If you're like me, you see New Year's resolutions in either one of two ways: they are something we make to "keep up with the Joneses, so we have something to post about on social media and have an answer when someone asks what our New Year's resolution is, or you truly want to make a change, and know the new year would be the perfect opportunity to start. Either way, you know that there is an approximately 100 percent chance that your New Year's resolution will be forgotten about by Feb. 2, at the latest.
Resolutions such as working out, journaling every day, keeping in contact with family and drinking more water are all great intentions. And even if we build the strongest plan to ensure our resolution becomes a habit, we still see so many falling short. But what if resolutions did not have to be this way? In fact, they don't.
Rather than selecting one or two or even a list of resolutions to change different aspects of your life, you can focus on just one word. This one word can then be applied to different areas of your life (as well as your bad habits you are trying to change) and will last past the February New Year's resolution failure zone.
Embrace. Health. Adventure. Confidence. Discipline. Optimism. Serve. Ask. Faith.
All powerful words which can be applied to all areas of our daily lives, which results in daily improvement throughout an entire year.
For example, let's take a commonly failed New Year's resolution, such as "get fit" and use a one word resolution: challenge. Now, rather than focusing on just one aspect of your fitness such as working out with your brand new gym membership, you can challenge yourself to reach new strengths, drink more water, run more miles and spend more time outside.
And it doesn't stop there. With a word like challenge, you can challenge yourself to spend more time studying or less time texting. Challenge yourself to reach out to old friends and forgive others. With a one word resolution, the opportunities are endless to improve yourself. With a word like challenge, you don't have to fall into the trap of failing at your resolution. At every decision, every breaking point and every moment you can find moments to utilize your one word resolution and transform your life.
At the end of the next year, you will not have just "got fit." You will have challenged yourself to reach new heights, build more strength and shape a better year.
So what will your one word resolution be? With over one million words in the english language, the opportunities are endless. Need some help? All of the bolded words would make great one word resolutions. Or look at an area in your life you would like to transform and describe the ideal situation in one word.
Want to stress less? Relax.
Want to travel more? Explore.
Want to be more organized? Declutter.
Once you have your word, feel free share it with others. Share this article with your one word resolution in the post. Challenge others to do the same. Keep each other accountable.
Your new you starts with just one word.
