One-word contextual beacon for 2021 – why you need one?
I know that we are a little into 2021 and normally I would share this way earlier – it was decided in November 2020 after all. I realised the other day, when a lovely colleague of mine (thanks Dorothy) mentioned that I had not shared publicly.
Interesting question on a couple of fronts….
Why do I find it so helpful to have a one-word contextual beacon for the year?
Why do I share it publicly, any way?
How do you get one if your own?
Why is it so helpful to have a one-word contextual beacon for the year?
The purpose of having a one-word theme is because it acts like a guide or anchor for your dreams throughout the year. It helps balance out the often-conflicting areas of deep focus and opportunity grabbing. Think of it like MACRO structure for the year and then you can have MICRO flexibility, allowing you to respond to opportunities or challenges that arise during the course of a year
A one-word theme helps balance out the often-conflicting areas of deep focus and opportunity grabbing
Dr Jason Fox
I always felt that SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound) goals were a bit constraining for a whole year, when an opportunity or challenge would come along they were no longer relevant. New Year’s resolution/s had no permeance to them and were forgotten almost before the end of January. I understand the logic associated with SMART goals, they likely have their place, just not for me. I like to be able to grab opportunities as they arise.
I know that explanation can seem a little light, but I have found it super effective. I feel that is a very low risk approach to making meaningful change, you choose a word and anchor your year plans around it. If it does not work, you have not put in too much effort. However, this brings me nicely to why I share it publicly.
Why I share it publicly?
Aha, you have come across one of the reasons it is effective, well done you! The contextual beacon is super helpful when you share it. It you explain the word and what it means to you, to colleagues and friends, they will help keep you accountable. They will remind you of your word, when you are woosing out on doing something or you are not living according to your word.
Personally, I find that it anchors the dreams I am keen to achieve in the year ahead. Let me explain with an example. 2020 my word was FORGE, which was about creating things that were enduring, long lasting. I had planned to hold my first retreat in May 2020. If you recall, that was when we had just come out of severe lock down and we were still getting used to what this would means for us (the new normal the most overused phase of 2020). The retreat was a way to ensure I would write the content. Instead I asked my network if they wanted to participate in a REFLECTION REVOLUTION, which was a series of templates sent snail mail. The content was not written, none of it. I was writing a couple of weeks ahead. I even explained in the intro that this might be 6-8 weeks, as I had not decided what templates would add the most value. Because my word for the year was FORGE. I did exactly that and worked out a way to FORGE ahead.
There are many more instances of this, throughout the year, where the contextual beacon would assist in guiding my decisions.
Enough already – How do I get one for myself?
Come along to the Design your Life Workshop on 20th March, and part of the outcome, is we will work through your word. The investment of a day will give you a whole lot of context to enable you have 2 or 3 to choose from at the end of the day, that will serve your dreams best. All details are here
If you are unable to make the workshop, here are the four steps:
First, YOUR WORD NEEDS TO BE BOTH INSPIRING AND INSTANTLY UNDERSTANDABLE
The outcome we are after here is a word that is inspiring for you, but instantly understandable for everyone else. Having an obscure reference to a Lord of Rings character, will require too much explanation and it will be harder for your posse to help you keep focused, if it's a bit too tricky to remember the word, let alone, it's meaning. The only explanation should be around how that might apply in your context.
Here are Dr Jason Fox's quick tips about choosing a word wisely:
1. You're not just choosing a word. You're choosing a bundle of attributes, principles, and behaviours to aspire to.
2. Resist choosing your first word. It's probably boring or common. Explore the words near to the first word that comes to you. They're probably much more memorable and compelling.
3. It should generate a positive response. When I think of my word, every year I have created it (see later for inspiration) it always makes me smile when I think about it. This also happens when others have arrived at their word, it kind of clunks in place.
It is super important here that the word has context. That is why I put this in the 4th phase of my Design your Life on Purpose workshop. Picking any random word is not going to generate any magical insights, in and of itself. However, choosing a words after you have reflected in the year that has been and dreamt of what you want out of life, now that will anchor you and guide you going forward.
