Dawn Damon 0:07

Hey beautiful women. This is Dawn Damon, the Brave Heart mentor and you're listening to the brave hearted woman. This is a podcast designed to help you find your brave so you can live out your beautiful vision. I have been working with women for years. And now I want to help you too. I'm here to awaken the brave heart inside of you. So you can ignite the flame of your vision, you can reach your goals and achieve your dreams. Come on, let's get brave.

want to get rid of my clothes and get rid of the clutter. They're not specific. They're not measured. They're not smart goals. They're just and then by the end of February, we all feel it failures because we didn't do any of it. So rather than that I like to focus on a few things in the first key that I use to having my great year is I pick a word for the year. I do this every year. And I can tell you with complete confidence that it is an exercise that everyone should try. There's amazing value in picking a word for the year. And these are just the things that I've discovered in my life. First of all, when I pick a word for the year, it brings focus to Me, clarity and keeps me in alignment. I'll share more with you in a moment how it does that. But your word for the year will come back to you regularly into your heart into your mind and you'll say yep, like a rudder. On a ship. This little word can help bring some guidance to you. It will help you guide and guide you and decisions and daily actions so that you're continually moving the needle forward you'll start seeing you're going in the direction you want because one year one word a year brings like a focus or it's a motivational word that helps you to set your sail set your goals set your your focus your focus your North Star, this is where I want to go and you'll start finding yourself achieving your most important goals. And because having that word in front of you every day, it will also keep it in front of your mind. And it means you're telling your brain what to focus on and where to bring you some neuroscience there for you. You always have a solid point of reference. And a simple one word motivation helps you when things get tough. For example, last year, the word that I felt in my heart for my guidance for the year was the word Trust. And I had no idea how much I was going to fall back on that inspirational spiritual word of trust. When things started getting tough for me, it was like, Oh, yep, you know what my word this year was trust? Do you think the Creator of all things knew that I was going to need that, that nudge and that urging in my soul to know, don't be surprised, just trust. And we also know that the first step in creating anything that we want is to identify self awareness and our specific intentions, like I intend on having a great year. That's why you're doing this, I intend on this being a goal setting year, a record smashing year. And so a word of the year will help you go in the right direction by bringing more awareness to your intentions. So I don't just let them drift away. I remember my intentions I intended on having the best year of my life, and maybe my word this year of brave, maybe my word is brave. Instead of shrinking back, I'll say no, in order for me to have my intentions of having the best year of my life, come to fruition, I need to be brave. So I think you get the point, right? You're smart women, you are brave hearted women, you get where I'm going, you're picking up what I'm laying down. Okay. So how do you choose a word for the year and this process of choosing it, it's a process, okay? This process of choosing a word, helps you focus on your goals and the actions that you want to take for the next year. And it's going to help you determine your priorities. And so let's take a look just for a moment because the process of finding a word for the year and choosing a word for the year is really beautiful in and of itself. And it's also a discipline that, for me, I enjoy every year. And I've began to make this a part. Like if I don't have a North Star for the year, I feel like something is missing. So choosing a word doesn't have to be difficult. But for me, I do want it to be inspired. I don't want to just pick a word out of the air. I want to pay attention to the words that are coming to me. It's almost like the word picks me. I want to pay attention to the inspirations that are around me like this time of the year. This year, I already have my word. But last year, I had three or four, you know runner ups and I was still honing in on I don't like to have more than one word. I really want a focus. But I wanted, I want this process to be inspired. Now some words will do that they will inspire action, you may feel that your word is like a verb. The word that you choose may be run, or rise or dive, go deeper, some type of action word. And then there are some words that describe a trait and they're more like adjectives like my word last year, trusting or brave, fierce fit. And then some words call for alignment or focus. And these words are nouns. So you might the word for your year might be family, children, spouse, friends, God, church. So once again, take out that journal. And I'm excited to get to promote my new journal that's not ready for you yet,

So here we go. First step I want you to reflect on last year, and ask yourself some of these questions. What did I love last year? You know, when you felt like you were in the sweet spot, and you had that smile, that soul song was going on inside of you and and you just have that that sense of hope? Maybe that swell? That urge or that rising up inside of you of just life can't get any better? What were you doing? Reflect on that? What did you love? And then, where did you feel like you lacked last year? What did you not enjoy? When you felt frustrated? And nothing was working right? And you felt scattered and over committed and you felt no focus and distracted? And where do you want to grow? Ask yourself that. write those things down. And then ask yourself this question. What did I need more of in my life? What was I missing? Did I need more? Quiet time? More inspirational podcasts? More prayer? Did I need more exercise? What did I need more of more meantime? more expressive writing in my journal? Did I need therapy? Seriously, did I need to talk to someone? Did I need coaching? That I need to pour out? Was I it? Was it all about me? Did I need to serve? What did I need more of? And then what did I need less of? What? What can I do without? That I overshot last year did I gorged did I not purge my closet? Did I have too many coffee dates and too many commitments? And too much TV? What can I do less of? And then what characteristics do you want to have? What are some personality traits or some character traits that you'd like to intentionally cultivate and put into your life this year? And then this is an interesting question. What feeling? Would you like more of as I was just talking to earlier about what did you love? And maybe what did you hate? I know for me, I could personally feel those feelings. I I do not like the feeling of too many things on my plate and doing just half a job. Not doing anything great giving everything just like a little bit, you know, good enough, because you know, we know what they say good enough. Seldom is good enough. I don't like that feeling. So what about you? What was it for you to do? Were you stressed? Did you feel trapped? Did you find yourself saying yes to something that you really wish that you would have had the courage to say no to the anointed word? No. And I'm not an expert at saying no, but I do a lot better. And having a word for the year, by the way helps me stay aligned. So that is all of step one I want you to reflect on last year, let's let last year, be a teacher to us and instructor to us. And let's do a little self evaluation and then learn something about ourselves. What did we do well,

