Wave your hands in the air like you don't care! It's a new year! This year, as in years past, my first order of business in the new year is to choose MY ONE WORD. My one word "is an experiment designed to move you beyond the past and look ahead. The challenge is simple: lose the long list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick ONE WORD. This process provides clarity by taking all of your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single thing. One word focuses on your character and creates a vision for your future. It helps me do something about one thing and instead of nothing about a lot of things."
My words in past years included RESOLVE, MATURITY, REFLECTION, HONOR, FUEL, STORY, POSTURE, CONNECT & RUAH. The experiment is primarily focused on spiritual formation - helping me to grow into the type of person I want to become. Of course, I've found that it seeps into everything I do - my physical life, my professional life, my personal relationships. In fact, as Mike Ashcraft explained it in one of his messages, it's a lens - not a promise. If I see every circumstance, challenge or success through the lens of MATURITY (2009), how does that change how I treat people or react in general? For instance, in 2011 I chose FUEL. I chose it because I wanted to know what fuels my faith, but it obviously has ties to my fitness as well. I realized that wheat thins don't really fuel me. I learned what foods DO fuel me and what fires me up to stay fit. [Competition with myself] That word stayed with me - even into 2013. I still seek MATURE ways to handle my emotions, my friendships and my walk with God.
So what is it this year? MY ONE WORD for is FIX.
I usually spend the first month, getting to know my word. I've looked up the definition on Merriam-Webster, Thesaurus.Com, Urban Dictionary and in a concordance. I've looked up scripture and songs and quotes. It helps me prepare for what the word has in store for me. If the word is a lens through which I see circumstances, then this year's word provides a wide-angle view. Merriam's dictionary provides ten definitions. I've found 14 scripture references and over 100 synonyms.
Right now, I'm focused on the definition about.........focus. One of the defintions is: to hold or direct steadily <fixes his eyes on the horizon> b : to capture the attention of <fixed her with a stare> I'm very aware of where my attention is right now. I am asking: where do I turn my attention? How do I get fixated on one thing? And the big thing I'm dealing with: if my attention is on myself, then who am I NOT paying attention to?
Of course, I like these uses of FIX, too:
I'm fixin' to go to run some errands.
What should I fix for dinner?
You're in a bit of a fix.
Oh, I'll fix him!
I'll keep you posted on MY ONE WORD throughout the year. And if you have a one word, post in your feed with the HASHTAG #mow2016.
Do your dance, do your dance, do your dance quick mamma
Come on baby tell me what's the word
Word.