Abundance. That’s my word for 2024. But first, I am going to get brutally honest with you all. The last quarter of 2023 was a hard one. I was struggling with motivation for my business, with energy, with sadness, and with sleep. Along with everything going on in my business, there was a lot of life happening. My husband and I sold two houses, bought one, paid off two, furnished one. As well, I lost a close friend to a sudden death, I had COVID, and the holidays were here (which I love but this year seemed to add more to my plate). So, I took a week and a half off where I did practically no work. I did not open my computer. I slept, I spent time with my family, and I skied. It was the rejuvenation I needed. Why am I telling you this? Because these things happen to everyone! And remember, just because they look like everything is rosy on social media doesn’t mean it’s so. We all have stuff going on. Life is life, and it will keep happening. So, take a rest if you need one and find a way to find your way again.
Which brings me to abundance. For the last couple of months, I have been trying to find my word of the year. I have one every year, and it usually comes to me somewhere around the first of December. My mind had been so muddled that I could not even really think about 2024. And then yesterday (the 1st of January), my word came to me. ABUNDANCE. That. Is. My. Word. Abundance–Of living. Of time. Of joy. Of business. Of quiet. Of nature. Abundance.
If I can keep this word in front of me this year (literally on my wall), I believe it will keep me focused on what matters in and out of business. And it makes me feel excited! This is an exercise I have practiced every year since 2010, and it makes a difference. The idea for this came from Jon Gordon, whom I follow and have since he launched his book The Energy Bus. Of the words I’ve had, they’ve included Impact, Refine, Possibility, Joy, and so many more. And then this year: Abundance.
If you’d like more on how this works and Jon’s take on it, here’s an earlier newsletter from him about how to discover your word of the year. If you want even more, he also has a book out called One Word That Will Change Your Life.
What word do you have in place this year? Do you have one?
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