7 ways to find inspiration for your Word of the Year.

2012 Word of the Year

In 2011, I began a Word of the Year challenge for myself. I shared a lot of what I learned right here on The Collective (see the summary of my lessons on Freedom).

For 2012 I challenged you to join me in choosing one word to focus on in your life. Something you want more of, you need challenged with, you need to cut, etc. It can be any word. If you’re a regular reader, hopefully you’ve chosen a word for yourself. My word for 2012 is RISK.

image courtesy of Flickr user Images_of_Money

How to find inspiration to learn from your 2012 Word.

The point of choosing a word is to grow, but the only way to grow is to stay focused on your word. How do you do it? How do you continue to move and be challenged?

You need to find inspiration.

If you read nothing else, read the next sentence. The key to finding inspiration is being intentional.

If you keep your word in front of you, you will find insight in lots of different areas. Here are 7 different places I’ve found inspiration for my 2 words over the last 15 months.

1. Video, songs and images

It can be difficult to put what you feel about a word or thought into words, but other artists may have already done it for you. Last year, when my word was freedom, I found a lot of meaning/inspiration in both the song and video Holocene by Bon Iver.

2. People

This year I have found a lot of inspiration through the acts of others.

2 weeks ago, my daughter tried out for cheerleading. Trying out for anything is a risk. A pre-teen girl trying out for her middle school cheerleading squad is a HUGE risk. I was so proud of her determination, hard work and effort. I was inspired by her risk to take my own risks.

This week, I read a story about Dane Sanders. He attended the interactive conference, SXSW…in which he is an unknown. In a session he attended, the speaker unexpectedly did not show. The staffers asked if anyone had something to share. After hearing crickets for a few moments, Dane volunteered. He got up, unprepared, and led a discussion on the need for interpersonal interaction.

I saw a few pictures, and it appeared to be a big class – several hundred people big. What a risk! I was inspired.

Find inspiration for your 2012 word in your family, co-workers, staff, friends and industry peers.

3. Books

I love to read, and I’ve found what I read speaks to my chosen word. In choosing RISK for 2012, I’ve realized a need for something huge, way bigger than me to champion. I need a cause that speaks beyond The Collective.

I haven’t figured out exactly what that is, but I’m narrowing down on it. I just finished reading the novel, A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison. It’s about the fight against human trafficking around the world. The main character took big risks to jump in the fight. I was inspired.

4. Goals

Sometimes you get busy, lazy or generally unfocused. I’ve found when I have goals written down that I look at on a regular basis I find inspiration.

In fact, I just looked back at my goals, and re-read a big picture purpose for me – why I’m alive; what I’m meant to do. I’m re-inspired.

5. Conferences

Last year, I attended the Storyline Conference led by author Donald Miller. My goal for attending wasn’t directly related to my 2011 word, but I learned more about my word, myself, and my purpose in that weekend than the rest of the year.

Be careful. Don’t attend conferences just to attend, but focus on what you want and need in your life. It can be the best time and money you spend all year.

6. Life

If your “eyes” are open and you are focused, you will find inspiration happening all around you. One lesson I learned last year about freedom was “the power of NO“. It came from what was happening around me.

They key is learning to listen to your heart. You need to stop, be quiet, think and meditate. It’s there…just pay attention.

7. Personal projects

Of course the Word of the Year idea is a personal project in and of itself, but finding a reason to create images, art or anything outside of the normal can open all sorts of avenues for inspiration.

The Collective has acted as a sort of personal project for me. I’ve been inspired to grow in who I am. It’s forced me to make private thoughts public. Writing my thoughts and feelings has helped me grow.

Continue to grow.

No matter how you do it. No matter how you find inspiration, continue to press forward with your 2012 word. Write down what you’ve learned. Share it with someone else. Share what you’ve learned.

What is your Word for 2o12? Where have you found inspiration to learn from your word?

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