Balance: Find your ‘one word’ for 2019
We are one week into preparation for 2019. Did you take my advice and start answering questions to discover your one word for 2019? This week, my family and I completed the one word creation exercise. After celebrating Christmas together, we sat down at our dining room table and answered the following seven questions. 1. Name at least three good things that happened in 2018. 2. Name at least two things you will take into 2018. 3. Name at least two things you will leave in 2018. 4. What are you passionate about and want to spend your time doing? 5. What is a challenge you want to overcome? 6. What/who is most important to you? 7. What does success look like to you?
Believe it or not, by answering these questions, you will find direction for your next steps. As you review the answers to your questions and reflect on 2018, you will discover what’s been most important to you, how you’ve spent your time and energy, and what has distracted you from achieving your goals.
I encourage you to complete this exercise on your own or with family, friends, or coworkers. This activity may not be a major life changing experience, but it will help you think about where you’ve been, where you want to go, and how you plan to get there. Unlike goal setting or resolution making, completing the One Word exercise brings clarity, narrows your vision, and gives you laser sharp focus. In many ways, adopting One Word for the year, will eliminate many distractions and excuses that would typically keep you from succeeding. With your energy zeroed in on this One Word, I believe you now have a better opportunity to hear from God, achieve your daily goals, and fulfill your purpose.
Through this exercise, my One Word was confirmed. Balance is my One Word for 2019. As I reflected on my answers to the questions above, I found that family is the most important “thing” to me. In 2018, I discovered new strategies and adopted new behaviors that helped me better serve as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and professional. Additionally, I remembered my desire to write more and serve others through written word. And finally, I realized that the fear, stress, and anxiety I had in 2018 could not come with me into 2019. Balance will allow me to care for my family, serve others well in my work, and fulfill my purpose – all of which is pleasing to God. Now on to the real work – how to achieve balance.
I don’t expect balance to come quickly or easily; but I do know that I need to create a plan in order to live it. To support me in 2019, I will research and outline scripture that supports my One Word and identify books to read over the next year. Thus far, I plan to read the following books: Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard Swenson; The Way of Discernment: Spiritual Practices for Decision Making by Elizabeth Liebert; Kingdom Marriage: Connecting God’s Purpose with your Pleasure by Tony Evans; The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly; and Kingdom Woman: Embracing Your Purpose, Power, and Possibilities by Chrystal Evans Hurst and Tony Evans. Considering that I’m not a strong reader, creating a reading list and following through to read it, tends to be a hard task for me to accomplish. Despite issues with reading comprehension and mild dyslexia, I know that reading books about topics related to my One Word is critical to my success in living it. I will journal as I read so that I can write notes and highlight important points that will help me on my journey.
Now my experience with One Word may not be your experience – don’t get caught up in comparing. Have fun! Complete the exercise with others. Use this time to look forward to the new year with excitement, joy and gratitude.
Finding your One Word is the first step, taking action to live out these words is the next step. What will you do in 2019 to live a life that reflects the you, you want to be? I plan to be a better, balanced version of myself. Who will you be in 2019?
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas. I wish you a blessed New Year!
Gina Watts is a former resident of Fayette County, now living in Columbus, Ohio. She serves multiple communities as an advocate, educator, and leader. Follow Gina on Twitter @professorgmarie.