2017 Watchword: Turn Your Word into Action

No More New Year’s Resolutions For Me

Several years ago I declared I was done with New Year’s Resolutions. I just couldn’t stick with them. By mid January, I couldn’t even remember those oh-so-important resolutions I had painstakingly thought up and had numbered 1 through whatever. That’s when a girlfriend introduced me to the idea of a watchword. (Thank you, Karen. And thank you, Heather for always sharing your watchword with me so speedily; I always look forward to seeing what you pick…and why!)

What Is a Watchword?

Watchword — just one word to remember. One meaningful word to place your intentions behind, to drive your actions for 2017. When one word is behind your intentions and actions, it’s easier to stay focused and reach your goals and dreams, whatever they may be.

Below are examples of watchwords Pixie Dusters have shared with me, plus some of mine from past years:

BALANCE
FIERCE
CREATE
PLAY
RELAX
LISTEN
YES
LAUGH
COMPLETE
JOURNEY

Did any of the watchwords above resonate with you? If so, run with it! Or maybe none of the words spoke to you, but instead triggered a different word, go with that instead.

Don’t think about it too much. Go with the one that you feel yourself leaning in to…you will know it when you see it. And when you see it, GRAB it, run with it…which means, put action behind it (more on putting action behind it in just a sec).

This year, for the first time ever, I’m hesitant to share my watchword with you—mostly because it conjures multiple feelings and definitions. Basically, it carries such different energy depending on a myriad of factors.

Okay. Here goes. My watchword for 2017 is: FEMININE

The word feminine might bring one of these two images to mind. Or like me, neither.

I know what I mean by feminine, and it has nothing to do slaying vampires or dreaming about princes. It has to do with:

• owning who I am
• not becoming complacent (or more harshly put: lazy) with my hair, my make-up, my clothes…but rather, choosing the look I want that day or occasion and honoring it, not making excuses, not “trying too hard.” Again, owning who I choose to be.

When selecting my word, I tuned in to what my spirit needs. And right now, my spirit needs to experience a feeling of femininity—what that means to me, not what it means to my mother, not what it means to my circle of friends or to society, but what it means to ME.  I hope you do the same. I hope you listen to your gut and choose a watchword that speaks to you, one you can put some action behind.

Bringing Your Watchword to Life

Choosing a word is a good start, but if we don’t do anything with the word, then it’s not very effective as our watchword. We need to put action behind it! So this year I am adding an element to the annual watchword: I am adding a deliberate monthly action to punctuate my word FEMININE. That’s action once a month, 12 times per year. What does that look like? It looks like doing something out of my norm that makes me feel feminine. (I may even post them on our group Facebook page: Love, Trust & Pixie Dust. Maybe.)

Happy 2017 to YOU! Please share your watchword with us—you never know—your watchword could be exactly what someone needs to see!

Love,
Leslie