Living and Leading with Intention: Choosing a 'Word of the Year'
Every January, I choose a ‘word of the year’ to act as an anchor for the 12 months ahead. It’s something I’ve done for the best part of a decade, and my relationship with the whole practice seems to be changing.
I think I used to believe that the very act of choosing a word like ‘Wealth’ (2019) or ‘Strength’ (2018) or ‘Vitality’ (2022) or ‘Unapologetic’ (2024, not sure what that was even about tbh) would somehow focus me on creating a new version of my life, in response to whatever felt lacking in that moment.
And it HAS been useful, mainly as a way to reflect back in December and see how that word did or didn’t come to life that year.
But something feels different this year (or, this January). I am more easily overwhelmed by life and the world than I used to be. I simultaneously have lots of clarity on what I want to have happen this year, and also complete uncertainty on how to move, day-by-day, through life.
So I’ve chosen a ‘phrase of the year’. A strapline for living, if you will. And it’s this:
The subtle influencing the dense.
Let me explain.
In her wonderful book, Tarot for Change, Jessica Dore uses the phrase ‘the subtle influencing the dense’ as the definition for magic. For me, it’s similar to the idioms ‘the macro is in the micro’, or ‘how we do one thing is how we do everything’.
The idea is that it’s the small, the invisible and the unassuming moments that might really move the needle on the whole thing. Here are some examples of how I’m starting to play around with this idea:
Focusing on small daily choices rather than big goals - e.g ‘I will do 30 mins exercise today’, rather than ‘I will exercise 4 times a week’.
Paying attention to micro-sensations in my body and breath as often as possible. My astrologer talk about the body as the most advanced technology we have access to, and I love that.
Trying to notice more about my son’s unconditioned needs and follow his cues for silence or imagining a world or whatever (this one is hard. I fail constantly. I find parenting HARD).
Recommitting to a daily Tarot practice of pulling just one card, and really attending to all the energy and universal symbolism of that one card.
That’s it. The subtle influencing the dense. Paying more attention to moment-by-moment experience and trusting that magic will emerge from there. I’ll keep you updated….