I’ve been contemplating what breaking through in the new year means.
I’ve been pondering motivators and what actions will make me a better, stronger and more hopeful person. As well, I’ve been considering areas where my motivation has waned–where the spark has been snuffed. Moreover, I’ve thought about actions I need to stop doing (or do less of), in order to strengthen the core of my body and fortify my mind, heart and soul.
I’ve been thinking about things like:
… my writing, and why I’ve struggled recently with developing more compelling, heartfelt content as it relates to my creative side.
… my physical body, and how to ratchet up my goals for being the best, most toned and strongest woman I can be.
… my business, and how I can boost revenue without working harder, just by being more informed and a bit more strategic.
… my personal time, and how I can keep positively hopeful and strong, despite the hurdles that inevitably will arise. How I can eradicate time waste, mind-littering activities and avoid relationships and commitments that are unnecessarily depleting.
I’ve been thinking about my career and have begun listening to inspirational podcasts by speakers who are tuned into the realities we battle and opportunities we encounter every day in regard to our energy, our time, our goals. Drinking in their nutritious words, vibrant vocal energy and hopeful insights, enlarges my hope. Spending more time listening to and reading the positive, propelling words means less room for negativity and naysayers.
I’ve cracked open my new blank notebook that will anchor the first quarter’s personal efforts, including mental, physical and spiritual insights and growth, tracking thoughts and progress.
I’ve chosen three words as a compass, or as my friend, Joe Jacobi, described, “directional forces.” They are:
- Simple
- Quality
- Hope
Simple, as in uncomplicated: keeping things straightforward. For example, I navigate too much email. I’m going to weed down the number of outlets from which I accept email subscriptions. I’m also winnowing down visual noise on Facebook, LinkedIn and other channels, with a keen eye on those writers and friends whose voices resonate. All the rest will be hidden behind virtual blinders.
Quality coincides with ‘simple,’ in that the less I get mind-frayed by extraneous noise, the more I can focus on what matters: quality writing for my clients; quality conversations and interactions with family and friends; quality time and energy devoted to my husband; and overall, quality time to devote to personal needs.
Hope arises from a simpler, more quality-filled lush life imbued by what matters most. It involves soaking up the right words and music, wringing out negativity and fostering a reliably optimistic countenance. It requires looking ahead, with rosy expectation.
To read my prior five years’ three-words blogs, visit here, here, here, here and here.
Special hat tip to my friend, @CindyLarson whose gentle prod on Facebook reinvigorated my flagging interest in the three-word exercise for 2018!
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I am a master resume writer with 20 years’ experience in the resume writing trenches. No insta-resume service here. I built my story from ground up, living and breathing resumes, full time, self-supporting, and not as a side gig. My clients hire me for the highly consultative, thoughtful approach to resume writing. Contact me at jacqui@careertrend.net to discuss how I can help shape the story that will accompany you through your next career evolvement.
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Happy New Year, Jacqui!
When I read your three words — SIMPLE, QUALITY, HOPE — I felt a shift, a centering in my core, it was a stabilizing phenomenon. How impactful it would be to recall these three words each time we are faced with our daily life challenges.
My three words are LIVE, LOVE, BARK. I felt such an uplifting upon seeing these words on a sign propped against a wall near a doggie water bowl that I’ve corralled them as my 2018 guides — afterall, dogs rule! 🙂
In 2018, I intend to LIVE more by living in the moment as puppies do when they play wholeheartedly, LOVE more by showing love as our dogs do when they quietly come and lay their heads on our laps, and BARK more with positivity and more freely like when our furry ones greet us at the door upon our return.
May this year be your best year yet!
Jackie Yun
First of all, Jackie, I am thrilled that you felt a ‘shift, a centering in your core’ in reading my three words. You’ve made me feel the article was purposeful beyond my own personal needs. The idea of ‘recalling these three words when faced with daily challenges’ is reinforcing. I do believe that is my intent this year (and part of what drew me to these simpler, more basic words for 2018). Thank you!
Secondly, I feel enlivened by your three words, so it naturally makes sense that you would describe feeling ‘uplifted’ when witnessing these words on the sign. The descriptions you attach to all three words are immersive. One cannot embrace your words without getting swallowed up by LIFE and LOVE, and free EXPRESSION (barking). Dogs are such terrific examples; as you said, ‘they rule!!’
So happy you showed the ‘love’ and exuded your words through today’s conversations here, on Twitter and on Facebook. I appreciate your energy so very much.
May we both move through 2018, energized, uplifted and centered by our words!
~Jacqui
Happy New Year, Jacqui!
I love the three words you chose: simple, quality and hope. Pursuing them is likely to lead to a life that is more purposeful, nourishing and fun!
While I didn’t engage in this exercise this year (or last year), I concur with your goals. They resonate with the three words I selected for 2016: Nourish, Simplify, and Charge! This year, my new year’s post was about a book review on a book focused on the many facets of self-care – I think because I’m finding it a critical ingredient to to my work as a psychotherapist. It is only by taking good care of yourself that you have sufficient bandwidth to be there for your clients and I believe that is true, regardless of your chosen profession.
I also love Jackie’s words: Live, Love and Bark – being more present and positive while enjoying her furry children are so appropos!
Wishing you Jacqui and Jackie (and your respective families) a wonderful year!
Hi Dorlee!
I love the reference to ‘pursuing’ one’s words – that’s such an apt way to describe the actionable feeling behind the words. And yes, I can see how our 3 words are synergistic. And that we both included a version of ‘simple’ is intriguing (but yet not surprising that we might think similarly).
As you know, I so enjoyed your book-review post on the self-care topic. I couldn’t agree with you more re: the need for self-care, especially in such a serving + restorative profession as psychotherapy; the need to restore oneself after giving so much is essential. The takeaways are invaluable for so many of us who struggle with balancing work/life. Here’s the link to your meaty post: https://www.socialwork.career/2017/12/26-self-care-tips.html.
And yes, we are in agreement regarding Jackie’s lively words! Love them.
Thank you so much for the comment and for the well wishes; the same to you and your lovely family, Dorlee! Here’s to a nourishing 2018!
~Jacqui
Hi Jacqui,
These exchanges are so fun! I love the way you play with words, your tool of trade, to illustrate your inspiring ideas and helpful tips!
Thanks so much for your kind wishes and share of the link to my 26 Self-Care Tips – I’m so happy that it resonated with you.
Yes – we could all benefit from more nourishment in all areas of our lives. We so often get swept up with activities that do not provide us (or others) with true benefit. To more selectivity and purpose (or quality as you put it)!
Warmly,
Dorlee
Interesting forward-looking article. I enjoyed the following phrases – they are beautiful:
– Drinking in their nutritious words.
– Positive, propelling words.
– Three words as a compass.
– Fortify my mind, heart and soul.
– Winnowing down visual noise.
– Hidden behind virtual blinders.
To echo your own words, keep positively hopeful in the New Year.
Thank you so much for your kind remarks and for shining light on specific phrases that appealed to you (thus appealing to my writers’ sensibilities :-).
All the best to you and yours for a positively hopeful 2018, Duncan!