How a word of the Year provides Midlife Focus

The How a word of the Year provides Midlife Focus is part of the #WBOYC link party, a regular link up for bloggers discussing their word of the year or what has been on their calendar for the month.  

How a word of the year provides Midlife Focus

Hello Everybody, 

I’ve been a bit quiet on the blog from the start of the New Year.  I haven’t really got back into my regular blogging routines.  Life just seems to keep taking over and distracting me from my goals.  How about you?  Have you struggled to focus this year?

I don’t really do New Year’s resolutions but over the last few years I have adopted a word of the year.   Previous words have been Action, Focus, Abundance, Vision and last year Create.   New Year’s resolutions can quickly fade and lose momentum, but somehow a word for the year provides more of a gentle guidance that we can adapt and draw on as the year unfolds. 

I have found that setting a word for the year provides me with a theme to explore and help me to focus more on my goals.  Each month I can reflect on my word and evaluate how my goals are progressing.   The concept of a word of the year is very simple but it is a mindful way to help you shape your life. 

As Christmas rapidly approached last year, I thought my word would be Discovering, but after participating in an online mindfulness coaching session, the word memories popped up instead.  

So, for 2024 my word is going to be MEMORIES.  

I feel this word still incorporates an element of discovering as I want to discover how to make new memories but also explore past memories.  

At midlife we can begin to feel a bit lost and stuck.  If you are a parent, partner or followed a career, it is easy to lose sense of ourself.  By reflecting back on past memories we can remind ourselves of who we used to be, what we used to enjoy and love and maybe rediscover ourselves in midlife.  

“It’s important to remember who we are” 

I recently dug out my old diary that I wrote when my husband and I went off backpacking around the world prior to children and the usual life responsibilities.  Reading through what we did, the things that interested us and how resilient and independent we were, has been a good reminder of my younger self.  

I don’t feel it is healthy to dwell too much on the past, but it is important to reflect on what activities and moments in your life you felt your happiest.  By recalling the interests and hobbies that made you happy, you can analyse if these are still in your life and whether you would benefit from resurrecting them. 

Have you set a word for the year?

If you haven’t set one yet, here are a couple of tips:

1. Think about areas of your life where you desire growth and transformation.  What changes do you want to make this year?
2. Make sure your word aligns with your values and aspirations.
3. Take your time to chose.  It’s important to make sure your word really resonants and speaks to you.
4. Once you have chosen a word, align your goals and actions with it.  Your word serves as a guiding principle, influencing the decisions you make and the paths you choose. Let your word infuse purpose and direction in every aspect of your life. 
5. Incorporate your word into your environment as a reminder.  Maybe post-it notes on your mirror or fridge door, journal/diary prompts or an inspirational screen saver on your phone.
6. Work on keeping your word front and center in your consciousness so it can help guide you in your choices, thoughts and actions.
7. Regularly reflect on your progress.  Maybe at the start or end of the month, look back on how you have used your word during the month.
8. Consider sharing your word with other like minded people.  You can then help and inspire each other. 
9. As the year progresses pay attention to how your word has appeared in your life.  How has it shaped your perceptions, attitudes and experiences. 
10. Embrace moments of growth and transformation, no matter how small they may seem.  Recognise the impact of living with purpose and intention has had on your life. 
11. At the end of the year reflect on how your word has influenced your life, what changes you have achieved,  how far you have come, and the insights you have gained on the way.

By the end of the year, I am sure that you will discover you have renewed clarity and purpose.  

I hope you will carrying on following my journey and that it will help to inspire you to utilise your word to progress your life.  

Let me know in the comments whether you have chosen a word for the year, and feel free to share it with us. 

Don’t forget to check out the other posts in this link party HERE .  Thanks to my fellow bloggers for setting up this link party.

Deb from Deb’s World

Jo from AndAnyways

Donna from Retirement Reflections

Sue from Women Living Well after 50

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