Thrown Into Training

What is a focus word?

A focus word helps you zero-in on your commitments, goals, or resolutions.  You can choose one word for the year or a few words or you can change it up as your year goes along.   It’s all up to you.

Last year, I chose RENEWAL.   Why RENEWAL?

1.  I wanted to RENEW my commitment to my current friendships.

2.  I wanted to RENEW friendships through Crackbook.

3.  I want to RENEW my interest in my physical health.

Having that word meant that I didn’t have to remember every single goal word for word – it meant that I could focus on that one word, which represented those goals.

I posted about my focus word on Crackbook yesterday and received great response about it.  Here are some words that my friends have chosen:

• Excitement
• Revenge
• Focus
• Think Positive
• Create
• Improvement
• Balance

And, one of my friends even took the idea to her family, who each picked out a word.  They are making a piece of art out of it and hanging it on their wall so that they can be reminded of it.  How cool is that?!?!?

Which brings me to the subject of Inspiration Boards, also known as Vision Boards. Have any of you tried this technique?

An inspiration or vision board is a collage (remember those from childhood?  I remember my mom yelling at me for destroying her magazines before she had read them…and maybe a book or two) of images or sayings that represent your goal.

Inspiration boards started in the design world, as interior designers and clothing designers map out what they want to do in a project and add samples of the materials that will be part of the finished product.

It can be as simple or as fancy as you want to make it.  Here are some ideas:

For a vintage-style wedding

Things that make the creator of this one happy

Using focus words and phrases

You don’t have to use a board – you can also use a clothesline:

I actually really like the idea of the clothesline one, as you can change things out as you change your vision or find new items.

It’s also a great activity to do with your kids.

Back to your focus words.  If you are having trouble coming up with a word, might I suggest a thesaurus? If I have a concept in mind, but I can’t come up with the exact word I want, I often go to a thesaurus.

And that is how I arrived at my word for the year:  ENHANCE.  You see, I knew that I wanted to strengthen my physical body with workouts and bolster my career options with learning.  But neither of those words really captured what I was going for.  So, I went the thesaurus and there was my word:  ENHANCE.

Look for my next post, which will reveal my 2010 goals/resolutions.  I hope that you’ll share yours with me – even if it’s just your focus word.