To Thrive in 2014

For the fourth year in a row I’ve chosen a word to help guide and define my year. I think it’s a much more powerful way to approach a new year then to just make resolutions, because a word can become so many different things. It can bring things into your life that you might not expect, or dare you to do something new or guide you through a difficult time. It can become so much.

My word for 2014 chose me this time, late in the summer of last year. I saw a picture on Pinterest and I just stopped… there was an ache in my chest for this concept, even then. And now as I step into 2014 with more things happening to me than I’d expected, I need this word more than ever.

This is the picture I saw on Pinterest. And “thrive” is my One Little Word for 2014.

Definition: verb; 1. to prosper; be fortunate or successful 2. to grow or develop vigorously; flourish. (Ironically, my word from 2012 was Flourish…things always seem to connect.) 3. to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances.

Thesaurus: bloom, flourish, succeed, advance, radiate, bear fruit, make a go, arrive, burgeon, expand, shine, progress

I chose this word because: Lately it feels like life is spinning out of control…going faster and faster and I’m just barely hanging on; barely surviving. We have Chris’ parents living with us right now, and so, my sanctuary, my home, which should feel like a safe haven and a resting place feels like anything but. I feel like a guest in my own home. It feels like things keep happening to me…like I have no say. It’s a hard place to be, and a very negative head space to sit in. I don’t like it…and this isn’t me. So for right now, in this moment, my word “thrive” will help me to make conscious decisions to do just that…to go beyond surviving. I want to thrive in self, and thrive in truth (like my picture says) and thrive in health and thrive in trust and thrive in my relationships. I want my blog to thrive and my marriage to thrive and my work to thrive. I want to feel like myself again. That’s why I chose this word…or why it chose me, I guess.

With this word I invite: Strong, active decision making, contentment, health, control, success from my own standpoint and others’, activity, chances, changes, adventure and life.

Quotations:

“Build a foundation of faith now, and when the storms of life hit, you will not only survive – you will thrive.” –GanelLyn Condie

“You can’t thrive tentatively.” –Unknown

“Your greatest responsibility is to live a life that nourishes your highest truth.” ― Mollie Marti

I know that there are others in the blogging and OLW communities that have chosen “thrive” as their word for 2014 as well. Particularly, Ali Edwards who teaches the OLW class. But I don’t think having the same word as someone else is a bad thing. I think her perspectives can be inspiring to me throughout the year. It might help me think of my word in lots of different ways; ways that I might not have expected. But I know that my experience with my word this year will be my own…it will be personal and I’m hoping very motivational and curing.

I’m looking forward to thriving in 2014.

Did you pick a OLW for 2014?
I’d love to hear what it is and why you picked it.
Feel free to share in the comments below.