Second, MAKING YOUR WORD LESS DULL
You have a word, but it is bit dull - fancy it up by trying to relate it to one of the following:
Animal
Active
Archetype
Aspects
Abstract
Is there an archetype that applies? e.g. pioneer (my word for 2016), pirate, or an animal that has the characteristics you are looking for - maybe a Bengal Tiger. Think of something that works for you and is inspiring and memorable.
Thirdly, ADD AN IMAGE
You can make your contextual beacon more powerful by adding an image. Vision trumps every other sense (Brain Rules John Medina)
Fourthly, SHARE YOUR WORD
I mentioned before, why I share publicly. Give people your word. Make sure your word will serve you in your social ecology. Choose a word your friends and colleagues will actually use and hold you to.
Electrify 2021
My word for 2021 is Electrify – this is about adding energy and power to where I am taking Incahoots, as well as my personal energy and power. It is also about electrifying professionals to unearth possibilities and design a life that suits them perfectly.
Inspiration
Here is the master (Dr Jason Fox) explaining how this works in a super helpful video
https://vimeo.com/150156042
Link - http://bit.ly/2ibAERz
Plus - I would suggest going straight to this site (Thecleverness) and consuming everything that is there, subscribe to the muse letter and purchase everything he creates, he is SOOOO smart and also a bit hilarious.
Previous Years
Here are my previous years word and image
Design your Life on Purpose (DYLOP) workshop
DYLOP is designed to guide professionals who have deferred their dreams to unearth possibilities and to design a strategic life map to answer the question - now what?
DYLOP attracts 2 types:
1. Know Exactly - Peeps who know exactly what they want to do, but are unsure how or have some blocks to overcome
2. No Idea - Peeps who are unsure what they want to design their life around, or know what they do not want
All details about the one day are contained on this page. It is packed to the gills with everything you can ever imagine asking, such as:
· How is the 1 day and the retreat different?
· What is different to other offerings?
· Bonuses if you bring a friend
What was the experience like again….
Here are the details about Designing your Life on Purpose experience of the attendees.
Design your Life, on Purpose workshop
Saturday 20th March
9.30am to 4.30pm
Seed Spaces
137-151 Bridge Rd, Glebe
Investment: $495
READY TO GO!
If you are ready to create a 2021 Strategic Life Map that suits you personally, register right here
Once registered, an invoice and details about preparation will be provided.
Is this the year that you start designing a life that suits you perfectly?
I would love to see you at the workshop and see what amazing things you can achieve in 2021.
Yours collaboratively,
Christina MM
P.S. In order to complete the pre-work, I would suggest you register by this Friday 12th March
Not quite ready for the 1day DYLOP workshop
Here are some other options to get you started on designing.
DREAM QUEST
As we start moving into adulting, we let go of the ability to dream, or it gets schooled out of us. This is an absolute tragedy, and probably responsible for the deluge of sameness we get surrounded with.
People that create amazing, desirable lives are the ones that never let go of dreaming and make those dreams come true.
Dream Quest is about kickstarting that process to unearth possibilities and expand your thinking beyond your now, developing the critical super habit of dreaming. Without this super habit of dreaming it is hard to know what you are designing your life towards.
More Info here
REFLECTION REVOLUTION
Our lives were already packed with loads of things, very important and valuable things, and then Global Pandemic! The world literally stops….. It then becomes even more important to take stock, and determine whether the life you were heading towards at break neck speed, is really the life that you truly desire.
Reflection is something that you do generally do periodically, rather than an everyday habit, therefore, Reflection Revolution will be offered as preparation for Design Your Life on Purpose workshops or retreats. It is important to note, that this can be done as a stand-alone activity, still very valuable.
More Info here
Incahoots exists
To guide professionals who have deferred their dreams, to unearth possibilities to design a strategic life map that answers the question - now what?
About CMM
Christina Morgan-Meldrum (CMM) is a coach, facilitator, author, change professional and creative. She particularly loves helping people and organisations unearth what’s possible to design a future that suits you perfectly (a Strategic Lifemap).
She has cultivated the ability to walk into any industry; see what is not seen, distil what is complicated, and simplify the chaos. This skill has been forged in a deliberate and concentrated way for over 20 years, through Personal Coaching and working in Organisational Change Management.
Christina fills her time on various side hustles, blogging, creating and learning the piano. If you are looking for her, she is likely at her spiritual home JB Hi-Fi, exploring stationery stores or artisan markets.