As 2019 quickly comes to an end and a new year (and a new decade!) begins, people are quickly scrambling to think of New Year’s Resolutions to set for themselves to start a “New Year, New Me”. The Cambridge Dictionary defines New Year’s Resolutions as “a promise you make to yourself to start doing something good or stop doing something bad on the first day of the year”. According to a quick Google search, the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions include:
- Diet or eat healthier
- Exercise more
- Lose weight
- Save more & spend less
- Learn a new skills or hobby
- Quit smoking
- Read more
- Find another job
- Drink less alcohol
- Spend more time with family & friends
While people who set up resolutions (either like the ones above or any other goal they set for themselves), it often sets them up to feel disappointed because if/when they don’t reach their goal, they feel like they’ve failed. I am not anti-New Year’s Resolutions, by the way, I think they’re a good idea, in theory, but setting yourself up for failure, essentially, doesn’t seem like a good way to start anything. So rather than setting a New Year’s Resolution for yourself, I want to encourage you to set a theme for the new year.
What is a New Year Theme?
The Oxford dictionary defines “theme” as:
- The subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person’s thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic.
- An idea that recurs in or pervades a work of art or literature.
- Give a particular setting or ambience.
In simpler terms…a theme is the main idea or underlying meaning; when setting a theme for yourself for the new year, you are ultimately looking for the main idea (or ideas) in your life. Life themes are generally made up of keywords that represent your highest values; each value gives you a starting point for defining the major themes of your life.
How to Identify Your Theme
There is not one right or wrong way to do this. To get an idea of where to start, though, you need to create a space where you can intentionally think about your values–what do you most value, seek out, and love to experience? Need some help? No worries! Below is a list of universal values (also–please feel free to add your own!) Take time to look over the list and find the words that resonate with you the most. One you pick (however many you choose), try to narrow it down to the top 3-5. Once you determine these 3-5 values, this will be the foundation for the theme you want to set for yourself. Your theme can be just the word or you can create a sentence with it.
For example:
- Wisdom. (This is a perfectly good theme for the new year!)
- I want to impart wisdom to people around me who are curious and would love to spend time with people who are wiser than me so I can learn from those I value and respect. (Again…perfectly good theme for the new year!)
I can’t say this enough…but there is no right/wrong way to do this. This is totally for you.
Once you find the right words for your life theme, you will start to see a connection between the way you look at and move through the world. Use these connections to guide you and the way you look at life, challenges, obstacles, and opportunities that come your way.
Things to Keep in Mind
First and foremost, there isn’t one right way to do this. I know I’ve said that multiple times…but it’s because it’s ABSOLUTELY true. Keep that in mind while you keep these other pointers in mind:
- We likely need several themes.
- It is unlikely that you’ll have JUST one theme in your life (although it’s totally okay if you do!)
- Life themes do NOT happen overnight.
- This process takes time! It’s not something that you should rush or force. As life happenings occur, some stories in your life end while others begin–momentum unfolds with each page in the story of your life. So be patient and kind to yourself as you are evaluating what makes most sense for you.
- Understanding our theme keeps us engaged and intentionally
living.
- A theme in your life is not intended to live a certain life and dictate what you can or cannot do. Rather, it is intended to help you determine how to handle celebrations & challenges and everything in between.
Above all, be true to you and set a theme (or themes) for your life that will allow you to live your best, most authentic self. After all, that’s what the ultimate goal is…right?
List of Values:
- Life
- Peace
- Wisdom
- Creation
- Sacred
- Love
- Energy
- Potential
- Connection
- Justice
- Perspective
- Growth & Change
- Balance
- Renewal
- Truth
- Nature
- Consciousness
- Evolving
- Harmony
- Play
- Understanding
- Order & Chaos
- Unity
- Freedom
- Happiness
- Soul
- Rejuvenation
Need some extra guidance with setting your theme for the new year? Check out this blog by Katy Manganella on setting intentions for the new year. It’s a great place to start!
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