Last year, I overheard a radio talk show. The hosts were discussing the most common New Year’s Resolutions and the average success rates of each one.
The Top Five were: Get Organized, Be More Spiritual, Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, and Spend More time with Family.
I don’t know about you, but this kind of To-Do List approach to life transformation does little to inspire me. And it doesn’t surprise me that the success rates were low.
Why Resolutions Don’t Work
The reason most resolutions don’t work is that they address only one level of your life.
The DO level.
It’s the DO-HAVE-BE model. It goes like this:
“I will DO this thing.” (i.e., Lose weight) “So I can HAVE this other thing” (Self-Esteem) and I can BE this thing. (Confident.)
Starting right now, however, we’re gonna turn that around. We’re going to start at a deeper level:
The “BE” level.
The best order for creating positive change in your life is the BE-DO-HAVE model. This means you start from the BE level. When you begin changing on the BE level of your life, then the DO level and the HAVE level follow effortlessly.
When you start only on the DO level, then the blocks on the BE level will often become the obstacles you can’t overcome.
A Better New Year’s Ritual
Several years ago, my friend Kathy and I decided that, instead of making resolutions, we would pick a word that would guide us throughout the year. It would be our touchstone. It would remind us of living our lives at the BE level.
This didn’t mean that we didn’t take action. It meant that our actions were inspired from the BE level. In fact, I took more action than ever with this new approach!
For two years, I’ve blogged about this inspiring way to begin the year. Now, I regularly hear from people who have created big changes in their lives because they focused on one word. To read some of these stories, check out all the guest blog posts from December. Start here.
How to Create Your Year in Five Easy Steps
1 - Look through the list below.
2 - Get quiet and listen to your Wise Self. (Resist the temptation to choose multiple words. This just splatters your attention.)
3 - Pick a word.
4 - Then shout it out in the comments below so it gets firmly planted in the universe!
5 - Hold that word in your mind throughout the year, and let your word guide you to take action.
Compassion
Delight
Generosity
Effortlessness
Wealth
Gratitude
Abundance
Creativity
Willingness
Change
Growth
Freedom
Mastery
Kindness
Health
Presence
Acceptance
Courage
Confidence
Self-Love
Action
Forgiveness
Forgive
Release
Trust
Knowing
Patience
Friendship
Fun
Grace
Laughter
Love
Expansion
Exploration
Adventure
Openness
Discipline
Awe
Awareness
Risk
Gentleness
Choice
Spirit
Prayerfulness
Power
Allow
Artfulness
Attention
Beauty
Joy
Focus
Ritual
Heal
Order
Clarity
Pioneer
Peace
Laziness
No
Yes
Deliberateness
Commitment
Savor
Integrity
Listen
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Progress, I choose progress. I like the idea of the nuance therein; PRO-gress or pro-GRESS, either way will land me further down my chosen road with a modicum of satisfaction at a job well done.
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RENEW
I’m so inspired by Charolette’s comment above:
“I don’t need a new me…just a replenished or recovered me.”
Charolette found this definition in dictionary.com:
“re.new
to restore or replenish ~ to revive; reestablish ~ to recover (youth, strength, etc.). ~ to be restored to a former state; become new or as if new again.”
I feel really good about this positive spin on change, focused on me, on healing . . . I am going to go get it engraved on a bracelet or something.
Thank you Christine, Charolette, and all. Best wishes to you all!!!
RENEW 2009
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I was heading towards “release” when I saw “emerge” and felt an small ache in my chest.
Emerge it is!
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Ownership (in the metaphorical sense)
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CHANGE
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DETERMINATION!
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BEGIN!!!
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COURAGE!
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Abundance.
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BALANCE!
I love this idea of a word for the year. I’m going to put it on the bulletin boards over all my work areas.
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SHINE!
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DISCIPLINE! I just counted my UFO’s and I have 15 going back to 2003. I’m looking at my desk which has papers stacked all over the place…my sewing room is a mess, and I could go on. If I apply DISCIPLINE, I can get a lot done and bring balance into my life. Thanks for the inspiration! I love the idea of a word for the year – thanks so much!
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WEALTH! I pick wealth as I am looking forward to creating wealth!
Thanks Christine!
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CLARITY!!
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RELEASE!!!!!
It took me a while to choose ONE word, but after putting thoughts aside and quieting my mind – this word / feeling resonated with me. Thank you for this suggestion, it a great way to make change.
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Oh my … I am not a blogger .. found Christine’s blog thru a friend’s blog… THANKS KERRI ! Everyone seems to be having so much fun with their “word” while mine feels so serious in comparison. I chose DISCIPLINE. I love my life – I am happy – I am blessed…. but I have NO DISCIPLINE. But check back with me December 31, 2009
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FOCUS!
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SELF-MASTERY!!!
woohooooo!
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The word that is choosing me is “action”!
I like it!
Liz
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Abundance! In all things… money, happiness, nurturing relationships, beauty, fun times, meaningful work, positive thoughts and intentions. Abundance in all the good things!
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Clarity!
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Nurture and Align!
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ALLOW!
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I eventually settled on Gratitude as my word of 2009 a few days before the New Year.
I’m guessing the Universe approves because, within 3 hours of the year starting, my boyfriend asked me to marry him! That’s one huge great thing to be grateful for!!!
Happy New Year to everyone. Here’s wishing you all a wonderful year full of joy, love, peace, abundance, growth, and every other fantastic thing!
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Confident. I almost chose fearless but I don’t even want the word fear or any form of it in my vocabulary–or mind set–this year. I AM confident!!!
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Tenacity ~ as much as I resisted my word, it just wouldn’t be denied ~ ha! Thank you for the seed Christine…
Peace,
Lil
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Wealth.
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RELEASE!
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Abundance is my word again for 2009. Abundance and gratitude for me go hand in hand but you must first recognize the abundance to be grateful for it. Having just finished our major renovation, we’re feeling rather blessed by the space we’ve created and being able to share it with those we love. I want to do much more of the sharing part in 2009 and wish abundance not only for us but for everyone.
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My word of the year is TODAY. I have only today…and what an amazing 24 hours I can create.
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Self Respect.
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Abundance – there is abundance of love, of life, of everything.
I will live in abundance instead of scarcity in 2009.
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The word that resonated the most for me was action. So I am shouting ACTION! and claiming it as my guide-word for 2009. It’s time to just stop sliding through life and claiming it for my own.
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Serenity
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Soften.
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Commitment. I’ve great at starting, and horrible at finishing. 2009 is a year for completion and follow through. Thank you for this concept – and Jen Worden for leading me here.
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DELIGHT! It chose me.
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” DELIGHT “
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RELEASE! Now I can be free!
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Confidence
In my actions, in my choices, in my self.
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I just found your blog and I have to say: Great idea!!!
TRUST!
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center
http://revkpd.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/new-year-new-word/
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FULFILL
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FOCUS !!
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SELF-LOVE!!
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LAZINESS
(as in “Being aware of it, not tolerating it and actively overcoming it — not, as my wife first thought, as in To Become Lazy, which illicited applause from her, saying, “You’ve already acheived your goal!”)
i have several post-its with the word “Laziness” with a red circle around it and a line drawn through it taped to various spots where only i can see it. i found that by not having my word written down where i can see it on a daily basis helped me to forget it over time. this is too important for me this year to allow that to happen.
best of new years to all of us!
…
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HEALTH & EFFORTLESS
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I love how when I find my word, my whole being just tingles all over.
My word for 2009: Leap!
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ACTION!!!!
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GRATITUDE!
I’m so thankful for everyone who purchased my iPhone app, Gratitude Journal.
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