Disclosure: Any post may contain links to my shop or affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission from any purchase you make. All opinions about products I use are my own. Read the full disclosure and Privacy Policy HERE.
It’s New Year’s Eve, after 4:30 pm, and I’m sitting on my bed writing this post. Normally I have my word picked out a few weeks before the New Year, but this year had me down to the wire. This year has a lot of change and big events coming, so I had a lot of words floating to help guide me through these coming moments. But in the end, I decided what I needed most in 2024 is healing.
In 2019, I changed my approach to New Year’s goal setting. I generally love making goals and challenges for myself. I will start fresh with a new goal on a Wednesday in the middle of the month in the middle of the year. Creating a list of specific goals at the New Year seems redundant to me personally since I always have an ongoing list of things I’m working on.
BUT – our thoughts are what determine our success. The words we have playing through our mind all day every day matter and they have a real effect on us. One Word Goals on New Years were something I was drawn to immediately. And I’ve loved it.
I think of my One Word like a star that I’m heading towards. My journey might be messy and random, but as long as I keep going towards that star, I know I’m heading in the right direction. I pick words that align with who I am trying to become.
Healing is what I’d like to focus on.
Healing Physically:
I’m still suffering effects of my terrible concussion in 2020. It does not help that I keep hitting my head every few months. Matt says he wants to buy me a helmet and I’m tempted to let him. I need to focus on resting my brain and giving it the right fuel to heal (my neurologist is a big believer that nutrition has a big impact on brain health).
Also, I had twins 18.5 years ago and this year I made a lot of strides in healing my body from the damage that pregnancy did. I went to physical therapy this year and that made such a difference. I want to continue that progress and make my body strong as I enter into this next phase of life.
I’ve also had shingles twice in 2023 (last case still ongoing), so I think healing from that might actually be top priority!
Healing Mentally:
I might be a witness in a criminal trial this year. I can’t discuss any details until the trial is over, but I want to help the other victims and do my part to stop this from ever happening again. I will be praying for healing (and closure) during this process.
Also, there have been some pretty difficult things that I’ve gone through in the last few years and I have a lot of healing to do. Forgiveness without an apology is hard, but I need the healing. I don’t mean to be so vague, but some things are too private for a blog and I’m sorry to leave you hanging.
When I think about Healing in 2024, it will mean different things on different days. Some days that might mean more rest and other days there might be actions to take. This year I pray for the guidance to know what needs to be done as I work towards healing.
Past one words:
- 2019 – Get Dressed (My first year of one word goals, and I didn’t blog about it until 2020.)
- 2020 – Rest
- 2021 – Growth
- 2022 – Intentional
- 2023 – Focus
If you’d like to download the printable I made for myself this year, do that here.
Will you choose a One Word Goal this year? What will it be?
From my home to yours,
Mary
I am wishing for you a very calm and healing 2024 on all the dimensions of your journey.
I was struck by the phrase “forgiveness without apology is hard”. I have struggled with this, and struggled with what forgiveness even means. How can I forgive the person without condoning what was done? A wise friend suggested I reframe forgiveness into ‘release’. I work on acknowledging the pain and damage I carry and release it from me. I have a long way to go, but the mindset of releasing the impact that of what that person has done to me rather than forgiving the person has really helped me move on. All the best to you, Mary, in 2024 and beyond. Thank you for all the help, guidance and community that you have built.
Thank you Cindy! And I love how your friend suggested to reframe forgiveness into release. I’m going to ponder on that, thank you.
I’m having a hard time finding my word this year. I dealt with a lot the last three years. There couple of words that fit but I just don’t know.
Give yourself time and grace. The right direction will appear.
My word for this year is “Prepare”
My husband and I have some big changes happening over the next year and I feel a need to prepare physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Great word!
My word this year is Progress. Progress over perfection is what I keep repeating to myself. There are things I have wanted to get done, but I don’t start because my need for perfection stops me. If I know it’s not going to be perfect, or exactly what I envisioned then it doesn’t get done. Little things like family vacation photo albums to more (personally) important things like my kids baby books. Tidying up spaces sometimes doesn’t get started because I know I don’t have enough time to finish.
I just started a new company and I don’t want to end up stalling progress while I’m desiring perfection in my business either. Just write the LinkedIn post! Just finalize the proposal/contract. I take my work seriously and I don’t plan to do sub par work – but I know I don’t have hours and hours to stew over whether it is “perfect”. Sometimes “good” has to be good enough.
Very well said! I think progress is a great choice for a recovering perfectionist!
Mary, I just want to thank you for doing this challenge. I am following your directions and having great success. My brain feels so much calmer. Thank you doesn’t seem like enough.
Thank you so much, that means a lot.
I love how you’ve embraced “Healing” as your word for 2024. It’s so powerful that you’re focusing on both physical and emotional healing after everything you’ve been through. Your reflections on forgiveness and mental healing really resonate with me. I also appreciate how you treat the word as a guiding light—such a thoughtful approach to the new year. Wishing you peace and continued strength on your healing journey in 2024!
Thank you!