One Word for 2021
One Word can Inspire Your Family
What do you dream of for you and your family in 2021?
Do you have a vision for your family’s future?
Do you have an idea of the values and the principles that are your family’s foundation?
Wonder how to make that dream happen?
Resolutions and setting goals are often the stuff that the month of January is made of. What if instead of focusing on what you want your family to do in 2016, you first focused and who you want your family to be? This is the power of choosing one word as a focus point for the next year.
Why One Word?
Goals and resolutions are useful but they are the doing part of creating dynamic and rewarding family relationships. Most goals or resolutions fail because individuals focus first on doing rather than on being. While actions are important and necessary, they must come from a mindset of who we want to be or our vision of our best self. Focusing instead on one word gives a family a north star, a central point to focus on. It can be the starting point for setting personal and family goals.
Selecting a Family Word
Begin by having each person select their word for the year. You might begin by giving some examples to get the creative juices flowing. Visit Mike Ashcraft’s website, My One Word to see some examples of words that have been chosen and why.
Even small children can be encouraged to select a word as their focus for the year. Not only does it immediately engage their creative side but also gives great insight as to their interests and goals.
Once each member of the family has selected a word for the year, it is then time for everyone to share their words and then select a family word to focus on. Some questions to think about might be:
What words would describe what you think the family should be?
What do you really want the family to accomplish together?
How should we treat each other?
How is our family different and unique?
How can our family be the best we can be?
What are your dreams for our family?
Write down the ideas and then select one or more words for the family to focus on for the year. Just as determining your own one word can empower you personally and help you determine your priorities, it can transform the family as well. Whether you are planning a vacation or chastising a child for a behavior problem, you can ask both the child and yourself: Am I following our family’s one word with my words and actions? If not, how can I change my words and actions so that I am true to the mission of our family?
I can’t think of anything more powerful that you can do as a parent than to develop a focus in 2016 by selecting one word to guide you and your family through the year.
Busy Educator’s Grab ‘N Go Lesson Plan on One Word for the Year
Wyatt Learns about Being Organized
It’s time to catch the school bus and Wyatt can’t find anything. Where is his backpack? What about his lunch money? Wyatt is about to learn a valuable lesson about the importance of being organized and the benefits of planning ahead. This adorable story offers simple helpful ideas that kids and parents can use to make life less stressful and more fun.
If you’ve ever lost your lunch money or misplaced your favorite toy, you can relate to Wyatt. this adorable story offers simple, helpful ideas that kids and parents can use to make life less stressful and more fun! ! Erin K. Casey, author of Zany Zia’s Hats to Where
