My Word Of The Year For 2012 (Part 2)

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is. ~ Yogi Berra

When I started pondering my word for 2012 (a few weeks ago), I jotted down some potential words: delight, wholehearted, relax, ease, shine, listen, accept, connect, cultivate, nurture, sparkle. All of these are great words on their own, but I felt like something was missing…and I wanted to choose ALL of them, but realized that doing so would be both overwhelming and missing the point.

Then one word popped into my head…a word that not only easily incorporates these other words but also focuses my attention on all the tools and wisdom I’ve received over the past few years.

PRACTICE

Now you’re probably wondering how Part 1 (“Getting Rid Of Ballast”) fits into this. What Bertrand Piccard describes in the passages I chose to highlight requires practice….and the willingness to be a pioneer (in the way that Piccard defines it).

As I often say, we don’t ”get it” all at once and then go off and live a perfect life. We often to have to “get it” many times in order to live it, and even then, it’s never perfect (and that’s okay).

That’s what I like about the word “practice.” It’s a way of ensuring a continual “getting.” Something else I like about this word is that its definition has many layers and it addresses physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects.

And finally, “practice” is both a verb and a noun…and it’s an attitude. It opens my year to all kinds of possibilities and varying shades, and it steers me away from “all or nothing” thinking and behavior. It asks me to consider throwing off ballast, to listen to experts, to accept slowing down in order to move in the right direction, and to ensure that I am heeding my own instincts.

For me, practice does not make perfect, it is itself the reward.

Why do I choose a word of the year?

Those who know me well know that, for whatever reason, setting goals and making resolutions is like nails on a chalkboard. Even though my brain knows better, my body recoils when I think about setting a goal the traditional way. I have found that choosing a word is a more empowering way to get what I want. When I think about choosing a word, instead of rebelling and resisting, my body relaxes and my mind engages, instead of shutting down.

As well, choosing a word sets a tone and helps focus my intention. In my mind, goal = rigid and controlling, whereas choosing a word = flexible and natural.

When I am able to focus my intention on what I really want (self-confidence, being able to trust myself, being able to express myself, having what I do be in alignment with who I am, being powerful in my own life so that I can give of myself powerfully), then those things that I consider to be goals (losing weight and keeping it off forever, physical and emotional fitness, or making a shit ton of money), fall into place naturally. When I understand what it is I REALLY want and practice, those smaller goals fall into place by default. In other words: personal power = metabolic power.

“Intention, even in the form of a single word, is unfathomably powerful. Resolutions are fine, but they are often motivated by ‘shoulds.’ A word, however, contains energy, images and meaning. These are things our hearts and souls get excited about. And this is how transformation begins. Rarely does deep transformation happen because of ‘shoulds’.” ~ Christine Kane

Have you chosen a word for 2012? Let me know in the comments below or provide a link to your own Word Of The Year blog post.