What is your intention for 2021?
Did you make New Years resolutions this year? If so, are they starting to crumble now?
That is no surprise. Statistics show that approximately 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail. And let’s face it, 2020 was the strangest and most stressful year of all time. And now 2021 has gotten off to a rocky start too. People continue to die from this pandemic at record levels, the long-awaited vaccine appears to be stagnant, and unemployment is at record levels. We are heading into a new year with a lot of uncertainty.
Which means this is probably not the time to push yourself harder to reach tough goals. So let’s forget about the ambitious goals this year.
That may sound funny coming from me if you read my latest blog. After gaining more than 20 pounds during the pandemic, I made a point of eating healthier and losing weight. With COVID raging here in California and obesity a major risk factor for becoming seriously ill from the virus, it seemed the wisest and most prudent thing to do. After almost two months, I managed to lose 13 pounds. Nothing bad.
However, unlike other times I have tried to lose weight, I am definitely being easier on myself. Last week, I stayed with my 88-year-old father to help him with cataract surgery and I gained a couple of those pounds back. I didn’t punish myself for that. Moving forward, I am only focusing on losing five pounds at a time. And if it takes me longer than usual to accomplish that feat, so be it.
Although I encouraged my Facebook followers on my author page to join me in my quest to lose weight and live a healthier life, only one friend accepted the challenge. At first I was surprised. Then I understood.
A time to focus on self-care
Perhaps during these tumultuous times, it’s more about survival than success, however you define that word. Maybe we should ditch those New Years resolutions and focus on self-preservation and self-care.
Let’s express our intentions rather than goals this year, with a focus on personal growth rather than achievement.
What’s your focus word for 2021?
Have you heard of the recent trend of selecting a “Word for the year” or “Focus Word”? Supposedly, at the beginning of the year, you choose just one word or phrase that describes what you need the most, what you want to cultivate in your life, or what you want your focus to be during the year.
In the past, when I read about this, it seemed a bit silly to me. But I have changed my mind. I’m not talking about words like abundance (unless I’m talking about love), advancement, ambition, or achievement. There are many better and valuable words to choose from.
Mental health can be a priority for you this year. If you are struggling with anxiety and depression during these difficult times, perhaps choose a word like calm, prayer, strength, resilience, gratitude, tranquility, breathe, heal, strength, survive, or inner peace. Or if you are focused on self-care to maintain sanity, perhaps you choose to nurture, witness, release, create, relax, pay attention, simplify, relax, or nurture.
You may choose a phrase, such as “You have this” or “We will go through this” or “This too will pass.”
If you want physical health to be a priority, you can adopt a word like active, vigor, fit, strong, healthy, mindful eating, or exercise.
How about opting for a word like compassion, love, empathy, and kindness? These are great words and qualities to adopt, especially towards those who are battling this virus in this horrible pandemic, those who are losing loved ones, and those who are suffering from job loss, stress, and depression. After all, focusing on others can help your own well-being. Think about the positive feelings you experienced the last time you comforted or encouraged another person. “Helping others takes the mind and emotions off of oneself, allowing the mind to overcome anxieties and rumination,” said Stephan G. Post, PhD, director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics at the University of Stony Brook, in an article for Healthline.
And let’s not forget spiritual words like hope, faith, trust, or believe. Life ebbs and flows, sometimes causing pain, sadness, difficulties, pain, and frustration. If you are a spiritual person and have faith, it can give you hope for the future, regardless of your current circumstances.
As this describes me, I choose the word “go ahead”. As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar put it, “If there is hope in the future, there is literally power in the present.”
Because I look to the future with hope and confidence thanks to my faith. Because with God’s help, I know that our ability and infinite capacity to endure and recover is much greater than we think.
I choose “go ahead” because I look forward to the day when I can hug my family and friends again. I look forward to the time when I can travel to unknown destinations and experience new adventures. Hell, I’m looking forward to the day when I don’t have to dye my hair!
In other words, I am looking forward to moving on.
So what’s your focus word for this year? No rules. Think about which focus word will have the biggest impact on your life. Maybe choose five focus words instead of one. In fact, I plan to try to incorporate all of these words into my life this year.
What is your intention for 2021?
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