Three Words

Happy New Year! For many of us, a new year gives us a great opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start over in different aspects of our lives. Some might approach this through resolutions (which I used to do as well). Some of us pick themes or words to help guide the next year.

I choose three words to represent areas where I want try to improve or in which I would try to make changes. You can see the previous years’ choices through my archives. This year’s words are (once again) a revisit of some I’ve used in previous years.

Focus. For the third year in a row I’m making “Focus” one of the important themes for the year. I’m still letting things distract me from what’s important, from the goals and objectives that I really want to achieve. Focus is something that’s an ongoing challenge for me. Some years I do better at this than others. But I still don’t think I’m doing this well enough to take this off my list of words.

Move. This year I’m going to make an effort to stop overthinking things and just doing them. I have the bad habit of planning things out for a long while and then implementing them. I’m going to adopt the “fail fast” theory and just try new things — if they work, great; if they don’t work, then it’s a lesson learned. Either way, I’ll have actually ticked off items from my lists.

Balance —”Balance” is one of those words that has made an appearance in my yearly choice on more than one occasion. I need to make more time for fun, family, and friends. I need to go out and do things because it’s hard to be creative when you never go out and do creative things. And it’s important to refuel my spirit and mind.

What are your goals, objectives or words for 2017.

A few years ago I gave up on New Year’s resolutions. Instead I adopted a practice of choosing themes for the year, areas where I would try to excel or in which I would try to make changes. So every year I pick three words to help guide me in the upcoming year. And I try to make that year all about those themes.

Unfortunately, most years my themes suffer the same fate that resolutions would: I lose sight of them by the mid year. I’m working on making sure that doesn’t happen in 2016, but I say that every year too.

This year’s words are (once again) a revisit of some I’ve used in previous years.

Focus. I need to stop letting distractions… well, distract me from the things I really want to achieve. Focus is something that’s once again become a challenge for me. I’m hoping to make some progress in that this year.

Comfort. I want to push myself out of my comfort levels and take more risks personally and professionally. I’ve just begun to do this and I’ve seen improvements in my “product.” I’m hoping to do more of this and to see its effects on my life.

Creativity. The ability to create (write, photograph, complete projects ) is one of the reasons I want to focus.

Let’s see how I do this year. Wish me luck!