My One Little Word for 2014...

I have been picking a 'Word for the Year' for each of the last 5 years. I was first inspired to do so by my SIL, and the last few years I have personally taken further steps to really understand what it means to pick a word that can truly impact my life for at least a year if not a lifetime. Ali Edwards, make this process easy through her One Little Word class in which she helps you really understand the definition of your word, how it relates to your life, your goals for your words and what you truly intend to get out of your word to help you personally grow in some particular area of your life, and she makes it a creative experience as well!

"You live with it. You invite it into your life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities."

These words from Ali have been all too real for me. I have allowed the following words- Inspired, Moments, Beginnings, Create and Growth- into my life. They have lived within me. They have spoken to me in sooo many ways at different times, and I have truly followed my words and they have led me to where I am today, and are still leading me to the many possibilities of whom I can truly be in life.

Last year's word, Growth, has been my most impactful to date. It has been the one I've struggled with the most (so far), but its the one that has opened me up the most as well. You have to understand that picking a word is not a cure all either. I am still working on myself, and the word Growth is one that I will forever take with me and build on since personal growth is never ending.

So my One Little Word for 2014 is:

Patience-

the capacity to endure hardship, difficulties, and inconveniences without complaint. 

However, I really liked the following definition as well:

Patience emphasizes calmness, self-control, and the willingness or ability to tolerate delay:

Patience is the level of endurance one can take before negativity

 (something I battle against also).

Anyway, I picked the word Patience because I've realized that I have none or lack a healthy amount of it.  Yes, really! I'm just being honest. Part of this exercise is taking a hard look at yourself and realize the areas you need work on, and its not always easy.  But this word seemed to have been following me for a while.

I don't know if my fuse is getting shorter (with age??), but lately I hear myself say, more often than I'd like, "I don't have any patience for this" or "I don't have patience for anybody today", including my family and those closest to me and for that I sincerely apologize.  I have a really hard time being patient especially when driving (road rage anybody?), when my body doesn't work when I need it to, when things don't go as planned or get more difficult than necessary...Ugghh!! So guess what? I need to fix that...right? I'll be even more honest in telling you that I'm already struggling with it...its so hard!!  Its going to prove to be a difficult one to conquer! I've considered changing my word because it would just be soo much easier to be impatient, get mad, and over-react...isn't it? Well unfortunately, for me it is...sometimes. :(

My goal is to find a balance between patience and a healthy amount of emotional self control, some peace and acceptance when necessary, but still feel like my feelings are validated AND avoid making difficult situations even more difficult. Also, I apparently need to learn to let go? Hence the gut punch this poster gave me and a concept my husband Jerry has explained to me on more than one occasion. Yes babe, I  know... I promise I'm going to try!


So now that you know one of my many flaws, you also know I'll be working on it this year. Its my new journey. And I'm truly looking forward to more change and personal progress. This exercise sometimes leads to unexpected meanings and I'm looking forward to discovering those too.

Have you picked out your word for 2014? If so, I would love for you to share it with me in my comments.  I will be sharing as much of my journey as possible I go along and hopefully show you how you can implement some of these ideas into your lives.

So I'm off to find some patience...Won't you join me? ;)


From my corner to yours...Thanks for stopping by!

BTW-  If you'd like to pick a word but need to know more behind this idea, I encourage you to go to Ali Edward's site where you can sign up for her class if it you're interested. You wont regret it!