Hi there! Forgive the brief absence. I took a quick trip over to Florence, Italy to celebrate with Luisa Via Roma at the 10th edition of their Firenze4Ever event, including the first ever Fashion & Technology Summit. More about that amazing experience very soon!

But today, I wanted to share with you the One Little Word idea – something that can serve you well in this new year!

One Little Word : The Concept

In case you aren’t familiar with the concept, allow me to share some background with you about this powerful idea… My dear friend Ali Edwards started this practice eight or so years. Each year, rather than setting resolutions that just get broken, you simply do this: pick one little word (or let a word pick you, as may be the case) to guide your year. You can read more from Ali directly about the idea and her word for 2015 here.

I’ve adopted this idea for the last four years or so. Each year, the journey with my word is interesting. Much like life itself, I find that I get out of it what I put into it. The years that have been most successful in terms of personal growth are those years in which I have kept my word prominent in my life – whether through tangible reminders or regular meditation on the word.

One Little Word : My Word for 2015 – Release

I started thinking about my word in early December. I quickly honed into grateful as my word. In late 2014, I started a daily, conscious gratitude practice (inspired by my friend Jessica, and Ali as well). Doing so had a profoundly positive affect on me. While gratitude doesn’t change our circumstances, it certainly changes our perspective.

However, my word changed immediately when I attended a yoga class on New Year’s Day. The instructor uttered this phrase:

“When we let go of old things we no longer need, we make room for wonderful new things.”

The beauty of that statement resonated with me right away, and the word release came to mind. For 2015, I plan to focus on two aspects of release:

1. Release : to let go; to free from confinement, obligation, pain, etc.

I’m interested in exploring what it means to let go… Let go of limitations. Let go of any negativity. Let go of preconceived notions. Let go of tension I hold in my body. Let go of past hurts. And I am sure there are many other ways the idea of letting go will present itself to me throughout the year.

And as I let go of the old things I no longer need, I’ll make room for wonderful new things! That brings me to the second dimension of the word release on which I’ll be focusing.

2. Release : to free from confinement and to burst forth

I not only want to let go of things, but I also want to burst forth! I want to release my potential more fully into the world. I desire to release my love, my presence, my professional potential, my creative potential, and my spirit more fully. I seek to do this not only for myself, but to be of service to others. True fulfillment comes when we embrace who we are, find our own unique path, and then use our purpose to build others up.

One Little Word : Challenge

Have you picked One Little Word to guide your year?

If so, what is it?

If not, it’s not too late to join the movement! Trust me, this path of a guiding word is much more interesting and enjoyable than those rigid resolutions you made that are like already broken.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the idea!

 

graphic design by Ashley Beatrice