2014 Word of the Year: Shift

ShiftWhen an idea reaches critical mass there is no stopping the shift its presence will induce. ~ Marianne Williamson

I am choosing just one word (instead of a list of resolutions) to be a touchstone for the upcoming New Year. I encourage you to also follow this concept rather than choosing to follow tradition and make a list of New Years resolutions.

The concept of Word of the Year is something I learned from Christine Kane.

It has been one of the most brilliant tools I have used to turn a long list of commands, which would most likely not get done, into setting an intention for the year.

Since I started using the Word of the Year (WOTY) tool four years ago, I usually started playing around with various words around the 1st of December.

The beginning of this month was no exception.  I had already started to put into motion some drastic steps that involve my business as well as my personal life that will take place in 2014.  I knew that this New Year is going to be one of monumental shifts for me.

It stands to reason then that the first word I played around with was paradigm.  What a very cool sounding word, don’t you think?  As is my way, I looked up the definition, and when I did that, the word no longer sat well with me.  I still thought about it to see if it would settle.

One morning I was having a conversation with one of my clients, and we started talking about my choice of WOTY and she started going into this long dissertation about how there might be a better choice for me (have I ever mentioned I love it when my clients get verbose?).  She was so kind to let me arrive at the point on my own after her most wonderful explanation of how she saw me and what she felt would encompass the changes for me in 2014.

With her help, I arrived at metamorphosis.  Another cool sounding word (kind of weird to say though) and I promised her I would sit with it for a few days to see if it resonated with me.

I came back a few days later, again, the word just not sitting right.  I was in awe of her view (she knows me well!), however, it wasn’t something I felt I wanted to guide me through the year.

I then thought about transform.

Do you see a pattern here?

I do.  Every word I have chosen since I started doing the WOTY involves some sort of change:  Emerge, Empower, Jubilee, Liberate

I got to thinking a few days ago, why am I so interested in change?  Why do I want to always change myself in some way?  What is on this elusive other side that I have not yet grasped?

I have done a lot of self-growth over the last 4 years, and sure, I know there is a lot more to come … I know in life there is no arrival.

I had to really ask myself, what is this focus on change?

Then the word shift started to play around in my head.

What a word with many meanings!

It can be an action word: to transfer from one place to another or change gears

Or it can be a noun: the act of shifting

When I think of the possibilities of using that short little word in all aspects of my life, I actually become giddy.

The role of the word for 2014 that I prefer is one of action.

Best described, I think of driving my first car (71 Convertible Fiat Spider) which was a 5-speed. I started off in 1st gear, and I imagine the life that started back at the end of 2009 when I left my marriage to embark on my journey as a single working Mom.

I was in forward motion and I shifted into 2nd gear.  I was starting to achieve momentum, my business was building, I was setting up my home, and I was easing into this single life with grace.

I knew, even if it was subconsciously, that in order to take full advantage of that beast that was my car, I couldn’t stay in 2nd gear, I had to continue to shift, accelerating a bit more, making a concerted effort to get where I want to go.

Now, here comes 3rd, and then 4th gear, and I have plenty of momentum and I can stay there a long time just moseying along in 4th gear.

But where the real beauty comes from the ride of that incredible car is when I am in 5th gear, riding down the highway with the top down towards whatever destination I have my heart set on.  That is where extraordinary things happen.

It’s time for me to shift into high gear.

Shift in my thinking and work more on my personal relationships.  That includes those that I encounter online, my support group.  Over the last couple of years I have let my connection to my readers slide. It is time to shift it back up to high gear, joining others in fantastic adventures to wonderful destinations.

Shift in my perspective and learn to listen more to and accept what The Universe is telling me.  Tuning up my spark plugs and making sure the battery is fully charged and I am gassed up and ready to go with the fuel that keeps me in sync with my Higher Power.

Shift my business into a state of maximum efficiency and energy.  Take all the things I have learned over the past few years and implement them so that I am working smarter, not harder.  Taking care of all the rust spots and giving the chassis a new coat of paint and then maintaining that will be a priority.

Shift into self-care.  Making sure the vehicle is in tip-top shape by routinely checking the tires, the oil, the fuel, the engine, the battery, the fuse box, whatever needs done to make sure the ride is without incident.

There you have it.  My Word of the Year.

Care to share yours?  Do so by adding to the comments below.  Looking forward to seeing your responses!

This entry was posted in Journal.

8 Comments on 2014 Word of the Year: Shift

  1. Joan says:

    Biz, you are a genius at this! I love the whole story/article. When you first said what your 2014 word would be, I thought Hmmm. Wasn’t sure about that. After I read the rest of the article it fell into place and SHIFT is the perfect word for you. I love the analogy to the gear shift.

    And…everyone…Biz worked with me on my word for this year and it is RELEASE. I will be discussing this more in my journal…but I am sure most of you already know why even though I didn’t see it until Biz helped me see it.

    We are all so lucky to have Biz in our corner’s.

    • Biz says:

      Awww, thanks Joan! I am so blessed to have clients like you by my side! WOO HOO!!!

      RELEASE is such a perfect word for you! I am so glad it resonated with you. It fits perfectly and will be a perfect touchstone for you. You need to get all that bad juju out of your life and really blossom in 2014!

  2. Mary says:

    Biz, That word is YOU!. Always looking to improve yourself, your web site, your teaching of others and to help SHIFT our thinking and doing everyday. Biz and I discussed my word yesterday. This year it is CAPABLE. I plan to say it to myself whenever I have a moment of self doubt about my eating plan, exercise and all the things that come into our lives each day.
    Have a great New Year!

    • Biz says:

      Thank you Mary! I hope you don’t mind me sharing your quote that you are going to be using as a touchstone in addition to your word:

      “If you knew how capable you are, you would stop worrying and start amazing yourself.”

      It was so very cool, I shared it with another client. I LOVE IT! That is just going to propel you in 2014! Thanks so much for sharing, and thanks for being back into my life!

      • Mary says:

        Don’t mind at all. I don’t know the author but love, love the quote.

        • Mary says:

          I am honored to have you back in my life,also!

  3. Marcia DesRosiers says:

    My word for 2014 is COMPLETION

    2 Corinthians 8:11
    Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

    I really like that the definition talks about the ACTION or PROCESS of completing – I think that is a really good place for me to be this year – in action, taking steps to ACHIEVE something.

    completion |kəmˈplē sh ən|noun the action or process of finishing something

    process 1 |ˈpräˌses; ˈpräsəs; ˈprō-|noun1 a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end

    I also really love that Biz suggested I tie it into a scripture – she knows that my relationship with God and Jesus are so important to me – I see such strength and motivation when I am doing something outside of myself – not just a superficial physical or selfish ambition but one that moves me forward in all levels of my being.

    That is one of the reasons working with her one on one has been so important – we have been way beyond getting a certain amount of weight off to getting real and looking at my whole self – and working towards BALANCE

    I LOVE BIZ!!! She is my “Journey Bender” helping me on my quest of balance and health.

    • Biz says:

      Awwww, and I love Marcia! I love your WOTY – it so congruent with your goals! ::giggle::

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