At the beginning of 2019 I decided to try out using a guiding word, as opposed to a New Year’s resolution which in my opinion all but assures failure…
THE STORY
…Whether you call it a guiding word, a focus word, or word of the year, simply stated it’s a word used to steer you in the direction that you want to go and aid in making positive changes that you want to see in your life. In my case I chose two words because both really resonated with my heart. I had chosen “intentional” and “discover” as my words, or more accurately, they chose me. I discussed the many reasons that those words resonated with me in a post from early last year so I won’t rehash the rationale here.
For me resolutions were always ineffective and seemed to be nothing more than a setup for disappointment in myself for not following through and not accomplishing what I set out to do. In my mind the difference between a guiding word and a resolution is in the specificity.
A guiding word can encompass and be very relevant to many areas of your life. For example, the word “intentional”. The word can remind you to be more intentional with your daily actions, more intentional in your relationships with others, more intentional with how you spend your money or perhaps more intentional with the food that you eat. Whereas with resolutions, you would need a specific resolution for every one of these areas and it would quite quickly become overwhelming. Can you see the setup for failure just in the sheer number of resolutions that you would need when a one word reminder would do the trick?
Quite honestly I initially wasn’t sure about the concept of a word of the year, or guiding word as I call it. Choosing a word of the year seemed to be super trendy, and I tend to avoid trends whenever possible, if for no other reason then they are, well…trendy. Occasionally though something is trendy for a reason; because it’s effective.
Surprisingly the whole guiding word concept turned out to actually be incredibly effective for me. In my experience, choosing the right guiding word(s) helped to keep me focused throughout the year on the changes that I truly wanted to make in myself and my world.
Suffice it to say, remembering and focusing on a single word or two is so much simpler than burying yourself under unreasonable and unwieldy resolutions. A word gives you a quick easy reminder of what you’re focusing on, while still being flexible enough to oftentimes cover several areas of your life at once.
Wondering if perhaps choosing a guiding word(s) is right for you? A few things to consider are:
- Do you want to make changes in your life and how you’re living it, but need a gentle reminder as opposed to strictly defined parameters to keep on track?
- Do you want to be more aware and present in your life so that you are better able to make the changes that you want?
- Are you willing to work on those changes day by day and realize that there is no fast fix?
- Are you able to commit to a simple word(s) and use it as an impetus for change?
- Do you like the idea of having a goal for positive change while still allowing room to grow, adjust and adapt during the journey?
If your answer to any or all of these questions is yes, then choosing a guiding word for 2020 might be right for you. In my opinion, the benefits of a guiding word far outweigh any hesitations you might have so give it some thought.
Be sure to watch for Part 2 of this post “How To Choose Your Word Of The Year”… What are your thoughts on choosing a word of the year instead of resolutions?
THE OUTFIT
This month’s Ageless Style Link Up theme comes to us from Julia and wow…it was a tough one! She challenged all of us to style something, whether it be clothing, accessories or something beauty related, that ages us. And that is why it was so difficult…I don’t own anything that I feel ages me for that very reason…lol. So I went with something that could age me, or anyone, if styled wrong. That I believe is the key; there are a plethora of things that have the potential to age us, but if styled correctly can give off a cool funky vibe instead. It’s all in how you put it together.
Take strands of pearls for instance. Depending upon what you style them with, you could end up looking like anything from the Queen Mother to Madonna during the like a virgin era. I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with either one of those, I am simply making a point. Pearls paired with a prim sweater set or stiff suit can read dowdy, while pearls paired with denim and a graphic tee shirt can give off casual cool girl vibes. Today’s look takes that concept a step further…I wore my pearls with one of my Harley Davidson tees, dark denim and over the knee boots thus adding some edge to my casual pearls.
I added in a final seemingly discordant element with the light colored chunky knit cardigan. I could have gone with my leather jacket, a black cardigan or even a black blazer, all of which would have looked fine. But what’s the fun in going with the expected? Hence the chunky neutral cardigan.
THE TIP
A strand of pearls is a definite classic that has withstood the test of time and with good reason. Pearls can be refined and elegant or cool and edgy. To style them in a more modern fun way pair your pearls with unexpected pieces like denim and a graphic tee shirt or even a plain white or black tee.
Another way to kick up the coolness factor when wearing pearls is to mix them with several other necklaces in a variety of textures, metals and lengths. For example pearls layered with a velvet choker and a long delicate pendant necklace hits the sweet spot right between dowdy and over the top.
THE LINK UPS
Check out the weekly link ups I participate in for even more fashion and style ideas… BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN AND LINK UP WITH MYSELF AND MY LOVELY CO-HOSTS FOR THIS MONTHS AGELESS STYLE LINK UP!!
Graphic Tee: Similar; Jeans: American Eagle; Boots: Amazon; Cardigan: American Eagle (Similar)
Daenel ~ Living outside the stacks blog, instagram, pinter
Debbie ~ Fashion Fairy Dust bloglovin, blog, instagra
Jennie ~ A Pocketful of Polka Dots blog, instagram, facebook
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style blog, facebook, instagra
Julia ~ When the Girls Rule blog, facebook, instagram, pinterest,
Kellyann ~ This Blonde’s Shopping Bag blog, instagram, bloglovin
Lisa ~ Coast to Coast blog, facebook, instagra
Paula ~ Dimples on my What blog, facebook, pinterest
Shelly ~ The Queen in Between blog, instagram, blogl
Shugunna~ Nzuri N* Simplicity blog, instagram, pi
**Disclaimer: Commission earned through shopping links in this post.
