In this episode, We give you our Word for the year. And...how you can create your own.
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Take a trip!
Before we addressed our word...we addressed our life. Regardless of how adventurous you may be, sometimes we still end up doing only one routine, like car trips or flying to the same place, right?
Pay attention to your lifestyle - even as a full time RVing family, we can get stuck in one way of doing things. We want to still add in big trips beyond the States - making plans beyond where an RV can take us. Look at a variety of travel options - by car, by plane, train, boat…where will we head to next?
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Where are we this week?
Ah, Florida. Warmth, down days, and the most "settled" we are. We spend more time staying put and adding in more reflection, rejuvenation, and...decluttering. Seriously.
But this time, we're doing it right. I want to end this constant decluttering once and for all!
Follow us on our journey on Insta as the FieldTripGypsies!
The impact of choosing a word for the year is it becomes the mantra that stays present in your mind all year long
It helps you remember where your focus is. It’s not just about picking the perfect word…or is it? Sometimes this word is what really helps you anticipate and prepare your mindset.
When you identify a certain word, quote, phrase or mantra, it helps to frame your approach for how you will interact moving forward. What lights you up and brings you joy? This is an important part of being intentional vs. just reacting to what is thrown at you. You know where you’re headed - and this word sets the tone for how you get there. You’ll start to see this word pop up more and more in your life.
It's time for a reset
January is a symbolic switchover. We often look at this time as our “reset” - we come off the holidays with a focus on family, and oftentimes work slows a bit and it’s a time for self-reflection. Many re-evaluate on the coming of the new year to really assess wether their life is in alignment with where they are or want to get to.
We simply react…”hopefully my ship will come in this year…” But if you don’t know what your ship is or where you’re going, you can simply get lost at sea and only react to what crops up. We all have our ups and downs, feeling like we’re fighting upstream and not feeling the “flow.”
What is your calling?
Whether you call it “God’s calling,” “the Universe is in alignment” or something else, you can really feel when you are in the “flow” and on your right path.
Sometimes our drive and ambition can create a cacophony of opportunity that can be hard to narrow down. With my own “opportunity paralysis,” I was quickly climbing the hill of being “jack of all trades, master of none.” As much as I loved all I was taking on, it was quickly becoming hard to sustain, and I had to choose what to pull back from.
It’s not just about dropping everything, but homing in on one focus to deepen our strengths and skills instead of being spread so thin.
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Presence:
My first word ideas was presence. It was this desire to simply sit still and be present in the moment. I often talk of grounding and awareness…yet with a highly driven personality style, it’s hard to slow things down. It can be hard to still your mind and pull back, yet it can be so freeing, and allow you to dig deeper.
It’s not that you shut it all down but one, but look at if you make space for being present or if you’re in constant action.
Netflix has a new series, with Marie Kondo. I’ve blown off this book because of how extreme I thought it was, and yet…as I picked up the book, I feel like she had me pegged completely. I have been in a constant state of decluttering for two years now!
Unhurried Spaciousness - This is it.
But this word from her book...unhurried spaciousness. For Nathan, this meant not rushing around and always having an agenda, but being open to opportunities as they arrive.
In the home, it’s about not constantly decluttering, but creating space where this isn’t a constant battle. Seeing cleared space - no accumulation of knick-knacks and clutter. Allowing for space for your eyes to rest. Where do we have “white space” in our lives? In our homes? Like a book, white space allows for your eyes - and soul - to rest. Make some space for nothing in your life.
Be okay with not having every spot filled in our home and moment filled in our lives. Oftentimes we fill every gap with things to do, people to see, conversations to have. OR, we fill the empty space with the constant entertainment of our phones.
We are connected in a much bigger way than we sometimes recognize. That clutter that stays in our homes, heads and hearts affects every aspect of our lives.
What is a 90 degree adjustment?
Look to the left or right - see what other opportunities are around you that may be possible - not in going back, but looking at “and” opportunities. Within the 180 degree radius, there are many paths you can go down. You can look at your life in these series of minor adjustments vs. it being a black and white drastic direction in only one way.
When you have a word, you can make adjustments repeatedly and use your word as an anchor to still keep you on course. The point of the word goes back to intention, so you’re not blindly plowing forward and grasping every opportunity, but you have your foundation to keep coming back to. You’re being strategic and ensuring this fits with the lifestyle you want to have.
Where do you want to go from here? How do you define your year?
5 Steps to Choose Your Word
- Talk about what went well in the past - something we really enjoyed. Do we want to replicate that event…or that feeling?
- What big goals do you have that you know are coming up the pipeline? What is the process it will take to get there? Begin with the end in mind.
- What can you do with a 15 hour work-week? If you have a side hustle, you really can build something with only 15 hours a week - but it takes strategy…and an end date. There may be a time for a hard push (like Nathan in the springtime as a realtor). We got through it because we knew it was a limited time. There may be times to muscle through…and yet, it’s important to still add in moments of rest and recovery throughout so you don’t burn out before it’s over.
- Be realistic about what is needed when you make a push toward something that’s worth it to you to achieve. Lay out the clear expectation and how you will balance self-care and family-care in the process.
- Look at areas in your life that you desire to grow in. Go back to your family vision and look at what you want to reach for together. Maybe pull out the art supplies and create a new “curiosity board” of things you want to pursue as a family this year.
What will spark joy in your life?
Your Weekly Challenge:
Where will you be pursuing joy in your life for this year? This year is going to fly by regardless of whether we create an intention around it. Stay fully present and determine what your intention is going to be.
Coaching, as in life, is not simply about giving you suggestions and listening to your woes. You are in the driver's seat of your success in life. I'm the passenger and may help you navigate the scenic routes to get the best view, but you are the one steering the wheel.
Stay fully present on this ride, and I guarantee you'll see positive results! Celebrate your strengths. Recognize your triggers. And remember, the uniqueness in each of us strengthens all of us.
Namaste
Questions or comments?
Personality styles, marriage/intimacy, parenting, education, minimalism or travel - what is pressing on your mind?
Or, hop on over to the Mama Says Namaste or Unschooling Families FB groups and ask your question there!