Hey, what was your word of the year?

If you didn’t set a word for this year, what was a resolution you set for yourself or a goal you wanted to achieve?

We’re mid-way through 2023, so I thought it was a good time to check in on those hopes, dreams, and plans we once had for this bright and shiny new year.

My word of the year was “harmony.”  I shared a lot about what this means to me and why I chose it back in January.  One reason was my desire to draw parts of my life into a unified whole.  So far this year, I’m making progress at finding harmony among the different parts of my business and the various aspects of my life.  I’ve been better at creating “a pleasing and orderly whole” in my life – a balance between being and doing, working and resting, alone time and social time. 

Keeping that word in mind throughout the year, especially when I’ve faced big moments of both celebrations and challenges, has helped me lean in (instead of away) when I’ve experienced strong emotions.  I’ve tried to be more in tune with my feelings, acknowledge them, and pay attention to the way those show up in my body.  I won’t say that I’m great at this, but the guiding star of seeking harmony between mind, body, and spirit has been helpful.

I also chose harmony because I sensed that I needed to interweave parts of my story together into one continuous narrative.  I did some significant work this spring to revisit a “valley experience” of my life and heal some very old wounds.  That journey has brought me a greater sense of harmony.  And it’s given me the courage and motivation to take some further steps in the second half of this year to look at some of the more current valley experiences.

Looking back at the past six months, I can see times when I’ve moved toward harmony and times when I’ve missed the opportunity.  It has been a helpful guide when I’ve faced decisions.  It’s helping me take initiative toward next steps.  It’s definitely helping me grow.

If you chose a word for the year, here are some questions that you might want to reflect on or journal about:

• How has that word shown up for me this year? 

• When have I leaned in to the invitation it had for me? 

• When might I have missed the chance to live that word more fully?

• What have I learned about myself so far?

• How do I plan (or hope) to live into that word in the coming 6 months?

If “word of the year” isn’t your thing, I’ll invite you to call to mind a goal or hope you had for this year, and reflect on these questions:

• How am I doing with that goal?

• What have I learned about myself this year (especially in relation to that goal)?

• What do I hope to accomplish toward that goal in the next 6 months?

• Who or what do I need to support me in accomplishing that goal?

And if you’ve set neither a word nor a goal, I hope you’ll take just a few moments at this halfway mark to reflect on these past six months (what’s happened, what you’ve learned, how you’ve grown or changed) and consider the next six months (what would you like to see happen in your life?). 

We can float through life and drift where circumstances take us, or we can lead our lives, and move with purpose.  No, we can’t control the outcomes and certain circumstances can throw us off course, but a vision, direction, or goal can help us navigate the waters with intentionality.  What intention are you setting for the second half of this year?

As always, I’m happy to come alongside – for a little or a while – if you need some help assessing where you are, figuring out where you’d like to go, and developing the confidence and clarity to take those steps.