I’m a Dragon, and before you’re quick to agree, which Dragon do you think I am referring to?
I’m talking about the Chinese zodiac sign.
With the healthy arrogance of a Dragon, let me be the one to tell you, the Dragon is highly regarded in Chinese culture. Some Chinese even consider themselves descendants of the dragon.
A Dragon, is lively, intellectual, and excitable, can tell right from wrong, is frank, can be a bit arrogant and impatient, and the female Dragons tend to be overly confident.
Really?
No!
They hate hypocrisy, slander and gossip.
They are not afraid of difficulties and do not like being controlled or used by others. Sound like me?
When it comes to real estate agents I’ve met all types, Pigs, Snakes, Monkeys, Rats and Dogs.
There’s oh so much meaning in one little word. How awesome is language?
I love how the selection, use, and interpretation of the words we communicate with can be so diverse.
I love how a single word can mean so many difference things to different people and I love how powerful words can be when used well, not just on others, but on the conversation we have with ourselves.
While some take the zodiac seriously, and others just for fun, I have my own approach when it comes to naming my year.
Each year I literally choose a word of the year, pardon the pun.
My word becomes my theme, it forms the basis for my decision making and guides me as I navigate the world towards my goals.
When I first started selecting a word many years ago, I sat down with pen and paper and brainstormed, identifying words that encapsulated all I wanted for the year ahead.
But now, the word seems to just naturally rise to the surface without prompting.
At the end of 2022, each time I was asked what the new year had in store, ever present was the word ‘action’.
While I can get more done in a day, juggle the most insane workload, and when life throws me lemons, I make a lemon buffet, after a crazy 2022, I felt the landscape of my life was ready for a new path and that required ‘action’.
I thought I’d better look up the technical meaning of ‘action’ for us, and it could not be a more accurate reflection of my intention for this year.
‘Action’ has several meanings:
- the process or state of acting or of being active
- something done or performed
- act
- an act that one consciously wills and that may be characterised by physical or mental activity
- actions, habitual or usual acts
- conduct and
- energetic activity.
When you roll out your word of the year, including and discussing it at every opportunity, you’d be well advised to create an application statement to go with it.
My application statement is “creating space, cutting the noise, and taking action”.
‘Space’ was my word for 2022 and I am just not ready to let it go. I am removing all the “noise” that takes up valuable real estate of my mind, so that I can consider what I want across this next phase of life, and take consciously considered, decisive action.
With ‘action’ now firmly in motion, and a couple of months of activity and change under our belt, it’s not been without risk or temptation to fill the space with noise, stuff, and other people’s needs.
‘Action’ is proving to be a strong which enables tough decision-making.
‘Action’ is a 365 day project, and for today I’m off to wake the Horse, Dragon and the Dog, we’ve got ‘action’ to take.
