It was when I worked as an editor for a fitness club member magazine 23 years ago, that we talked about how to make New Years resolutions work. Many, like to get fit, loose weight, quit smoking and so forth, and make this into a resolution, but often not lasting more than a month. Why is that, and how can we change it?

After reading Cheryl Richardson’s books, newsletters and watching her Life-makeover series on Oprah, I came up with the idea to instead decide on a word that can be used as a focus for the upcoming year, and have shared this in my own coaching newsletters since 2002. I used to journal on it, after practicing yoga as my own little ritual at home, for a couple of years. It’s not a goal that I’m trying to manifest, intend or achieve, but instead something that can guide my personal growth and journey towards creating more peace, love and happiness. In 2021, I had Integrity as my theme, in 2022 Posture, as my focus word and thus I practiced on improving my posture as often as I could remember, such as when standing in line somewhere. This year, I’ve had Enthusiasm as my theme. With this, I’ve simply asked myself if any decisions or choices I’m standing before, ignites my enthusiasm. It has, and thus I’ve let it guide me. In 2024, I intend to focus on Relationships, ie how I relate.

By nature, each action has a reaction, or simply put its opposite reflection. A desired change, therefore often produces a feeling of resistance. But, resistance tells us that we must understand why, we need to change, and let this friction within (and outside of us) become the fuel, the actual energy, with which we can implement change.

For success to be possible, we must create the right conditions for it to happen. It’s like making sure we have the right pot, soil, water and light, rather than asking the plant to grow faster or taller or bigger. It will naturally do so, when the conditions are right for it. This is an important part of lifecoaching – it’s not about struggling to reach a goal, but to look into what needs to be done to do so.

What do you feel would help you, to focus on next year?