and where did we struggle? Because there's no sense in repeating last year because if you don't do this, you don't take an inventory of yourself. You can repeat the same year over and over and over again. And we can literally be living in the movie Groundhog. Do y'all remember that movie Groundhog with Bill Murray? How funny was that movie. But the message is clear that sometimes we can get trapped in our own Life, I think it's Jim Rohn, who says in five years, you will arrive? The question is Where? Where will you arrive? You're going to be somewhere? Are you going to be in the life that you created that you want? Or are you going to be living in the place that you don't like you despise, you're angry with yourself, you wish that you had done a better job at preparing yourself for five years from now? Well, I'm here to help you. I'm here to help you and coach you so that when you get there, you're proud of yourself. And you're going to be living a life that you want to live, that that your Creator has said to you, this is the best life you can possibly have. And I want you to live it, you're worthy of it. Say that with me, I am worthy of living a great life. Alright, so you're going to review last year and then number two, I want you to start now creating a list. What do you want to focus on this year? What do you want to accomplish? Where do you want to go? Metaphorically? And physically? Where do you want to travel? But where do you want your life to go? Like I said, in five years, you're going to arrive? Where is that destiny? Where do you want to go? Do you want to be an author, a speaker? Do you want to own your own business? Do you want to have graduated? Do you want to finish your schooling and start that law degree? Where do you want to go? Focus? Where do you want to be? What are the big rocks, they talk about those priorities? This time next year, you're going to be one of two people, you're going to be a person with excuses, or a person with results, which you can't have both. I remember one time just working with an individual and they said this is so hard. I said yes. It's hard, but choose your heart. You can have hard now or hard later. You can do the hard things right now you can say no to that sugar. No to that treat. You can say no to that distraction. No to that TV. And yes to accomplishing yes to the finished manuscript. Yes to the education. Or you can have hard later, you know, I said yes to the treat today and in tomorrow. Now, right? I can't fit into my jeans. I can't I can't fit on a airplane to travel because I take up two seats. These are realities, friends so hard now or hard later. So list those things that you want to focus on this year. Now notice the theme of your answers. There should be a theme, where do you want to go? What did you want to focus on? Should be all coming together? Now? Start creating a list of some words that can work with where you want to go? Remember those words? Is it an action word that says leap? Dare dive?

Ask, believe trust? Is it a noun? Is it family? Is it me is the word me and you might think that's a selfish word. But not if you're a woman who has spent the last 50 years taking care of everyone in your life, and you've never put yourself first and you find yourself at a place in time this year. When this is going to be a year for you, of recreating you or reinventing you. So what make a list of some words. Now let me give you a few words. Just you know, maybe this would help inspire you if you don't think that you have some. So it could be passion explore. What about being mindful, capable, plentiful. Yes. Is a word, forgive. Imagine? Dream Dream is a beautiful word. Conquer course. You know, I love the word. Brave, fearless, fierce courage. Or maybe it's discipline, balance, health, calm, or content, wellness, health, love, integrity, nourish all words. And by the way, if you would like my list of words, I'd like to offer you that free download. And you can find those by emailing words for the year at dawn damon.com Don damon.com. And I will send you the words for the year. That's my website, by the way, and there'll be a place there where you can reach me. And then finally, look at those words. And now pay attention. Some of those words on those that list do any of them jumped out at you? Do any of these words make you feel excited? Scared? Does some of those words make you feel uncomfortable? Or they just lackluster? It's like, yeah, no. Or does some of those words scare you in a good way? Like they motivate you, or they challenge you, or they push you out of your comfort zone. And then think about those words, try them on, see, see what feels good. You don't have to overanalyze this, but just just go ahead and narrow it down. And what I do is I definitely narrow it down to no more than three words. And by January, I choose the word or like I said, a moment ago, I think the word chooses me. And then I want you to do this, when you're at the end, and you've, you've landed on a word, and you have truly decided this. I really believe this is my word, it brings me a sense of peace, some empowerment, and I feel connected to it. Then John asks, SRF he's a motivational speaker. He says this. Tell me answer this question. This is the question that I want you to answer. Are you merely interested in this word? Or are you committed, interested or committed? Because chances are, if you're just interested, then you're going to be the person at the end of the year with excuses. That if you're committed, then you will put forth the effort to actually make changes and you'll see it come to pass in your life. So journal, get connected, and get your word for the year and you will see how that word will act like guardrails, bumper rails and Kitty bowling, a rudder for you. And you'll see how it brings alignment in focus for you. So that's what I have for you today. I hope you enjoy it. It is so good to be with you. And as always, I want to leave you with this especially now coming to the end of the year. Don't forget to find your brave and live your vision.

Thanks for hanging out with me today and becoming brave. If this has helped you, be sure to share it with someone and subscribe so you never have to miss another episode. For more about me my books, my coaching or online courses, visit Dawn damon.com. And as always be brave and live your vision.