A NEW YEAR AND A NEW WORD
I always love the beginning of a new year and choosing a new Word of the Year to direct my thoughts and help me grow more into my true self in this second half of life. As each year draws to a close, I find myself mulling over what my next WOTY will be, and as I allow things to simmer, I find a Word will often bubble to the surface.That's exactly what happened this time - it came to me early, and it stuck in my head because it clicked in a way that resonated with how I want to approach this year ahead. So, for 2026 I'm embracing the Word:
TEASING OUT THE CONCEPT OF BEING MINDFUL
When I first encountered the word "Mindful", I almost dismissed it because in the past I associated mindfulness with meditation - it had a kind of New Agey vibe and it didn’t really fit with what I was trying to drill down to. I realized that it wasn't the practice of mindfulness that I was looking for, it was the concept of being mindful that was appealing to me, and that encompasses so much more than just being "Zen". The sense I was getting from my idea of being mindful was more to do with being intentional with what I allow into my space, living thoughtfully, and exploring interesting concepts that I'd like to explore more deeply.I looked up the Oxford Dictionary definition of Mindful and I discovered that points 1 and 3 gave it the added meaning I was looking for to expand it out into living with intention. I also like point 2 about being present in the "now" because that is a more calming way for me to live.
The Oxford Languages Dictionary defines Mindful as:
6. Releasing what no longer serves
7. Resting and reflecting
8. Focusing on what I have
9. Practicing self-compassion
10. Becoming more intentional
The Oxford Languages Dictionary defines Mindful as:
1. being conscious or aware of something.
2. focusing one's awareness on the present moment.
3. being inclined or willing to do something.
2. focusing one's awareness on the present moment.
3. being inclined or willing to do something.
CHOOSING AN OVER-ARCHING MINDFULNESS
Living a mindful Midlife isn't just about centering in on this exact, present moment and seeking peace - that's really important (hence my choice of Equanimity as my focus in 2024), but it's also living intentionally - knowing what my heart, mind, and emotions need for me to live my life well.
It's deepening my understanding of myself, so that I can navigate transitions with grace, and live in a way that's always consistent with my values, being aware of what my heart is telling me - and paying attention to what is needed to live in alignment with that.
With that in mind, I did a little dive into how I could live a more mindful and intentional Midlife, and I came up with ten thoughts. Rather than trying to cover them in one giant blog post, I thought I'd choose one every so often for my focus and (hopefully) by the end of the year I'll be living mindfully and in step with what resonates with who I am now.
10 MINDFUL PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
1. Mindful mornings
2. Curating my feed
3. Choosing my responses
4. Developing the Fruit of the Spirit
5. Connecting authentically
2. Curating my feed
3. Choosing my responses
4. Developing the Fruit of the Spirit
5. Connecting authentically
6. Releasing what no longer serves
7. Resting and reflecting
8. Focusing on what I have
9. Practicing self-compassion
10. Becoming more intentional
THAT'S MY WOTY FOR 2026
So, I'm launching Mindfully into the year ahead and choosing to live authentically, curating what I allow into my space, looking for opportunities to grow in grace, acknowledging my place in the world, and that I'm worthy of investing into the process of owning who I am and what's the right fit for this stage of my life.
Interestingly, I was reading the Sunday Times newspaper a few days before Christmas and saw this article by Katherine Fleming - where (in part) she is saying that what I want is actually what a lot of people want in the year ahead...
It's not about anything big and bold, but more about calm assurance - knowing that my head, heart, and soul are in alignment with each other, that what I say and do resonates with my core values and beliefs, and not being distracted by the noise of the world around me. Hopefully some of what I discover will have meaning for those who are on this Midlife journey with me - maybe here and there you'll get to say "me too" and we can cheer each other on.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Have you chosen a Word of the Year, or an Intention for the Year, or a resolution or two? Are you choosing to make this second half of life a time of self-development and growth? I'd love you to share your thoughts in the comments.
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That sounds like a good word for you, Leanne. I don't think I'll do a word of the year this year; nothing is really jumping out and waving "pick me"...
ReplyDeleteHi Jo - maybe something will pop up part way through the year - or maybe you have enough on your plate with where you're at right now? I'm looking forward to diving in and discovering what being mindful and intentional will mean for me in the year ahead.
DeleteThat is such a great explanation of the word you have chosen Leanne. I've been more aware of being mindful these days (B tells me to as well) because the minute I get caught up with rumination (the past) or predictions (the future) there goes my equanimity. I've been practising mindful meditation and self compassion for over 6 years now and I need reminders over and over. The good thing though about being self aware...over time...is that you can keep yourself in check. So good to read your list of what you will do with being 'mindful' too Leanne. Happy New Word of the Year. Denyse x
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - Ross tells me that being aware of something is more than half the battle won. I had a setback a couple of weeks ago that showed me that I can think I'm healed and whole, but there will always be soft spots that can be triggered and overset me. More on that next week.... But, I love that I have the time to ponder what I need to take in and what I need to release so that I live my life more authentically with my values and who I see myself capable of becoming. xx
DeleteHi Allison - I saw the clip you left on Pat's post this morning and watched it (her Word and mine are part of the same family I think). Goodbye has a lot of different tones to it - and I like how you've chosen the "good" as you head into the year ahead.
ReplyDeleteMindful is an important word and a good word of the year. I agree that "mindfulness" has a new age-y vibe to it due to how it's been used in the past - although in reality it only means being present and intentional, which is how I see both mindful and mindfulness.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I'll have a word of the year this year. Like Jo said, nothing has been calling on me. I do have intentions and goals, and many of them revolve around what you are saying - being more intentional, ditch what doesn't serve, but for me also listening to myself, getting to know myself and my values better, dropping more "shoulds" and knowing I make choices because they align with my goals, values and opinions rather than because I feel I "should" something.
Hi Leanne, happy new year! I like your woty. I’ve been trying to work out what mine should be but I’m having trouble defining it. The closest I can come to a word that resonates is ‘boundaries’. It has to be about working out what I want to spend time on or with, taking time to respond to messages and not being ruled by my phone, not allowing myself to get wrapped up in things that drain me etc. I think your woty covers those things - I might have to ‘borrow’ it as mine too as ‘boundaries’ doesn’t quite feel like the right word! Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. This year I am focusing on capturing glimmers and saving them in a jar. Then I can pull them out when I need a lift.
ReplyDelete