New Years resolutions are tough.  In most cases they are a perfect recipe to set you up for failure.  Not much research or thought goes into determining how you will keep your resolution … everything you talk about feels new and fresh and exciting in January (like the idea of going to the gym) but by February the floor space at the gym opens up significantly.  It’s kind of an inside joke with regular gym goers …

Replace Your News Years Resolution With … 

When looking for something to keep me inspired throughout the year, and to replace a ‘new years resolution’, I came up with the idea of having an INSPIRATION KEYWORD.     A single word (or two) that would bring me back to center as soon as I thought about it … a focus for my year. 

Inspiration Keywords

Why do inspiration keywords work?  Well, at you turn the page into a fresh new year, it’s the perfect time to think about what will make you happy in the coming year.  I don’t try to overthink the word, the easier it comes to you the better.  You want it to be a word to inspire you throughout the year when you think about it.   A word that will allow you to refocus, when you get challenged throughout the year.  A word to help you celebrate and be grateful as you progress on your path in the coming year. 

Let Me Explain Further How it Has Helped Me

It was the year I retired from my corporate career, that I decided to set a ‘inspiration keyword’ for myself. It was 2014, just as I was jumping back into my life as an entrepreneur.   It was a major transition time in my life, a time when my career was no longer the rudder steering the ship … now I had full control to determine ‘what would be next’.

Starting this next chapter in my life, I realized I could (should) take time to look after ‘me’.   I had run out of excuses not to be looking after myself. My career was no longer in control, I was in control.   

In hindsight, a person might think ‘wow’ her career had that much power over her.   And my response would be ‘yes it did’.  While I maintained balance was super important to me, and making memories with my family has always been key to me… my career had a strong hold on how my hours, days, weeks, months and years were being spent. 

Since retirement, it has been quite a journey.  Lots of change (physically and mentally), challenges, not a direct straight line to success by any means …  but extremely rewarding journey through what is becoming a very successful chapter of my life.

Here is a list of the keywords I’ve used over the past nine years!

Inspiration Keywords

Each represents a time and place that I was personally and in my career/business. Can you see how each might have influenced my decision making throughout the year?

• 2014 was “Explore”
• 2015 was “Clarity”
• 2016 was “Simplicity”
• 2017 was “Gratitude”
• 2018 was “Faith”
• 2019 was “Build” … moved, built a new house, started @519web
• 2020 was “Remarkable” (covid hit March 2020)
• 2021 was “Routine” (covid continues)
• 2022 was  “Breakthrough and Joy”
• 2023 is “Rewards and Relaxed”

Now in 2023 … my keyword is going to be “Rewards and Relaxed”.  It’s time for me to reap the rewards of my entrepreneurial work over the past nine years.  Time to acknowledge, reflect and accept the success I’ve been awarded … and to ‘chill’, relax, not be so hard on myself, so driven.   2023 is going to be a time to accept and enjoy, much the way 2022 has ended for me.  

I’m so looking forward to 2023 … and with the help of my inspiration keywords “rewards and relaxed” each time I think of them, a smile will come across my face as I’m reminded of the need to acknowledge both.

With much gratitude and joy,

I wish you health, happiness and prosperity to you and your family in 2023.

Kindest Regards,

Deborah

Deborah Clarke, Owner

519Web, PinPoint Local

Kincardine, Ontario, Canada