The “One Little Word” (OLW) movement ran rampant through December and early January. I was surprised at the number of blog and journal entries that landed in my in-box that hailed this intention-setting, goal-getting tool as a New Year’s “must do”!
Not in my books. Nothing is a “must do” when it comes to resolutions. I’ve learned that the bullying mentality of holding myself hostage on weight-loss, de-cluttering or whatever other “duty-de-jour” I come up with – it doesn’t work. I nearly dismissed the whole idea; however, as much as I recognized I was resisting it, I was also curious about what I might discover.
What does work for me is simply being open to whatever seems to surface. It might appear as a passive approach to life for others, but if you’ve ever had the experience of noticing a run of related things in your consciousness, you will know what I mean. I’ve learned that when strings of similar words or icons start to present themselves in my everyday world, it’s worth paying attention.
About three weeks ago in one of my personal coaching sessions, the phrase “make space” surfaced. I was overwhelmed by boxes of memorabilia and photos in the corner of my office. I was feeling pinched at not having regular yoga or exercise sessions. I was on the last stretch of the practical component of my coaching accreditation. I was simply tired and full: mentally, physically and emotionally. I remember blurting out the realization, “I need to make space”.
Well, here I am a month later, having given myself the freedom to play in the space of the season. I read and walked and did some weaving. I baked and cooked and hosted. I made space in my heart and calendar to volunteer at the Food Bank and knit a few hats for the newborns at the hospital. I shredded some old documents and tossed a few dog-eared cards I’d been holding onto for years. I stretched (and made space between my ribs) and intentionally made space between myself and a few buffet tables. It all added up to a very different approach to an old gremlin.
So, “Welcome, 2017!” So far the date is only a box on the calendar and not a self-imposed deadline on any one action. Figuratively speaking, I feel SO far out of the box this year in terms of NOT choosing to declare a resolution or goal; however, ironically it seems to have chosen me. Go figure!
What word or image is re-occurring in your daily life; what does it want you to notice or pay attention to right now? What is the potential in following that inclination?