My Word of the Year (LEAP!) and how to choose your own WOTY:

Choosing your Word of the Year (WOTY):

What are your hopes and dreams for 2016?  What do you want to focus your time and energy on this year?  How do you want your life to look or feel?  What is the central theme of the year to come? By asking yourself these questions, you can come up with your own Word of the Year (WOTY).  Close your eyes and write down the first word that pops into your mind as you think of the year ahead.  Surrender and allow your word to come to you, with intuition as your guide.  Your word can be a noun, verb, or adjective.  It can even be a phrase or mantra.  Whatever you choose, it should be personal, powerful and meaningful to you.  If several words come to mind, make a list and visualize each one and how it applies to your personal vision for 2016.  Is there a theme that emerges?  Is there one word or phrase that stands out above the rest?  Go with that word and let it be your guide for 2016!

Once you decide on your WOTY,  make it visible!  Share your word with family and friends so they can help support you on your journey.  Write about it in your journal.  Create a canvas with your word front and center and display it where you will be reminded of your intention each and every day!  (This is the project and process I guided participants through at my recent Art Workshop: “Setting Your Intentions for the Year!” We also created a set of inspirational cards with our WOTY to save and share!)  Allow your WOTY to provide insight, inspiration, empowerment, affirmation, and validation throughout the coming year!  Use it as your guidepost in creating a year full of dreams come true!

My Word of the Year (LEAP!):

Several words jumped out at me this year, but one stood out above the rest.  I had a long list that included leap, launch, celebrate, possibility, aloha, collaborate, believe, wonder, release, and many more.  Some themes that emerged were letting go, new chapters, endings and beginnings.  I felt I needed a word that was active and intentional rather than passive.  I needed a word that could somehow capture the feeling and emotion I was already having about this BIG year ahead.  The word I kept coming back to was LEAP!  

2016 is a BIG year full of BIG changes and BIG emotions for me!  In addition to being leap year, and presidential election year, 2016 is the year my eldest daughter will graduate high school and go off to college, my youngest daughter will turn sweet 16, and I will turn the BIG 5-0!  In addition to the normal challenges of daily life, there is a whole sea full of change and uncertainty for me and my family to navigate this year.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I plan to do this by continuing to follow my heART.  Difficult decisions lie ahead and the unknown and uncharted waters can be scary.  Financial responsibilities will be increasing, family dynamics will be shifting, health issues will be resolved, and hopefully my art business will not only stay afloat, but will thrive.  We will be ending one chapter and beginning a new one .  I am trying to remind myself to leave fear and doubt behind and to LEAP forward and allow the “net to appear!”  To do this I need to have trust, faith, courage and support!  It’s going to be a BIG year and I am ready to take the LEAP!  I hope that you will join me!