I cannot think of a time when I've actually made a resolution and stuck to it. In the past, I've had big plans of losing weight, creating a "plan" to improve life, going after a better job, finding love and the list goes on. I have had the best of intentions, thinking that, "This year will be the year that I will change my life!" My life has changed, and I don't think I'd contribute it to any of the many New Year's Resolutions that I set.
A few years ago I went to a Sunday service that was different than any that I'd ever attended. On New Year's Day the sermon was about allowing one word to be integrated into life more often. I was challenged to not only integrate the word, I was challenged to take action on it. The word was not suggested from outside, it was a word that surfaced when I allowed myself to take a moment and simply be with my truth.
When asking myself, "What am I ready to give more attention to in my life?", I was able to gain clarity about what I may have been neglecting in the past. Last year my word was, "Listen". It can be a simple word, and to me, it has so many different applications. The most important listening for me this year to attend to was the listening from within, listening to my truth, the deep knowing that I have which allows me to move forward. When I gift myself with the space and opportunity to simply listen, I am able to make clearer choices that are more in alignment with my values as well as my purpose and vision. So where has that listening shown up? How has my ability to listen impacted my year? My listening has shown up in my coaching, allowing me to be truly present, giving my clients the ability to have great moments of clarity, creating powerful and lasting change. My ability to listen has supported me to be a stronger and more present mother to my precious daughter. I have a true awareness that even in the toughest of times, when I listen to the situation, not the screaming, there is a message for me ("This is Meadow being tired, not her displaying her dislike for me.") My listening has supported me to become an active board member within my spiritual community. It has allowed me to let go of the pressure to make unhealthy relationships work , while making room for those that are mutually rewarding. Listening gave me the greatest treasure this Spring when my darling husband was layed off from his place of employment after 13 years of service. Initially we were scared. The fear didn't last long, as we started to allow ourselves to be with what was happening. The Spring turned into Summer, which became a magical time of family. As we continued to live on the severance that he received we knew that our situation was bound to change, and change it did! By letting go of the fear, we were able to enjoy the gift of the time we were given. By trusting the situation, my husband was able to be available to receive a BIGGER and much BETTER job. At the beginning of that situation, we never would have known, or have been able to dream up the results that eventuated.
What word is jumping out to you as you step into a New Year? What are you ready to give more focus to?
