I’m not into New Year Resolutions. For one, the hot January days are a terrible time to start new things. Everyone is on holidays so you can’t really act on most of them. And wouldn’t you rather be at the beach than at the gym? Of course we all give up by the 13th January…
However, a few years ago, someone mentioned they had chosen a word for the year. I loved it. Simple, judgment free and easy to adapt to a range of areas in life.
This year I’ve chosen the word ‘abundance’.
For me, abundance is about more than wealth or material things. It’s the opposite of ‘lack’.
It’s about living fully, and committing to noticing and appreciating the richness already in my life while welcoming more.
The opposite of lack
Lack sneaks into our lives in subtle ways. We worry that we’re not good enough, that we’re not as successful as the next person, that we’re failing. When we start to feel like there’s not enough time, energy, success or love, we can become obsessed with it. That’s all we see.
Abundance, on the other hand, shifts our focus. It invites us to look for what is there. Perhaps there are small moments of joy like the rain finally falling after weeks of baking sun. We feel thankful for supportive text from a friend or an opportunity we received that we previously overlooked.
It doesn’t ignore challenges, far from it. By looking for abundance, we can see more hope and possibility.
Living Fully
I did a planning day in late 2024 and wrote a list of goals for 2025. It wasn’t just work goals, it was related to life, family, money, health, personal development.
I noticed there weren’t too many ‘new’ things on my list. But lots of improvement on what I’ve currently got.
For example, two years ago we bought a new house that has a ‘liveable’ kitchen. By that, I mean the appliances all work ok and it’s not falling apart (yet). But there isn’t enough bench or storage space, the lino is covered in scorch marks and the floor plan doesn’t work for our family. This year we’re doing a renovation including making a more liveable living space. But improving on what we’ve got, we’re hoping for more abundance storage and bench space. See what I did there?!
On the work front, I’ve got some great clients that I want to continue working with and keep continue building their businesses. I also have some great possibilities in the pipeline so I want to use an abundance mindset to work through the logistics of taking on new challenges. Whether that’s bringing on some new people to help or finding new ways of working, it’s about seeing the possibilities.
How I’m embracing abundance
Here are some other ways I plan to embody abundance this year:
- Gratitude: Taking time each day to reflect on what I’m grateful for. It’s a simple way to shift your mindset from lack to abundance.
- Saying yes: Leaning into opportunities that feel aligned, even if they’re a little outside my comfort zone. Abundance thrives on openness.
- Letting go of scarcity thinking: Feeling like there is a lack of time is a big one for me. By restructuring my day and letting go of expectations, I’m reframing this belief.
- Sharing more: Whether it’s through my writing, my time, or simply a kind word, I want to embody abundance by giving generously.
What’s your word of the year?
Have you chosen a word of the year? I’d love to hear it and why you chose it?
Here’s to a year filled with possibilities, gratitude and abundance.