It’s been another rough year for many small business owners. I was just reading my ‘one word’ post from a year ago. I remember feeling pretty optimistic at the time – thinking things can only get better… and other such nonsense. Was I ever wrong!
I’ve been copycatting Mary Jane Copps now for a few years, choosing one word to guide my intentions and actions during the coming year.
For 2021, my one word was HELPFUL. While I’m generally a helpful person anyway, I did make a point of offering and giving help for free at least once each quarter via my newsletter and social media. (I might have been even more helpful if I wasn’t so busy being cloistered relaxing at home.)
I’ve told a handful of people I wasn’t going to pick a word for 2022. Nothing seemed to inspire me… until last evening.
An exchange of emails with Natasha Marchewka brought it to me very clearly. We were discussing laughter. Which made me think… hmm, what about ‘laugh’? Then I thought maybe that wasn’t appropriate for my business. And some weird untraceable train of thought took me from there to the word I’ve chosen for 2022: STEADY. (Completely logical, right?)
Merriam-Webster has several definitions for ‘steady’ but direct or sure in movement and constant in feeling, principle, purpose, or attachment are what I’m thinking. It doesn’t mean I won’t be doing new things (I’m always doing new things) but it does mean I’ll be more cautious of detours from my goals. And I think steady makes me ready… for whatever this next year throws at us.
For the first time, I’m choosing a different theme for my personal life during 2022, reverting back to my 2017 words: SURPRISED BY JOY. And I’ll share one of my favourite quotes:
You have to sniff out joy. Keep your nose to the joy trail.
– Buffy Sainte-Marie –
Wishing you a better year for 2022 than whatever 2021 turned out like! Maybe I’ll see you on the joy trail.
I’d love to hear your one word – please share in the comments.
Being “copycatted” is the highest form of praise … right? Thanks for this post, Linda. Love the transition from laughter to steady. My word is “accept” and I’ve been practicing with it these last few days of 2021. Whenever I begin to feel overwhelmed or feel the beginnings of stress, I simply say to myself “accept and everything will work out” … and it’s working. I’m looking forward to a year filled with adventures of mind and body that I accept with gratitude.
It is definitely a form of praise – I have lots of that for you, Mary Jane. And I know I’ll be seeing *you* on the joy trail with me 😉
My word is Focus – similar to your Steady. Just try to keep a focus on the important things and let the rest go. I also LOVE the idea of making a conscious effort to sniff out joy. It’s weird how as adults we don’t make it a priority to do things that make us happy.
Focus is a great word! It was my word for several years. haha