3 Reasons Why One Word Can Change Your Life

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” ~ Michael Jordan

Every year, I allow myself to dream up what my desires are for my life and my life's work. To make a concrete decision about the direction I'm going to go, I choose a word of intention for the year, and then I document out projects and goals around what that intention looks like in the various slices of my life. Every quarter I go back and review if the goals I've met represent what that word meant for me. A focus word helps me transform my thinking so that I can ready myself for transition into a new phase in life and business. Transforming my thinking challenges my fears, my resistance, and all of the negative stigmas I’ve set up to keep myself from being the very best me I could be.

Some of my colleagues choose a word for each quarter, each month, or each week. We may do it for different reasons, but I believe that choosing a word of intent can hold a lot of power. Here's why...

Reason #1 – Decision-making is easier. 

When you have a word of intent to focus on, you can make decisions along the way to incorporate that word.

Let's say your word is “connection”. If you're juggling with time management and working long past your hours of operation or skipping out on date night with your love, you'll have a word of intent to remind you what the priorities of your heart really are even as your mind tries to convince you otherwise. Decisions to attend networking events will be easier to make because you'll know that even if you're an introvert and hate networking, you won't be able to build connections hiding behind your computer screen. Decisions will be easier to make because you'll have a word to guide you. 

Reason #2 – Get motivated to take action. 

When you have a word to focus on, you have a starting point for taking action. It's easier to come up with the whats and the hows when you know 'why' you're doing what you're doing. Most of the time when we come up with a word of intent we develop a reason why that focus is so important to us and why it's important for the time we've set the intention.

Instead of self-imposed limits, your word will set you free. 

You're capable of achieving anything you set your heart on. Your word will get you motivated for success. 

Reason #3 – Remarkable becomes your middle name. 

Before you know it, days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months. Then BAM, a whole year has passed by. Time seems to slow down when you move through the world with intention. Having a focus word helps you recall milestones and accomplishments that you might otherwise forget. You worked hard to incorporate that word into your life, and it'll be hard to forget all the happiness you created in your life throughout the year. 

Your word of intention helps you get a clear picture of your vision vs the vision of people trying to steer you away from your purpose.

The world didn’t give that vision to you, so don’t let the world take it away, (Whatever that world may be for you).

Not everyone will understand your journey. Not everyone will accept the boundaries you establish especially as you discipline yourself to establish them. Not everyone will be comfortable with you embracing the discovery of your true self. Heck, you might even be called crazy or weird or strange. That's why it's so important to be clear about what you want for your life including your work life.

As we go into this second quarter of the year I encourage you to press on. Choose a word of intention, and unleash the rebel that resides inside you. 

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Thank you for reading my post here at LinkedIn! I've authored a book called Success to Die For read a free sample here: https://bit.ly/mentalhealthsuccess When I'm not being a super side-kick to women visionaries, I write about mental wellness for women business owners and entrepreneurs over on my personal blog. Feel free to also connect via Twitter or Facebook.