I love the practice of picking a word for the year and while there are many blogs out there about how to pick your word, this isn’t one of them. I did want to share why I pick a word and the meaning behind my word for 2021 - partly because I hope it will inspire you but also because I’m someone who needs external accountability. So the more people I share my word with, the more likely I am to stay focused on it. Also, I love the idea of coming back to this blog at the end of 2021 and reflecting on how my word manifested in my life.
For me, the word I select for the year allows me to set my intention on what I want to focus on in the new year. It doesn’t usually center around a specific goal I have for the year but rather an area I want to grow in. It’s about what I want to create more of in my life. This year my word is self-discipline.
Let me explain where this word came from.
Thanks to the pandemic I spent A LOT of time with my husband in 2020. It gave me an opportunity to observe his habits. One thing I noticed and admittedly admire about him is that he has a strong self-discipline. Despite the challenges that 2020 threw at us, he was able to keep a consistent morning routine and workout almost daily. He is committed to showing up for himself every single day.
What I learned about myself by watching him was that I am not self-disciplined when it comes to specific activities. I struggle with consistency. Even if I have the best intentions, I can easily get distracted from my goals by things like piles of dirty laundry, a snuggling toddler and my ultimate obstacle - sleep. This is not self-judgement. It is a fact of life for me and an area I’d like to grow in. Which is why I selected the word self-discipline for 2021.
Google defines self-discipline as, “the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it.” When I think about ‘pursuing’ something I think about being determined and focused. ‘Despite temptations’ sounds like my favorite reason for not staying focused when pursuing something - aka excuses. For someone who is externally motivated, those excuses can get in my way if I don’t have an accountability partner in place.
As I set my intention for the year ahead, here what I hope self-discipline looks like:
Focusing on my priorities - growing in my faith, being present for my family and taking care of myself physically and mentally.
Not letting distractions or excuses get in the way - you saw my list above. This one will be tough
Establishing external accountability when needed - I know I can’t do it alone which is why I have friends and a coach to support me.
What I’m learning is that self-discipline is a choice. It’s something you do for yourself . As a mom, doing something for myself can feel selfish at times. To remedy that feeling, I’m reminding myself that when I show up for myself, I can show up as the very best version of myself to my children. As an added bonus, I’m modeling to them what self-care and self-discipline look like, which will be valuable skills for them to have when they become parents one day.
I’d love to hear what word you picked for 2021 and how you hope it will manifest in your life. Send me an email to crystalynn@hohcoaching.com.