One Word Goals
One Word Goals stick.
It's almost February and I am curious to learn how your new year's goals and aspirations are progressing? My sincere hope is that everyone is crushing it! The world needs our focus and momentum more than ever!
Yet, research suggests that 23% of people quit their resolution by the end of the first week of January, and 43% quit by the end of the month.
So why not keep it simple?
When we take on just ONE WORD that becomes a simple, doable, and all-encompassing mindset vs. an itemized checklist of to-do goals or aspirations that usually fade by February.
And what we know is that ultimately it is our emotions that drive us to change our behavior. This is because emotions activate how we "feel."
And when we zero in on just one emotionally-inspired word, it not only simplifies, but also amplifies the likelihood of us showing up differently in all aspects of our lives -- self, work, family, friends, and community.
Take the one word goal CURIOSITY for example (which happened to be my word for 2023). Here's what jumping into the new year carrying just one mindset might look like:
Community - Bring curiosity into your community. Who's doing good work? Who might want or need your expertise? How might you help?
Workplace - Sometimes it can be as easy as showing up with a new mindset. Bring curiosity along to committee meetings, zoom calls, and/or weekly all-hands meetings; stay open and be surprised by new outcomes. Feel delighted by a curious new way to solve an old problem.
Friendships - A book club? Wine night with friends? A weekly hike? Arrive with the intent to ask more question. Listen a little more deeply. Demonstrate more empathy, and yep, add more curiosity.
Fitness - What would happen to your level of commitment, strength and stamina if all you had to do is be curious about how capable your body is? How far can you go? How much can you endure? What can you physically accomplish? It's a good curious question to ponder.
New learning - What do you want to learn next? Tackle a new career? Art history? More marketing strategies? Leadership skills? Better nutrition? Where will you find this information? A class? An unexpected teacher?
So no matter where you go, or what you are doing, all you have to remember is one simple mindset as you move confidently into 2024
Here are a few more mindsets to get you thinking about what might spark you in the new year:
curiosity
compassion
flexibility
driven
open
committed
energized
creative
grateful
Have some fun brainstorming some of your own motivationally-charged one-word goals!