January is the time of year that many of us (myself included) consider making changes that will make our lives better.
For most of my adult life, I created New Year’s resolutions. In 2018, I shifted to a practice called “My 3 Words.” Crafted by business guru Chris Brogan, the concept is that you think up three words to steer your decisions and activities for the year. I determined my three words in 2018 and had a great year. My goal is to make 2019 even better, and I’d like to help you do the same.
I’ll start by explaining what I mean by the three words process.
Choosing Three Words
This requires some thought. Consider areas of your life that you are ready, willing and able to focus on. Will attention to these parts of your life make your life better?
Business and career are obvious choices but don’t forget things like health and relationships. The key is to be READY to take actions to improve certain aspects of your life, and realizing that those actions will lead to greater happiness.
You can get more details on how to choose your three words from Brogan’s 2019 “My 3 Words” blog post. You can also get examples of others’ three words by going on Twitter and typing in #my3words.
Read on to learn about my three words.
My 3 Words for 2018
I posted my 2018 three words on the whiteboard behind my desk, and look at them often. I used them to guide my actions, and I’m happy with what I accomplished. Here is how I described them at the beginning of 2018:
Fitness – I am in the middle of training for a 5K. Exercise, eating right and taking care of my health are top of mind. I plan to keep it that way this year.
Unlimited – Negativity is off the table. There are unlimited opportunities for me in business and life, and I’m keeping an open mind to them.
Connection – Reconnecting with long lost loved ones and friends, deepening relationships with others and creating new ones makes my heart sing. It will keep singing this year.
My 3 Words for 2019
This year my first two words came quickly, and I struggled with the third word. I brainstormed words with my husband and decided on the third word. Here is what I posted on my whiteboard for 2019:
Elevate – This year I will elevate the conversations I have with others. In social situations, I will steer conversations toward inspiration, and away from gossip. I will focus on kindness in every interaction. And I will progress in every area of my life and business. Check out my favorite mantra, here.
Community – For business and personal happiness, I am building a community and deepening relationships.
Organize – Like Larry the Cable Guy, one of my mottos is “Git ‘Er Done.” I love checking things off my to-do list. In hindsight, I’ve realized that with some prior planning and organization, my activities would take less time and I would have better results. This year I am working on some major projects that will benefit from less action and more forethought. I will focus on organizing my activities to achieve the best outcomes.
How About You?
Are you willing to give the three-word exercise a try? If so, I’d love to hear your three words and any details about them. Here’s hoping that the three-word process helps make 2019 your best year ever!
