My 2018 Word: STRENGTH

Happy New Year!  Perhaps it's the Aries in me, but I love all things new. New beginnings, new hobbies, new stationery, new goals, new dreams, new years.  One of the meanings of my daughter's name Navya is "new" and that wasn't by accident.  A new year brings with it the promise of hope, change for the better, and the practice of creating new year's resolutions. We can shed the images of our prior selves for the promise of a more improved version. For many this will mean the aspiration of a slimmer, thinner version or a more fit version or a kinder, more relaxed version. Whatever the fix is to improve oneself, a new year allows for time to readjust, re-calibrate, and reassess one's life.

And yet, for many including myself, sticking to their new goal is extremely difficult. I read somewhere that most new year's resolutions fail by February.  February! We start the new year with such gusto and resolve and then life gets in the way, stress takes over, and planning goes by the wayside. And within days or weeks, the first victim is usually our new year's resolution.

A few years ago, a work colleague introduced me to the concept of the one-word resolution.  Instead of creating a resolution that you will most likely not follow, you choose a word to which you aspire.  The process of choosing just one word removes the noise from selecting resolutions that are hard to formulate and keep and brings focus and clarity to your intentions.  Simply put, the word encompasses who you want to be or what character trait you want to exhibit, improve or solidify in the next year.  While the origin of this one-word practice is religious, I've adopted its secular aspects.

My one word for 2018 is STRENGTH.  I hope to become stronger this year mentally, emotionally and physically. I hope to cultivate my inner strength through affirmations, meditation, yoga, breathing, nourishment, laughter and joy. Simultaneously, I plan on developing my physical strength by routine exercise, good nutrition and sleep.  The culmination of my efforts will hopefully see me cross the finish line of the Chicago Marathon later this year!

Do you make resolutions? How successful have you been in the past?  What would your one-word be?

Have a happy new year and thanks for reading!