Words of Wellness - "Word of the Year"

Recently I was challenged by a friend and fellow motivational speaker to implement a new annual ritual called “word of the year.” The concept is to select a single word or even coin a new word that will be your mantra, motivation, inspiration, and the defining characteristic of the upcoming New Year. This challenge has made a remarkable impact on my thinking over the last several weeks since this challenge was bestowed upon me.

After much deliberation and contemplation, I first decided to re-visit 2011 in hopes that the past year would help me define this year. In retrospect, I decided that my word of the year for 2011 must have been “development.” Last year allowed me to develop wonderful relationships, new programs and content that will fuel my success in 2012. Last year, and always, I aim to develop and improve as a speaker, author, life coach and health advocate. I was also able to be instrumental in helping DME Benefitness, redefine their corporate culture and workplace wellness by helping develop a new website, blog, and newsletter. Every day I strive to develop health and happiness for myself and those around me. Thanks to my development in 2011, I am now poised to create wellness for many people and businesses in 2012.

My personal zeitgeist for 2011 was great, but enough about the past. It’s now crystal clear to me that my word of the year for 2012 will be “wellthy.” No, that’s not a typo.

Wellthy (adjective) - synergistically benefitting from the combination of health, wealth, happiness, and wellness.

A wellthy individual realizes that their greatest wealth is in their health and that their success and overall wellness can be measured by the size of the smile on their face.

Personally, I’ve invested thousands of hours of time and immeasurable thought and energy into becoming wellthy. I believe that H.E.A.L.T.H. stands for Helping Everyone Always Leads To Happiness; therefore, I created a business that truly helps others attain health, happiness and success. By helping others and leading by example, I’m certain that I will become abundantly “wellthy” in 2012.

My first wellthy action is to pass on this challenge to you: define your 2012 with your own personal “word of the year.” Before you make futile New Year’s resolutions that will be forgotten by February or set unrealistic goals that you will never pursue, put some serious thought into defining your purpose in life. This introspective thought exercise will magically reveal your word of the year and empower you to make a difference in the world – starting with a Happy New YOU!

Recipe for Resolution #7 - Goal Setting

Now that you have made the mental commitment, empowered your vocabulary, created a mantra, envisioned your dreams, listed your priorities and looked at your schedule – it’s time to set some realistic goals.

Make each goal "SMART" - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely (a completion date).

Use smaller “stair-step” goals to reach larger ones – ex: if your goal is to lose 30 lbs by March 31, make a series of stair-step goals – I will lose 10 lbs by January 31, 10 more pounds by Feb 28th, and 10 more pounds by March 31 to achieve my total goal of 30 pounds.

Group your goals by personal, business, travel, family etc… List from short term to long term in each category. Most importantly, WRITE THEM DOWN and READ THEM DAILY.

Recipe for Resolution #6 - Time Allocation

Take a good look at your schedule and calendar. Think about your daily routine and how you spend your time. Is your time allocation congruent with your priorities list?

Many people I coach say that their health, GOD or family are their top priorities, but after a coaching session, they realize that their time allocation is not indicative of their priorities – for instance, after charting their weekly schedule and time usage, they realize that they spend 40 hours at work, another 10 hours getting ready for and traveling to work, 14 hours watching TV, 60 hours sleeping, 11 hours are spent goofing-off or time that cannot be accounted for. On their top priorities, they spent less than 2 hours working out or exercising, less than 4 hours of true quality time with the family and only 1 hour at church. 

Working with a life coach or accountability partner can help you get your life in balance and find “extra” time to do the things that are high on your priority list. Investing time in your top priorities will have an exponentially greater return than simply spending or wasting your time on lower priority items. Making resolutions for the New Year will be futile if you don't make time to actually do them!

Recipe for Resolution #5 - Prioritize

Forget about all of the things that you ‘have’ to do on a daily basis and think about all of the things that are truly important to you.

Make a “priorities list” of the things most important in your life in the order of their importance (time and health should be tops on the list). It’s okay to be a little selfish here – this is YOUR list.

My philosophy is that “If you put yourself as your own highest priority and maximize your own life first, then you will have abundant health, energy, love, success and money to share with others – plus, you get to lead them by example. The alternative is to neglect yourself, break down, get sick, lose your job, your energy, your youth, your vitality and then become a burden to those around you – as they will have to take care of you!”

Recipe for Resolution #4 - Look in the Crystal Ball

Imagine your life vividly 1, 5, 10 years from now and make mental and written notes as you see yourself. Use these notes to create a “dreams list” of all the things you would have in your life if time, money, fear, experience, location and all the normal limiting factors were not present in your life.

Dream and Resolve to succeed.

Recipe for Resolution #3 - Mantra

The Little Engine the Could

Step 3 in the resolution process - create a mantra to repeat to yourself.

Examples: “I will make every minute of every day productive in some kind of way” or “I can't wait to lose weight” or “I’m going to fit into my favorite jeans again" or "I think I can - and I know I will." 

Make a habit of saying this mantra throughout the day. This activity will keep you focused and motivated toward your resolution. It will also help you resist when temptation arises.



Recipe for Resolution #2 - Language

Change your language. No, I'm not suggesting that you buy Rosetta Stone and start learning French (unless you're going to France).

I am suggesting that you change your own language by permanently removing the following words from your vocabulary:
 “Can’t, try, maybe, consider, and eventually”
– and replace them with:
“Can, will, definitely, resolve, and now.”

Be cognoscente of your language and choice of words – are you speaking with empowering words or are you subconsciously limiting yourself with your own vernacular? 

Example:
Change: “Maybe I’ll eventually consider trying to change, but right now I can’t.” To: “Now I will definitely resolve to change because I CAN do whatever I put my mind to.”