It’s so easy to spin out in busyness and confusion, so it’s important to have something to anchor you. Focus, attention and time are all very scarce resources. We live in a world where change, complexity and an overwhelming amount of choice, information, data and opinion bombard us on a daily basis. Author Dr. Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics, says that our ability to pay attention is in fact dropping. In 2004 average attention on a screen was 2.5 minutes, and now it’s only 47 seconds!
It’s so easy to spin out in busyness and confusion, so it’s important to have something to anchor you.
That’s where the power of a theme, focus or “Big Word” comes in. Creating an intentional word or phrase to help you keep your feet on the ground can make all the difference in creating outstanding success and impact, or just hitting the mark. There’s a truism I love that says we overestimate what we can do in a day, yet underestimate what we can do in a year. What might be possible for you if you took consistent, daily action in alignment with an overarching focus for your year?
One year, as I was polishing up some old family heirloom silver over the holidays, I was wondering about my Big Word for the year to come. Here were these candlestick and cutlery, tarnished with age, some of which were likely about 100 years old. I thought about how my grandparents must have used them, I wondered who joined them in sharing meals where these special pieces graced their dinner tables. And here I was, in a new century from the original owners, preparing my own meal for my family and friends. It felt like a “circle of life” kind of moment.
Taking off the tarnish revealed the real beauty of these silver pieces. And the word “Shine” popped into my head. It had such a lot of resonance for me I felt it would make a great Big Word for the year. I’ve continued to use this as an annual practice and found it to be a simple and anchoring weathervane to see whether the choices and decisions I make over the year move me toward or away from that mega-intention I’ve set. Some of my other Big Words have included “Flow”, “Compassion” and “Simplify.”
I was recently working in a small group where we shared our Big Words for the year. I explained that I surprised myself a bit by choosing the word “Discipline.” People often remark on my creative ideas and ability to think outside the box. My mother immigrated to Canada from Germany. As a young child I learned a lot about rules, discipline and the need for routine which often was very much a reflection of what she had experienced herself growing up. Even though I am a fairly disciplined person, I wandered away from the concept of discipline because of the connotations it can have of rigidity.
I was surprised that “Discipline” emerged as my Big Word initially because it can feel limited and prescribed. But in the few weeks I’ve been using that word as my rudder, I now appreciate the power of how discipline actually provides a sturdy container for all kinds of creative endeavours, project accomplishment, and focus.
Discipline helps to stop the re-negotiation of decision. Discipline isn’t always about external achievement, but also about creating alignment with inner commitments. For me that includes my new habit of cold water immersion 3x a week (and it’s been daily this past week!). It includes prioritizing healthy sleep. It includes tackling projects or “to do’s” that have been sitting a little too long and need some attention so I can feel more in flow. And when those moments arise when “Discipline” might feel wobbly, I remember that tarnished candlestick and realize there is likely some small act of self-care and attention that needs to happen.
One of the best lines in my favourite musical of all time, Hamilton, is when Alexander Hamilton asks Aaron Burr this question:
“If you don’t know what you stand for, what will you fall for?”
Having a Big Word can help to cut through the overwhelm and distraction, and help you focus your attention. What’s your Big Word for 2023? I’d love to hear your Big Word!
