My word for 2023 was FULLER. And this was my main focus for the 365 days of last year. Every day when I woke an affirmation, a thought, meditation or prayer to feel fuller, love myself fuller, show up fuller. With more reminders to myself throughout the day when I invevitably lost my way. And without this word and my constant reminders – daily recommittments to my greatest intention for the entire year – I wouldn’t have gotten through it. I would not, may I dare say, THRIVED in the many super straight corners of difficulty I found myself backed into this past year. 2023: A year filled with personal challenge for so many, and oh my gosh, challenges worldwide. Lots of spaces of joy and satisfaction in between all those spaces of spoken and unspoken hurt, pain, and brutality. Yes indeeed, 2023 was a FULLER year. And it is this word – FULLER – that directly led me to my new word for 2024 (which I will reveal later on).
FREE PASS TO JUMP TO MY WORD OF 2024 HERE.
While many see the new year as a beginning, I prefer to experience it as a continuation of us growing and glowing up. And therefore, it is no surprise that how we decided to show up in 2023 influences how we will decide to show up in 2024. It influences our new word of the year.
So first….
Back To Last Year’s Word: FULLER
For me, a fuller year meant embracing it all, including myself and everyone else, especially when we weren’t able to show up fuller, fully, or even close to our best. Including the situations, setbacks, and disappointments. Including hurt and loss.
So yes, I delighted in time spent with family and friends, good food, an occasional glass of wine… girl’s nights with my girls, weekend getaways with my husband.
And I enjoyed the joy of children and animals, tranquil walks in nature, and lots of sunshine. Late mornings under the covers. Moments of calm and silence. Aaahhh! The very intimate joy as my projects came together and alive!
So much love, gratitude, and pride filling me fuller and fuller throughout the entire year. And with this, acceptance of the other types of moments.
Moments of exhaustion, frustration, anger, hurt, loss, and grief. Oh boy, all those restless days and sleepless nights. And, yes again…
All part of being fully human in this life. So this too, included in what it means to live fuller than before.
Full(er) Exposure
And as a result of all this intentional opening up to everything life has to offer us, my writing. Also fuller this past year. More honest. And with more hope.
Less expectations allowed me to expose myself more – hopefully for common good, but definitely for my own greatness.
Not holding back during the doubt.
And not even during all those moments when it felt as if nobody was listening from the other side.
My own magnificent intention of fuller-ness keeping me pretty great company.
How Did My Word Work For Me In 2023?
Well, when things got tough, I would remind myself that FULLER means embracing it all and this really put things into perspective for me.
It motivated me to put more of my own fullness into every experience, and not only the part of life that I love and enjoy.
Reminding myself of my desire for FULLER, made me braver this year. In so many ways.
Comfort Zones
Being fuller meant pushing myself out of comfort zones. Even the ones that felt like full being protection.
Pushing ourselves out of comfort is something that growth will ask of us for a lifetime.
We get so stuck in the habits and patterns because the familiar feels safe. This is a lie.
Too much safety is a thing. It exists!
Because when we get stuck in safety our heart closes, and then our mind, and then our world.
It produces more and more need for safety and this produces more and more fear.
Life ceases to be a journey. It becomes a jail cell.
I let go of old chains keeping me back.
- perfectionism and appearances,
- expectations, the expectations of others.
- judgment – internal and external. Not being good, ready or young enough.
Showing Up Fuller Sometimes Means Showing Up in Pjs On A Sunny Day
I showed up, when my inner critic scathingly shouted:
- You will never get past this.
- You will never finish.
- You will fail.
I responded by continuing to use my voice for love and positivity, talking on video, opening this blog space, creating meditations and sharing them on a YouTube channel, publishing my first children’s book…. basically following my dreams even with very few followers according to social media success standards.
Publishing THE SAD PRINCESS – The search for a happily-ever-after smile, had so much to do with this.
In my limiited mind, it was taking too long and probably not happening. Afterall, I had already blown out the 53 candles on the cake.
This is when I put some fullness into my thoughts and perservered.
Honestly, I do not think this dream would have come to be without my word for the year.
And with all this, I was brave enough to be compassionate with myself.
The year was FAR FROM PERFECT as I knew it would be.
So I allowed myself to trip, slip, shimmy, and fall straight back into the zones that felt most comforting. The ones that craddled me like extra marshmallows in hot chocolate when I simply couldn’t do better.
I allowed this part of me and my life to be ok this year. Something that I wasn’t so good at in the past.
This is because I knew in my heart that I had my word waiting for me right outside the comfort zone.
And that it would be there to pick me up again when my courage was ready to push me out into the wild world of growth.
My reminders did this for me. And most of all, my reminder to Trust.
Trust that I was growing and glowing even when the sun was shining through the windows and I was inside, under the blanket, in jammies and with messy hair at 3pm, eating chips and Oreo cookies and lost in Netflix.
Yes, 2023 saw days like this too.
COURAGE – A Word For 2024, And Also The Word HEART
So before speaking about our word for 2024, let me ask you something:
How is your heart?
Think for a moment please. It is really important.
