Since 5 years, I am choosing a word that accompains me a whole year, my “one little word”. Originally, this idea is from Ali Edwards. the word should help to guide you in the direction you want to go and to develop yourself further. “Love it, change it or leave it” describes the concept in short. When you are not happy with yourself or your life or you want to reach a certain goal, it is YOU who needs to and can do something. It is not the others or a coincidence. You can change most of the things even if it’s only the inner attitude. And even the latter can have a great impact. It took me until I was in my mid-30s until I understood this…and took even a little more until I started acting. Meanwhile, it is very unbearable for me not to deal with developing further. To me, it is really fascinating how the own attitude and thoughts have an influence on yourself and your life. Having said that, now back to finding the right “one little word”.
Up to now, I started towards the end of a year with a list of all possible words for my next “one little word”. I kept thinking of what I might need or what my goal would be. Additionally, I go through the list of already used words by the “one little word”-community on Ali Edwards blog. Mostly, the new word becomes clear very fast and won’t leave my head. I becomes clear at the latest when I leave my current word behind by reviewing the current year, comparing my goals with the present situation and documenting my achievements. With “less”, I even started at the beginning of October. It was so obvious that my current word “create” was achieved and I needed to move on. This time was different. “Less” is still very present and there is still more to achieve and no new “one little word” appeared. For a short time, i thought of keeping “less” for another year but then I declined this idea as I didn’t like 2019 not having its own word. Thus, I kept looking. Funnily enough, “joy” kept popping up. Of course it did, it December, I kept hearing “joy to the world” here and there and the story theme from Ali Edwards was also “joy” (I had written about my experience with the story stamp subscription recently). There is no way not having always “joy” in my mind. It just didn’t disappear. I thought and I am still thinking that I am having already enough “joy” in my life….but “joy” stayed in my head. OK then, if “joy” want then she (!) can stay. Meanwhile, I had already personified “joy”. She is yellow with blue hair…there is a high similarity to one of the main characters in “inside out” 😉
“Joy” stays and I am open and looking forward what kind of joy I will have this year. Towards the end of last year, the “one little word”-workshop by Ali Edwards was a bit too much (totally aligned with “less”), thus I haven’t bought it this year. I bought my first source of inspiration instead: “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin. And I will document my thoughts and my progress in the “one little word”-journal.
Are you having a “one little word”? How do you find it? I am looking forward to reading about your experiences in the comments.
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