The Future

This year is almost to an end, and it’s the time when we all begin to think about New Year’s resolutions. Do you make them every year? Each year, it seems, people set out with their list of resolutions. We want to be a better person, lose weight, manage our time better; for medical transcriptionists, you might want to become credentialed, get involved in your association more, increase your line counts. And the list goes on and on.

What often happens with these goals is that they work for awhile and then something happens. We have one bad day and decide to give up. The next thing that happens when we give up is we feel like we have failed. And so we spend the rest of the year feeling like we failed at the lofty goals we set for ourselves for the new year.

Last year I stopped doing new year’s resolutions, for many of the reasons above. I learned a new way of looking at the new year from a blogger who I follow, Chris Brogan. He talks about using three words to plan your year. Three words, that’s it, that can simply define what your year will be about. It’s setting a framework for your year and selecting three words that can be applied to the things you do all year. It’s not about setting a resolution with an “end date” on it and hoping you make it.

So here are my three words for 2011: authentic, inspire, and gratitude. Let me tell you a bit how I see those fitting for my new year.

Authentic

“The authentic self is the soul made visible.” Sarah Ban Breathnach

I will be authentic in all I do. It’s a simple matter of, as my husband puts it, “no false faces.” I’ve never had much patience for those who aren’t authentic. When we are authentic, it’s a “what you see is what you get.” It doesn’t mean we will always agree, but it does mean we will interact with integrity and honesty. It means that what you read here will be an authentic representation of our industry, and yes that does mean that it will sometimes also have my thoughts and opinions attached to it. My interactions with others will be done with that same authenticity.

Gratitude

“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach

This last year has been a lesson in gratitude for me. Having gone through a downsizing of my “forever job” and a major move and change in lifestyle, I’ve learned the importance of being grateful for the things I have in life. I am also a believer that when you express that gratitude, you simply bring more of those good things into your life. I want this new year to be one where I am ever mindful of the things I have to be grateful for and a time when I am not lax in expressing that to others. For you see, gratitude unexpressed isn’t gratitude at all!

Inspire

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” — Albert Schweitzer

I want to inspire others to see the possibilities in their lives. I also want to be inspired by others. I want to feel that inspiration such that it drives me to create new projects and, as Seth Godin says, “SHIP.” That means new courses coming here for 2011 and some new ideas for business! I’ve been blessed in my life to have some great folks inspiring me in what I have done. If I can pass some of that on to someone else, it will be even better. Each of you who comes here to read are an inspiration to me, pushing me to create good content for you so that you enjoy your time here.

So there you have it, my three words. I plan to post updates on these throughout the year. My challenge to you is to give it some thought and find your own three words for 2011. What will your three words be?