I’ve never been huge on making New Year’s resolutions. Truthfully, any time I felt pulled to make changes in my life, I’ve wanted to start immediately if not sooner. {Full disclosure, I still usually put them off. Oops!} 
And I don’t know anyone who had the energy to even consider making resolutions last year, after the collective trauma of 2020.
Our individual circumstances may vary, but we’ve all been going through it the last few years. We’ve all experienced loss and had to learn uncomfortable truths about ourselves, others, and the world.
Being introspective and working on ourselves is hard! And not to whine {well, we can whine a little} but none of my personal growth lately has come because I was ready or searching for it. Or on some “self discovery journey” B.S.
It’s crashed into me like a runaway freight train. It’s been exhausting.
I need 2022 to treat me a bit more gently, you know?
A few years ago, I came across the “One Year, One Word” idea. Instead of a New Years resolution, the concept is that choosing just one word to focus on can impact the year ahead. Think of it as an intention more than a resolution or goal.
I can {hopefully} narrow my intentions for 2022 into just one word but y’all know, writers aren’t usually known for being so brief, so here’s the just slightly longer version. Feel free to tweak it to your own needs!
In 2022, I intend to continue on this lifelong journey toward full self-love and acceptance. As long as I am alive I can grow, change and learn. I’m proud to be where I am today, and I look forward to my continued evolution this year.
I aspire to learn from the experiences I’ve lived, both joyful and painful: as a child, as an adolescent, and now as an adult and parent. I can let go of shame I’ve felt. I can explore myself even more deeply through mindfulness and reflection.
But through all of this, my greatest intention is one that comes only with time and practice:
I will be kind to myself.
I will be kind to myself:
To my mind, by taking time for myself. Allowing myself to focus on things that matter and bring me joy. Allowing myself to rest my mind. Answering “I’ll get back to you” before overcommitting myself. Answering “no” when I want to say no.
Taking social media breaks. Picking up my Kindle more than my phone.
And changing my inner voice to one who speaks to myself the way I would speak to a dear girlfriend. Even the most confident women have our days when we doubt our every choice and talent.
To my heart, by letting go of past hurts and choosing to focus my love on the people who love me for exactly who I am.
Also by pursuing my own passions, however small or great they may be.
Spending time with my family, completely tuned in, which is so connective for all of us.
Finding what brings me joy or ignites my inner flame and making time for it!
To my body, by continuing to let go of the constant struggle between loving my body as is and falling back into lifelong diet culture habits. Discovering and embracing the things that make me feel better or worse or neutral within my body. Being true to my body’s needs on any given day.
Life can be lived in survival mode, but it can also be lived with the intentions of learning, evolving, and growing. Love yourself today, and keep growing. We can do both.
We can accept ourselves, flaws and all, while pursuing greater knowledge and understanding of ourselves, our relationships, and the world as a whole.
I’m confident in saying the woman I am today is not who I will be a year from now.
I do not need to become more of this or less of that. I am already enough.
Wishing you all a wonderful 2022. Happy New Year!
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