I want to share with you one of my deepest and most powerful transformational practices. I look forward to it every year. Without exception, huge transformation occurs for me as a result of it.
It’s creating a THEME for the year.
This is about choosing a one or two-word theme, which becomes a powerful intention that acts like an invisible guide for everything that I do in the year. As I put conscious focus and attention on my theme during the year — amazing things happen with very little effort.
I usually pick my theme on New Year’s Eve, but this year, the theme emerged early. And I couldn’t be more excited.
2018 is the “Year of Yes!”
I want to share with you what lead me to this…
As the business has grown and as demands on my time professionally and personally outstripped availability, I have become very guarded and protective of my time and of my energy. My team devised ways of guarding my schedule and only allowing me to see a fraction of all communication. Not only did it seem like the right thing to do, it felt like the only thing that could be done.
After a few years of operating like this, I felt like my whole being became a NO to everything. I felt disconnected. I felt closed off. I began to feel emotionally walled off.
It took me a while to diagnose what was wrong. And as soon as I knew, my theme immediately sprang into action. Thus the “Year of Yes!” was born.
In 2018, I am going to say Yes to life. I am going to bring all of myself to each person I interact from a place of gracious service. I will also surrender to the fullness of my being to each moment, knowing that my complete presence and connection is a true gift to me and everything around me.
My Yes’s will be full. My Maybe’s and No’s will be unapologetic No’s.
I am truly on fire! And my theme ignited the flame.
Now it’s your turn.
Here’s what I suggest you do to create your own THEME for 2018.
#1 – take a couple of hours away from the hustle and bustle of your life and tune into what you really want for yourself and what’s been holding you back. Journal on that for 15-30 minutes. And then ask yourself what yearly theme would give you the breakthrough you are seeking. Trust your gut knowing that you can’t go wrong.
#2 – once you have a theme, please share it with important people in your life as a public declaration of your desire for a breakthrough (also share it here with me in the comments below this post)
#3 – get a brand new journal for the coming year, put your theme at the top of it and create a practice of journaling around your theme at least 3 times per week
Once you do this practice, you will experience a breakthrough. You will live into your theme and your life will never be the same again.
It happens for me every year, and it will happen for you.
Let me know what is your theme for 2018 in the comments below this post (or please share any ideas you are playing with)
Intentionally yours,
~Bill
P.S. 2018 is going to be an amazing year. Can you feel it?
Thank you for sharing this tip with us. 2019 is going to be My marketing year!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and living information. It’s good for all to read.
Very interesting article.
Cultivate my own life energy to counteract my bulldozing nefarious thing, Miss Sleep.
This is something new for me. I love the idea and have decided on Abundance. I am going to live with the mindfulness of Abundance in all that I do and share that way of believing with everyone.
Bill _ I was so glad to read your post about an annual theme. I’ve actually done this for about five years so far and this is my sixth, even though I initially learned it from writer Debbie Macomber, author of One Perfect Word. Whatever it is called, the concept and the power of focusing one’s mind and spirit on something important for a year is undeniable.
My theme/one perfect word for this year is “order”. And I should clarify, my 2018 theme word is being used in its noun form, as in “putting [things] in order’, “making order”, or “spiritual order”. I’m excited about this theme, and it is as if all my prior annual words prepared me for this one. (2017 was “transformation”.)
One of the first things I have to return to order is my website, blog, and online presence. Order = work, and lots of it. I’m pumped!
It’s great that you post about this subject and encourage so many other people to follow your lead. Happy New Year!
Focus, focus, focus on client generating work. Signature speech almost done! Website almost ready too.
Year’s themes DO come to life, intention seems to be enough. I have been doing it for years.
7 years ago I set themes for three years in a row and they all were realized 🙂 2011 play, 2012 study, 2013 settle. My theme for 2017 was “do it with love or don’t do it” – this helped me to say no to things that felt stressful, even though that no or quitting was stressful too. the intention for the year prevailed. it was good to me and for me…
Hi, my theme is A Woman For the People. People are really suffering right now. I will be spreading JOY and teaching coping skills at every opportunity. This is now my life’s work, it’s very fulfilling.
Free Up $pace (all the necessary elements for doing new things) is mine, at least until the ball drops and it gets amended. Already got a few of your tools in position: new pen and journal. Great and consistent training here Bill.
In gratitude I am shipping you a complementary copy of my e-book product that your coaching has helped me develop.
Thanks a terabyte,
Robyn
My theme for 2018 is “All Together Now”! This means bringing all of my work together, at the same time, to complete my goals. No more softening, no more taking one goal at a time and flaming, no more excuses. It’s time to use my spiritual connection to make action choices in the moment. Thank you Bill for sharing this.
Unrelenting Focus!
Bill this year I mostly worked on who is my ideal client/not coffee friend, now have clarity even though I lost a few of those unclear taking advantage coffee clients trying to be free friends. I also had challenges with my Mom having weird illness off & on through the year but still feel I had great success on my inner game plus setting powerful boundaries. This next year is Ease, Fun, and Unstoppable. I am playing with that plus working with clients on the level you mentioned here will continue for my own journey plus with clients. I am also reaching out more with my own Yes’s! Plus generally updating my approaches.
My Intention word and theme for 2018 is Celebrate. I chose that word because everyday I choose to celebrate everything. I start the day celebrating waking up. I celebrate each and every opportunity that shows up in my life. I celebrate each person that I meet. I celebrate each No because I learn something. I celebrate each Yes because I learn something. I celebrate my belief in myself. I celebrate that I am worthy. I celebrate that I choose to focus on adding value to peoples lives. I celebrate my choice to choose Peace, Joy and Love everyday. Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate in 2018.
Love your theme. You are going to have a fantastic year. And all those around you will love their year more because they will be part of your celebrations
Thank you!! As soon as I read your post I knew what my theme for 2018 would be: “ALL IN”
Waffling and half-hearted efforts are what has been holding me back. Not this year.
This was my year of yes and it cost me I now live in a trailer park without a job or money, so be careful.
Thank you Bill.
After my Christmas holiday,
I will settle in and choose a theme.
2018: the year of “Give and Help”!
I plan to create and give a lot of content, videos and advice on various platforms this year, without asking anything in return.
If it’s helpful, then the exposure of my work should take care of itself 🙂
so interesting – I did this last year for the first time and it was “Do it Like Disneyland”, meaning make what I do efficient, excellent and if I may say Magical”. This year, my theme came to me early as well. It is Trust God, Do Good. I don’t know if this is just too big, too spiritual, too, too, too. But it has been compelling to choose it. I think I will start by studying the trust part. The Do Good part I think I will take a different aspect to focus on each month Ie Do good for the earth, Do good for my health, Do good for my family, Do good for my friends. Does anyone else have any ideas on how to pursue this lofty theme – I’d appreciate any assistance.