My 3 Words…

I wish I could take credit for this brilliant (and I do sincerely mean brilliant) idea, but alas I cannot.  Thanks to Chris Brogan for sharing this process on his blog.  In a recent post, he related his method of setting goals for the new year.  (Actually, this is not new as he has shared this method in years past on his blog as well.)

I’ve never been one for the whole “New Year’s Resolutions” myself.  Why?  Simply put, most people (including myself) have fallen off the wagon by week TWO of the new year.    However, as someone commented on Brogan’s post, it takes a real paradigm shift to narrow one’s thought process to 3 words by which to guide your year.  I whole-heartedly agree!  And since I couldn’t get this idea off my mind, I decided to take a stab at it…

Truth be told, I’ve been working on this for 3 days now! I’ve even mind-mapped this to provide clarity for myself.  Since I sense that some of you too may struggle with this, I wanted to share my own process for determining my 3 Words for 2010 and the result.

The Process:

First, I started with much reflection on the past year–the good, bad and the ugly.  And I did this reflecting in the only place in which solitude can be found in my home–the bathtub!  (Oh the wonders discovered via a warm bubble bath!)

As I pondered, several themes emerged as I assessed whether or not I had obtained the goals outlined for myself last year.  I took each of those “themes” and broke them down to the core element–or the “heart” of the matter.  It was then that my initial 3 words emerged.  To the mind map I went.  ( I LOVE this tool)

It was through the clarity that mind-mapping gave to this task that my final three words shone through and I’d like to share them with you.

My 3 Words:  Balance, Connect, Passion.

Balance–it has eluded me in years (and businesses) past.  Yet, I see this as an essential part of thriving both personally and professionally.  The balance I speak of is between the different versions of “me” that I must be each day–the “mommy” me, the “wifey” me and the “business” me.  And oh yeah, I have to find time for the “me” that belongs just to me–the me that loves to read, sing, write, and that needs to shed a few pounds, etc.)  This past year our family faced trials that have proven yet again that life is too short.  Time, once spent, can never be regained.  And so it is with health–often spent in pursuit of success.  This year, I claim BALANCE.

Connect.  To truly connect with another human being is a powerful gift–one that I do not wish to squander.  If someone takes the time to follow my blog, or fan me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter–I don’t want that to go un-noticed.  And when I take time to consider why someone would choose to do any of the above, it is my humble opinion that I in some way heard their wants, needs and desires.

The art of listening is all but non-existent in the world today.  There’s a reason we have two ears and one mouth! I also included a “queenly” reminder (similar in thought to Chris’s “kingly”) for myself that I can’t please everyone and regardless of how rude, nasty or unprovoked situations can be, that I can rise above it.  Thus, the queenly part of me claims the power to CONNECT.

Passion.  Getting back to what I LOVE and not being ashamed to be who and what I am!  Somewhere along the way, I allowed myself to be swayed by dollars (and other marketers) to move away from things I was truly passionate about.  And you know what happened…the passion died!  Never again.  Starting TODAY, I claim PASSION once again.

I’d love to listen and hear your 3 words so that I can SEE you.  (For those of you who have seen Avatar, you’ll get the reference!)