Ease.
That was the word I chose to represent my intention for 2023. Written on a Post It Note and stuck to my bathroom mirror, it was a daily reminder of how I wanted to move through the world and the energy I wanted to bring. You see, I may have developed a habit of something my husband affectionately refers to as, “fighting the Universe”, which is akin to bulldozing my way through life. If I set my sights on something, I would battle for it, even if I had to forcefully shove that square peg into the round hole. Sound exhausting? It was—for me and those who live and work alongside this overachiever. Thus, “ease” became my new mantra. I no longer wanted to force, to manipulate, to exhaust, to hustle my way through life. While I am still wildly goal oriented, I also wanted to hold space for the Universe to offer opportunities in ways which were off my radar and beyond my imagination. It worked! I can readily say that several goals I set did not pan out as expected. In fact, some of them went down in flames, yet in the ashes, the seeds of something new began to sprout. Instead of walking away from the fire, I stopped to investigate the new smoldering and wonder what had potential to grow from it. I set aside my pride, and leaned into curiosity, often pleasantly surprised at what I found. Lesson learned. After some contemplation, I’ve decided that the word for 2024 is “adventure”. This year, I intend to say “yes” to travel, to play, to stretching outside of my comfort zone. In my effort to chase joy, I need to actively seek moments which invoke awe, laughter, and a different kind of accomplishment. The kind of accomplishment I now crave is one of trying new things just for the sake of the experience. I want to look like a fool, trip and scrape my knees, belly laugh with failure, and celebrate small victories simply because they were fun. In the spirit of plunging into 2024 in search of adventure, I spent New Years Day doing something I never thought I would—jumping into the freezing cold ocean with a thousand other fun-seeking humans. The Polar Bear Swim. For someone who rarely swims, even on the hottest summer day, I stood upon the shoreline cursing the inspiration which brought me to the beach on January 1st. Reminding myself that sometimes discomfort is exactly what the doctor ordered, I hushed the cranky voice within me and tried to become present in the moment. The energy was humming, as participants laughed nervously and music pumped in the background. And, when the time came, I ran straight towards the ocean and went for it. Did I dive in? Hell no! Baby steps, people! But I did it. And, perhaps I created a new tradition. Maybe. I truly believe in the power of intention setting. New Years Resolutions are often broken because of their specificity. When you don’t lose the twenty pounds, eat less sugar, watch less TV, you are sucked into a spiral of shame. Intention setting is purposefully broad and leaves room for creativity in your approach. It is less about what you want to do, and more about how you want to be. We are, after all, human beings who walk through life making mistakes and failing all of the time. An intention is a reminder of your mindset, your attitude, your desire to evolve. So, what is your word for 2024? Share it below!
2 Comments
Jazmin
1/4/2024 09:04:33 pm
Embrace. Embrace all the moments and experience that come my way. Even the uncomfortable ones. I have so many right now and I am trying to embrace and learn from them. I find myself shying away from experiences that are presented to me. I just need to take a deep breath and embrace the now.
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Kel
1/12/2024 10:20:43 am
That's beautiful, Jazmin! Embracing whatever comes, whatever is meant for you will keep you present in the moment and open to the lessons life offers.
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AuthorKel Cleeve. Archives
October 2024
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