Forget New Year’s Resolutions and Choose One Word to Focus on in 2021
I abandoned the tradition of New Year’s resolutions 15 years ago. Instead, I select One Word to focus on. I always look forward to sharing my annual One Word with family and friends, as well as finding out what One Words others select for the coming year.
For only the second time in all these years, I’m repeating a One Word. In 2009, my One Word was forgiveness. I ended up keeping that word for 2010. Forgiveness is too often seen as nothing more than saying a quick and easy, “I’m sorry” and assuming we’re forgiven. Mission accomplished and we move on.
To this day, I’m thankful I took two years to focus on the challenging, life-changing concept of forgiveness.
My One Word for 2020 is listen. I linked my One Word to the Scripture verse, “Everyone should be quick to listen …” (James 1:19 NIV)
It’s intriguing how we’re encouraged to be quick to listen because choosing to listen forces us to stop and laser in on our interactions with others.
So often in the past months, someone else would be talking and I would start to say something and then close my mouth, sit back, and think, “Don’t talk. Listen.”
Other times, someone would begin talking to me and I would put down my phone, or close my laptop, or turn away from the TV, determined to be all ears. (Yes, I went there.)
The more I chose to listen, the more I learned about the person talking to me. The more I understood them.
For the past few months, I tossed around several possible One Words for 2021. I don’t remember any of them. I kept returning to the thought that I needed another year with the word listen.
The power of choosing One Word is to stay with it for 365 days. To focus on one word – gratitude or joy or beauty – and allow it to change your perspective. To change how you live your life.
This past year, I’ve discovered that listening is a powerful ability that changes my relationships with others. I’ve come to value people more as I’ve chosen to listen more and talk less.
For me, listening is an expression of love without uttering a single word.
I decided to choose a new foundational verse for the coming year that would encourage me to listen more and talk less: “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29 NASB) It reminds me to offer grace when I do speak – and that listening is a chance to give grace to others too.
What about you? Did you choose One Word for this past year? How has that changed you? What One Word have you chosen for 2021?
Forget New Year's Resolutions and Choose One Word to Focus on in 2021 https://bit.ly/2Iv1WAk
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'Listening is about being present, not just being quiet.' Quote by Krista Tippett https://bit.ly/2Iv1WAk #OneWord #listen
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