessedness
- contentment
Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls. - Joseph Campbell
It is only when you have both divine grace and human endeavor that you can experience bliss, just as you can enjoy the breeze of a fan only when you have both a fan and the electrical energy. - Sri Sathya Sai Baba
The person you consider ignorant and insignificant is the one who came from God, that he might learn bliss from grief and knowledge from gloom. - Kahil Gibran
You must enshrine in your hearts the spiritual urge towards light and love, wisdom and bliss. - Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Live with integrity, respect the rights of other people, and follow your own bliss. - Nathaniel Branden
Give up all bad qualities in you, banish the ego and develop the spirit of surrender. You will then experience Bliss. - Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Bliss was the word that I originally wanted to use for this blog. Before the world of internet, the place to express yourself and share your ideas existed mainly in the printed word. I studied journalism in college. I used the word BLISS as the theme of my college magazine project. Bliss consumed 12 months of my college career. It served as an acronym Believing Love Is Something Special. It may come as no surprise that my magazine was about love (ever the hopeless romantic, sigh). I loved that word (and I still do).
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So, what do you think my word for 2013 should be? How can I settle on just one word?
{to be continued...}
