Do you do that? Choose a word in December or early January that signifies what you want to bring into your life, or focus on in the year ahead? I started doing it a few years back rather than making a 'resolution'. For me, resolutions are too specific. And in my optimistic enthusiasm I have often come up with grandiose promises to myself that are not sustainable or attainable. A single word is better. It transcends one objective (like, "I will exercise every day") and instead encompasses an attitude that I can enlist to help me with all my endeavours for the year.
Last year my word was 'balance'. I needed to find a way to give equal attention to all the important people and activities in my life. Although I did learn much about time management and I evened things out substantially, I'm keeping 'balance' in mind again as I move through this year. I think I will always strive for balance, but the constant conscious practise of it makes me more proficient at maintaining it.
This year, after much thought and consideration, I realized my word was going to be 'clarity'. Of course it was; what else could it possibly be? Ever since I decided to release myself from making art following someone else's directions and return to my own creative dreams I have wandered aimlessly through a world of possibility. Bumping into one idea and getting so excited I overwhelm myself and run away, only to run into another idea equally as wonderful, and scary. Over and over again until I tire myself out with discouragement and self doubt. 
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wrote, "The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough." Okay, mine are scary. I got that right. Now I just need to learn to embrace the fear and move forward. And to do that I need to be clear about what it is I really want.
In my experience, the Universe has always proven Itself to be benevolent and abundant. I set my mind to something, and 'poof!' there it is. A few days, or maybe several years later, it manifests into my life. I could say that my life has been one serendipitous event after another, and I have the Law of Attraction to thank for that. Even if I don't always consciously use it to my full advantage, and I let my doubts drive the bus far too often, that Law is still at work. For positive or negative, it is a serious work horse.
One thing I do understand about utilizing this intrinsic phenomenon of manifestation, is that you have to know what you want. I can't recall where I heard this analogy (I'll find it as soon as I stop looking for it, then I'll post the answer because I think it's probably in a really good book, like maybe Elizabeth Gilbert's "Big Magic," http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/ which is a really really good read anyway even if it turns out not to be the source). Sorry. I heard (or read) this analogy about being in a restaurant and not being able to make a choice off the menu; the kitchen, then, is not able to bring you a meal because it doesn't know what to make for you. Same thing with 'placing an order' with the Universe. It would love to give you exactly what you want, but it can't if you don't know what that is.
That brings me back around to my word of the year: clarity. This year I am going to get clear about where I want to go, creatively speaking. I have choices to ponder and decide on. I'm not certain yet what path I'll take, but I'm going to start down the road of intention. That's my journey this year, and the reason I started this blog - it's somewhere to keep a record of it. And to do so publicly might help keep me accountable. I have trouble, it seems, being accountable to just myself at this point; I can sneak away from a decision and no one needs to know. Not anymore. Even if just one person reads this blog and takes an interest, that's one person more than myself to answer to. And one is enough. So, pulling on my big girl panties, off I go...courageously towards clarity.
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