For years now I have been choosing one word that serves as a guiding principe or force in my life. It tends to be the quality or characteristic that I feel I’m lacking most at any given chapter in my life. Words have ranged from “expansion” to “focus”, “play” to “stability”.
This year, my word is CLARITY.
I’ve chosen this word because it feels as if too many unanswered questions have been weighing me down - both personally and professionally. Perhaps you can relate. I have relationships that are not nourishing me the way they used to, or the way I would like. Therefore, I need to create boundaries and set new expectations about how much energy I will put towards those relationships.
Professionally speaking, as a Women’s Empowerment Coach, I wonder sometimes if I should focus more, and be a “niche” coach with a specific specialization. I have recoiled in the past from that idea because serving women in all capacities of their lives, from their most intimate relationships to their career challenges and ambitions, is really what feeds me. I find the variety interesting and ever-changing.
However, there is one specific area that I am looking for clarity, and that is around my online course, The Sexuality & Aging Masterclass. I spent a significant amount of time, money and intellectual capital on that course and I am now wondering how best to market it to women. I know with this focus of clarity, I will have a better idea of what to do with and about that course by the end of 2023.
Part of why I love the ritual and practice of identifying ONE WORD is because it’s what I did for over a decade, multiple times a week. Every Nia class starts with a “focus”...and with that focus comes a deliberate “intention”. (Nia is a mind/body fusion fitness practice that I have a Black Belt in and have taught for over 14 years.) If the focus is on the spine, the intention might be to sense mobility in all of the ways the spine can move. Or if the focus is on self-love, the intention might be to sense gratitude for one’s body. If the focus is on strength, the intention might be to increase your body’s muscular strength while also sensing your emotional strength.
You get the idea.
So the question I always ask myself when I chose my ONE WORD for the year...If X is my focus, what is the intention? The intention takes the word out of the theoretical and turns it into action - with emotion. It answers WHY you chose your word and it also helps you identify action steps and strategies for making your word come alive.
For example, my one word (or focus) for this year is CLARITY, with the intention of increasing the time and energy I spend on positive and productive projects and relationships - and reducing worry.
In order to get clarity around my online course, I will: 1. Get more feedback from women who have taken it.
2. Get marketing help from an online course specialist.
3. Make any necessary edits.
I now have actionable things I can do to help me get clarity in that area of my life.
So...what’s your ONE WORD (aka your “focus”) for 2023? ———————————————————————————————————————
And what is the intention of your ONE WORD?
——————————————————————————————————————— ——————————————————————————————————————— ——————————————————————————————————————— ——————————————————————————————————————— ———————————————————————————————————————
Please comment and share your ONE WORD and INTENTION! Research shows that change is more successful when you write your intentions and actions down AND declare it to another person.