How do you go about setting goals for the new year? 

• Are you a resolution setter, holding yourself accountable so you don't drop them by January 17?

• Do you set SMART goals, so you'll stay focused? 

• Or maybe you're making a firm resolution to begin setting new year's goals?

 

For me, instead of goals for the year, I like to choose a word of the year that represents the direction I want to go or areas I'd like to grow.

 

A word of the year is a simple way to target growth without setting specific goals or resolutions.

 

I tend to not stick with resolutions, and I don't like to set goals that I then feel guilty about not achieving.  Personal goal-setting should be a positive exercise, and I choose to not feel guilty.  A word of the year is permission to make progress, but not go all out type-A.  It's a gentle way to keep forward momentum front and center.

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As an example, my 2021 word of the year was "joy," and my focus was on finding the joy in the everyday bits of life and being joyful in all circumstances. 

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