“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”        Proverbs 16:3

Well, here we are again … crossing the threshold into another New Year. 

When I was younger, my friends and I would make New Year’s resolutions – lose 5 pounds, drink more water, exercise daily, eat better, and so on. You know how it goes. Generally, those resolutions lasted 4 to 6 weeks – maybe three months max – before they were pushed aside and forgotten.

Later, as an adult, I abandon those empty resolutions and adopted the practice of choosing a verse of scripture from the Bible for the year. Something to read and focus on throughout the year as a means of self-improvement. I liked the positive motivation I gained from my choice each year; however, I again found myself falling into a pattern of either choosing a similar verse each year or just relying on some of my favorites.

This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just wasn’t pushing me to branch out or stretch myself in new ways. That trend ran its course and I found myself in need of something different to find, set, and maintain my focus for self-improvement in each New Year. That’s when I came across the idea of choosing a word for the year. 

Just one word.

I love words. I love the challenge of finding just the right word. I love committing to that word and seeing how I can apply it to different aspects of my life using it in various contexts encouraging growth, reflection, and renewal. I feel like choosing just one-word challenges me to take action, engage, and apply that word and its meaning. 

In the past, a New Year’s word would just come to me and be my word. I just knew what I wanted it to be. Most recently, it was the word Intentional … for two years (I had a lot of work to do in that area apparently). Then, last year my word was Worth. I wanted to be cognizant of what is worth my time, energy, and resources. I also wanted to remind myself of my own worth.

Here I am again, faced with choosing just the right word – only one word. Some words I’ve considered include impact, value, identity, genuine, and I (I like the challenge of this short word that means so much). 

How about you? Have you made a resolution? Have you chosen a verse of scripture from the Bible? Have you chosen one word? 

Maybe you should consider it. Set yourself up for success in this New Year by finding your focus. 

You may be wondering which word I picked.

Present.

Present, as in here – fully here, in each and every moment with those around me. 

I am a thinker and I sometimes find it hard to keep my brain from moving on to my next idea. I am always thinking ahead it seems (or worrying about things that haven’t happened yet – I am really good at that). I can be present but mentally absent. I understand myself enough to know and acknowledge that I need to focus more on those around me. I need to engage more in the present. I need to be fully present so as not to miss the blessings given through those precious people in my life and those that God places in my path each day. 

To begin my exploration of this word and what it means to me in my life and work, I found some scriptures of support that give me a foundation for reflection and motivation in this new year:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”   Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”   Mathew 6:34 (NIV)

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”   James 4:14 (ESV)

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

Here we are again crossing the threshold into another New Year. 

A New Year of opportunities. A year with open doors that are ours to close. 

What will you do with this gift of the present? 

What will keep you positive, focused, and motivated as you head into the unknown days, weeks, and months ahead?

Just one word may help you sort it out, accomplish your goals, and stretch you farther than you ever imagined.

Enjoy this New Year full of promise, hope, and possibility. Embrace the present. It is truly a gift!

Happy New Year! 

* Jon Gordon, speaker and author of The Power of Positive Leadership (along with numerous other books) is promotes the One Word Challenge. He co-authored a book about it – One Word that Will Change Your Life. I encourage you to accept the challenge. Choose your word and see how you can use it on your journey through this New Year.