Happy new year!
Last year I chose the word ‘contentment’ as my focus for the year, and although I think it was a good word for me I didn’t do any analysis on it beyond thinking of it at the start of the year. So, the process was rather a redundant one.
This year it is different. I have core feelings I want to achieve and I know how Luminous will be a way of assessing if I am working towards that. I have key things I want to reach and a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal, taken from Jim Collin’s Good to Great that I studied on my MA), tomorrow I will explain BHAG.
What does luminous mean for me?
It is a soft gentle, constant light emanating from within; not a blazing light which dazzles and is unsustainable.
I want to feel creative, well, devoted to the divine and peaceful.
When I take actions towards those feelings I live a luminous life. The word itself is also quite soft and forgiving, which is something I need. I will not get fully healthy again (back to the levels of running marathons etc), so measuring myself against feeling ‘healthy’ is a bad idea, but I can be having a really bad pain and fatigue day and still be luminous. How? By accepting how I am that day; doing things which make me feel better and not fighting it so much which takes a lot of energy.
Trying to live up to luminous will affect all aspects of my life, but to avoid overly complicating things I am going to rate myself against luminous each day on a scale of 0-10.
I know what I need to do to be luminous – some of the actions are:
- food – eating gluten and dairy free, avoiding large amounts of sugar, green smoothie, regular meals at sensible times, avoiding junk food
- exercise – yoga or swimming & walking every day, otherwise I very quickly lose my muscle tone and have to use my wheelchair a lot more, not to mention suffer more with pain and fatigue
- walking in nature
- creating – writing, photography, playing music, drawing/painting
- listening to music
- reading
- being off of my computer
- not working too much
- stress free
- solitude
- seeing friends
- quality time with my husband
But measuring all that on a daily basis would be painful, so I will measure how luminous I feel each day.
I will reflect monthly too as a way of staying on track.
Have you tried having a word of the year before? What about this year?
These photos were taken this morning at Coalhouse Fort, Tilbury in Thurrock. I was awake before dawn and so the light was amazing, but there wasn’t a sunrise which would have been rather symbolic!
I love how you choose a word to be your companion during time passing. I have always thought that a great idea, something on which to focus and which does not take an audacious amount of time whilst giving me that one notion of how and where I would like my life to move.
Perhaps I am inspired to do so this year. I already have a list of things that I no longer want in my life and am concentrating on that mess, but it would be nice to have that kind of gentle, oh I guess maybe supportive, word to hold me accountable to truly moving towards the life I want and not simply leaving the dross behind.
Juds
Do give it a go, I am really focused on making this the centre of my life this year!
There is something about focusing on the positive, rather than what needs to change. It makes a bit mental difference I think
Thanks, I always find you so encouraging.
Now, to find that word, or perhaps better pay attention and allow it to find me.
thank you! Yes you do have to find your word, I spend time reflecting on what I want to achieve this year -mainly in terms of feelings. Look at Danielle La Porte’s Desire Map for help!