Word of the Year

At the beginning of every year I try to set myself one goal for the year — usually in the form of a short sentence.

I try to choose things that I know will better me as a person, and focusing on a single sentence gives me the opportunity to form habits that will last me a lifetime.

Last year, my phrase of choice was to chase experiences.

In 2013, this led me to places I never thought I’d go, with people I love dearly. I’ve learnt to relax more, go with the flow, and say yes as often as I can.

In 2014, I want to continue the trend — making the year even better than before. I want it to be a journey of discovery — meaningful and fun.

Trying to decide on a phrase that will guide you for the following year isn’t something you can just do on a whim. In order to find my phrase for the future, I decided to look to the past.

Recently, I embraced a more minimalist lifestyle — donating most of my possessions, and doing my best to remove the unnecessary from my life.

The minimalist lifestyle changed my views on a lot of things. I began to chase experiences over money, focused less on things which didn’t matter, and began to do more of the things I love.

It changed my views on life, religion and the things I value most. It seemed like the perfect thing to base the upcoming year on.

The more I thought about it, the more I decided on a single word that I wanted to guide me in 2014.

So, I ordered myself a wrist band, and I wear it constantly as a reminder to myself what’s important to me.

What’s my world for this year?

Simplify.