Six weeks into 2020, and I still haven’t chosen my word for the year!
This is my third year of jumping on the “one little word” bandwagon.
In 2018, I chose “breathe” and it is a word that has stayed with me ever since – it’s amazing how often I need to stop and remind myself to take a moment and inhale deeply!
In 2019, I chose “colour” and it definitely made a great theme for the year, although in the end I realised that it didn’t just bring more colour into my life, but also a lot of “growth” – to the point where I wondered if that should have been my one little word instead.
In 2020? I’m just not sure. Maybe the fact that last year I started off with “colour” and changed to “growth” has made me nervous of not getting it right. I definitely have the sort of personality that likes to be sure before taking a leap! And yet … so what if I change it, or even get it totally wrong? It wasn’t the end of the world when it happened last year, in fact, wasn’t it a good thing that I ended up with so much more?!
A few words have been competing in my head for their chance in the spotlight: “thrive”, “breakthrough”, “clarity”, “bloom”, “more”, “prosperity”, “blossom”, “abundance” and “soar”.
There’s clearly a bit of a theme happening – yet I still haven’t been able to commit to just one little word for 2020.
You know I write this blog for myself as much as for you dear reader, as it helps me to sort through my thoughts. And in the act of writing today it has become clear to me that in 2020, my one little word is:
“BREAKTHROUGH”
What does breakthrough mean to you?
To me, breakthrough is about what’s possible, and moves beyond what’s expected and what has been in the past. It’s about overcoming obstacles, reaching new levels. The pieces are in place, a lot of the foundations have been built, habits have been formed. It’s when the stars align and things finally come to fruition!
Some of the dictionary definitions are equally inspiring:
- a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.
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achieving success in a particular sphere or activity.
- an act of overcoming or penetrating an obstacle or restriction.
- an amazing discovery or a huge amount of progress.
- highly significant or dramatic invention or improvement in performance, achieved through consistent, focused, and synergic efforts.
Breakthrough can apply to so many different spheres of life: personally, professionally, spiritually, financially …
Breakthrough seems particularly meaningful, because over the years I’ve overcome many obstacles (being raised by a woman with severe mental health issues, homelessness, redundancy, PTSD); set free from many of the things that have tried to hold me back. I’ve put in the hard yards, and seen steady, patient growth …. but now I’m ready to BREAKTHROUGH to new heights!
I’ve set my sails, and am ready to soar.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on “breakthrough” – and what one little word YOU have chosen for 2020!
UPDATE 13.02.20
They say it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind … and change my mind I have.
Although “breakthrough” is still incredibly meaningful to me, upon further reflection I have decided to embrace “BLOSSOM” as my one little word for 2020.
BLOSSOM
To be honest, this was the very first word that came into my head when I started mulling things over, but for some reason I resisted (a therapist could have a field day with that I’m sure!).
Upon reading Denise’s lovely comments below, I am encouraged to stick with my original plan, to BLOSSOM this year – for the reasons she mentioned:
I think it’s similar to “Breakthrough”, but it has a soft, lovely sound and feeling …I feel, through your posts, that you are just ready to bloom!
Blossom is a tad gentler than breakthrough, which I like. To me it also introduces ideas of maturity, beauty, and things happening naturally in the fullness of time – there’s nothing forced about it.
Here’s to a great year of blossoming, wisdom and beginnings!
I chose “Wisdom”. Like you, this is my third year. The first year was “Growth” and I did a ton of that. Last year was “Heal”, which I needed after all that growth! I felt wisdom was a good all-encompassing word for using what I learned in the past two years.
Personally, I see you as more of a “Blossom” this year. I think it’s similar to “Breakthrough”, but it has a soft, lovely sound and feeling that I’d associate with you – even though we’ve never met! I feel, through your posts, that you are just ready to bloom!
Denise!!!! That is such a lovely thing to say – you’ve made me want to change my “word” to BLOSSOM!!!!!
I love your word, wisdom, something so desperately needed in this world of ours x
I’m so glad I could help! Yay for having your word ?
Just shows that sometimes it’s best to go with one’s initial thoughts!!!!
I like ‘breakthrough’. When I think of breakthrough, I think of the verse in 2 Samuel 5:20, Amplified version — “So David came to Baal-perazim, and he defeated them there, and said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” So he named that place Baal-perazim (master of breakthroughs).” Hope this is a tremendous year of breakthrough for you, Janet. You deserve it!
I thought my word for this year was ‘thrive’ because last year it turned out to be ‘survive’. But on further reflection, I think I’ll make it ‘Beginnings’. After 12 years of taking my creative writing seriously, and 7 of those years writing a novel, I will finally have a novel coming out this year. So I see that as the beginning of a new phase. Also, my parents moved up to Toowoomba and into a nursing home last September (part of the reason why last year was ‘survive’ — lots of stress). But they’ve settled in now and it’s a new phase of our relationship. So a time to look for the positive and think of the new beginnings that this year can offer.
I’m so excited to read your novel Nola! And just call me the “mistress of breakthrough” (and blossoming) 😉
LOL will do, oh Mistress if the Breakthrough ?