COMMIT. That’s the word I’m focusing on for 2024. I’m not wholly unfamiliar with it. After all, I commit to losing weight every Monday like clockwork. And I commit to building my business every Friday (after I meltdown and quit every Wednesday). So, what will be different in 2024? That is the question!

Last week, I was in a workshop designed to help us choose a focus word for 2024. I’ve always liked the idea of a “Word of the Year” Because it feels less rigid than a “New Year’s Resolution.” In my mind, New Year’s Resolutions are hard-core goals you either succeed or fail to reach. A focus word, on the other hand, is more like a soft, fuzzy blanket that lies gently over your life, keeping you warm to the idea you’ve chosen. There’s no succeeding or failing with a Word of the Year. And my brain likes that.

Take 2023, for example. Last year, I had several words.

Community, Health, and Focus. (Does anyone see the irony here?)

I think there was another one…but I forget what it was. That’s okay, though, since there’s no failure with a focus word!

I started the year with a bang, determined to build my community. I moved to a new state in 2020, and because of the pandemic and my autoimmune disease, I spent the first three years holed up inside my house, fearing the dreaded COVID-19. January 2023 seemed like a great time to venture out and get to know my neighbors.

I planned to attend a community activity every other month and host one on the off months. In January, my daughters and I hooked up with a group of women and went to dinner and a Mindy Gledhill concert. It was a ton of fun and seemed like a great start to my “community” focus. In February, I hosted a Galentine’s Tea Party for 20 women, most of whom I had never met. My year was off to a great start! In March…I forgot. I didn’t mean to forget. It just happened. But I determined to do better in April—my birthday month.

But April came and went…

I thought about the word Community several times throughout the year but never really acted on it again! The word Health had a similar lifespan. But the word Focus—it never made it past the idea phase. (Again…the irony…)

The beauty of it all is that I never felt guilty—because there’s no failing with a word of the year! And also, a lot of sh*t came up this year. I did a fair amount of mental and emotional work and started to really focus on healing the spiritual side of me. So it’s not like I did nothing…I just didn’t do what I set out to do.

As 2023 began wrapping up, I started to feel highly motivated to make changes in my personal life and in my business, so I was really looking forward to choosing a new word.

And that brings me back to the workshop…

We went through the exercise the coach had prepared, and then she asked if anyone wanted to be coached. I believe in the power of coaching, so I’m always up for a session! I raised my hand and toward the end of our conversation, she asked me what word I had chosen.

“I’m not sure,” I told her. “I might choose two words. Or maybe the word ‘Transform’.”

“Transform is a terrible word!,” she said. “Your word should be ‘Commit’.” And then she went on a bit of a rant about commitment.

Honestly, I felt attacked. I don’t have a commitment problem. I can commit anytime and to anything I want. (Like losing weight every Monday and growing my business every Friday!) I wanted to fight back. I wanted to argue. I wanted to throw a fit like a petulant child.

Instead, I left the call, determined to choose any word I could think of except Commit.

But, you know what? This is exactly why coaching is so powerful. A well-trained coach can see things that are in your blind spot. And if they’re a good coach, they’ll point it out, even if it makes you uncomfortable.

During the next couple of days, I kept coming up with different words. I considered all of the words from last year and added a few others to the mix. But I had a nagging feeling that my coach could see something I couldn’t. And since taking responsibility for every part of my life is the only way to really change, I finally owned my commitment problem and decided to COMMIT in 2024.

What does that look like for me? I’m not completely sure. But I can already feel a change. If I commit, it means making decisions and sticking to them. It means getting out of my comfort zone. It means going all in on my business. It means taking care of myself in a way that promotes self-love and confidence. It means change is coming.

That feels exciting—and terrifying—all at the same time.

But I’m choosing to COMMIT to all of it because I want to fulfill my purpose and live a long, healthy, happy life. So, that’s what I’m looking forward to in 2024!

What about you? What’s your focus for the year? Share in the comments and let’s work toward making our lives better together!