As has become a habit, at the start of every month, I write how I want my Word of The Year (WOTY) – Flow – to translate into action for the month and choose a theme accordingly. Last month, I also shared how I’m going to align this with one of the 5 principles I want to base my life on. So this month, I’m flowing true – basing my theme on the principle of authenticity.
Flowing True
This is one of the quotes that inspired me at the start of October.
Your problem is whether you’re going to spend your life on trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over people and circumstances, or whether you are going to taste life, enjoy it, and find out the truth about what you are.
Anne Lamott
This is what I wrote at the start of the month:
Trying to look good. That’s not being authentic. Feeling good. Feeling hurt, pain, loss and grief. Showing up just as I am with my good qualities, my flaws, my vulnerabilities. That’s what’s authenticity is about.
To be flowing true and authentically, I want to be faithful to my principles and practices, and yet be completely open to sharing when I fail at them.
And I failed spectacularly
I planned to complete the 31 Days of Writing challenge here this month and also write on my other blog every day. Both things didn’t happen. I’ve completed only 16 days of the challenge and not written a single post on my other blog.
Even more significantly, I couldn’t keep up with all of my practices. At first, I felt terribly guilty about this. But then, I really decided to stay true to my word of the year and just flow. No pressure, no guilt and most of all being authentic to myself.
This time of ‘failure’ has led me to spend more time in reflection and prioritise things for the remaining two months of 2022.
Word For 2023?
Lisa Burgess has been brilliant at keeping many of us faithful to the practice of a monthly update on how our WOTY is coming through in our life. She reminded us that it’s not too early to start thinking about a word for 2023! I am drawn towards ‘wholeheartedness‘ but let’s see if I’m inspired to go in another direction by the end of this year.
Do you have a word of the year practice? If so, how’s your word going? If not, try it out in 2023!
In October, I started writing a series called 31 Days about Living A Principle Driven Life. Since I wasn’t able to complete it then, I’m doing so now. You can follow my posts here.
I’m joining Lisa’s One Word Linkup with this January update
Yay for you!–> “But then, I really decided to stay true to my word of the year and just flow.” You’re reminding me I need to stay true to RELEASE and let go of some guilt I feel from a mess I made this morning. God really know show to use our words in ways we didn’t see coming. 🙂 If you do choose “wholeheartedness”, wow. Such a powerful word!
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It’s hard when we fail to meet our own goals, but “flow” is such a good word to remind us that it’s all part of a process. My word “connect” has served something of the same process for me this year, everything connects if you can hold on to the bigger picture. The key is not to reject anything or try to push unwanted pieces aside.
Wishing you much more beautiful flowing as this year comes to an end!
I love how your word has helped you shed that guilt that creeps in when we ‘fail’. Thanks for sharing!
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Love your authenticity Corinne, some months just don’t go as planned, or the way we would like. But I’m learning that’s OK, and it’s not a sign of failing anything.
Sometimes God redirects us, and if we are willing to “flow” we end up exactly where He desires. My problem is I hold too tight to my agenda, or vision, blinding me to His, and instead of flowing I’m either stagnate or dragging along!
I’m so glad you set goals, then re-evaluated and went with the “flow” that reflects your current season of life. This is not “failure,” rather it is walking in a life-giving way. I appreciate your authenticity! Wholeheartedness would be an awesome word!
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