Your answer will greatly determine what you are going to bring with you into 2024. It will also lead you to your word.
Because the way we live our life depends much more on the state of our heart than a common thought: that we live according to our mind state.
Our heart and mind are not separate (reminder) and when we allow the heart – an open heart – to guide our mind, the mind feels better. It serves us better.
The truth is that the mind lies to us. And an open heart tells the Truth. Always.
So we must be(aware) of which one we are trusting.
Have courage to trust the honest part of us. A huge part of NOT ONLY growing up, but glowing up.
The Courage To Glow
We grow when we have the courage to follow our bright inner light into the dark places despite our doubt and fear – with our doubt and fear.
When we allow the light to enter the nooks, crannies, and cracks of our soul, we create an opening so that they can illuminate the path of our authentic life.
The NO FILTERS REQUIRED kind we may have only read about up until now. The one that makes us glow.
Growing An Open Heart
Growing an open heart takes practice.
EVERYTHING in this life – the way we entertain ourselves, interact with others and the world, the type of info we absorb – tends to promote a closed, confined heart.
So we must practice counteracting basically every aspect of how we live.
We do this by choosing environments, activities, people, and information that nurture and nourish us fully.
Choosing not to feed ourselves with all the things that close us off, up, and out of our true feeling state – starting maybe by reducing time spent with the object you are looking at right now.
JUST A REMINDER. 
And, speaking of reminders…
REMINDER – An Essential Word for 2024
Believe me, I am reminding myself all of this stuff first. In fact, one of my intentions for this ‘continuation’ will be to use devices less.
Our devices are masters at closing our hearts.
Keep it or leave it, but I am telling you that it is actually their hidden agenda.
A goal for 2024 is to constantly remind myself:
- Less screens and burning, tired eyes.
- More ‘WOW‘ look at that flower, sunset, smile, couple holding hands, and child dancing.
- More thriving.
- More immersing myself completely into the FULLER-NESS that I cultivated in 2023.
NOW…
How to choose our word for 2024?
I invite you to simply use your instinct. Do you remember how?
Once again, return to your heart.
Another word for 2024 – DREAM!
Dreaming is the place to start when attempting to wedge oneself out of a man-made, mental corner – that invisible barrier keeping you from a full life.
A Personal Story: When Dreams Don’t Flow
The other morning I asked my husband to close his eyes.
It has been a difficult year for him and for us as a couple. Here too, a problem of the heart is at the heart of the problem.
I asked him to close his eyes and DREAM.
He has been stuck in indecision about the next step (his, ours).
Dreams are like rivers and rainbows.
Promise without a limit or ending, flowing naturally into something bigger than the dream itself. Possibility.
Like rivers running into other waters or seeping and enriching the earth. Like rainbows magically disappearing into a piece of sky.
Our dreams activate the pathways to our full potential.
Dreams Come Directly From The Heart
So he had a hard time. Not only dreaming, but with the closing his eyes part and feeling the promise in this teeny act.
“How is your heart?” I asked him as he looked at me. “Soften it. Please close your eyes Honey.”
You see, the dream is in there- It is underneath all of our responsibility and reason, and perhaps even lots of guilt and regret.
Dreams like unused pipes in winter, freeze.
After a few moments, he blinked them closed.
It took time. The rest will take time.
But the act of staying with this (moment) is the beginning. In every situation, whatever the shade, shape or form, it always is.
Dreams do not get buried by burden overnight.
Reminder: Sometimes a dreaming heart must first be a kind, patient heart.
So to you I also say, “Close your eyes, Honey”
… an open heart is an open path. Your path.
My word for 2024
My word for 2024 is ATTENTION.
Attention on focusing deeper into it all. Focusing on…
- my emotions and relationships
- how I communicate and listen
- the way I love and set loving boundaries
- the details and the details of the details of everyday life
- how I create and share, my projects
- what I feel while I am on my yoga mat and…
- how I bring what I learn while there off my mat and into my day
- my perceptions, absolute beliefs, expectations, and bouts of judgment
- gratitude
- my use and abuse of TIME….
- slowing down and taking my life in.
I will remember to stop during the day to ask myself:
Am I paying enough attention to honestly and truly experience life?
ATTENTION. Because the quality of our lives depends on it.
My mantra: How slow can I go?
What did Willa, the daughter of one of my yoga teachers, say? Mama rush, but take your time.
Yes, this! ✨
Final Note About Our Word For 2024
We were brave this year. You and me. In so many ways.
And we can do better.
A Goal For 2024: Same Us, Just Better
So be braver and ask yourself:
- What do I want less of this year?
- What do I want more of this year?
And, once again, I ask you:
- What are you bringing into 2024?
- How is your heart?
- And what do you need to open and fill it more?
CLOSE YOUR EYES and dream it towards you. You know what you need.
If not you, who else?
But also know that if you are having trouble closing your eyes, or if you do, and still get a blank, you can BE OK with it.
I SHALL GIVE YOU YOUR WORD.
Promise
Promise. This is your fabulous, fall-back-on word.
Because Promise, my friend, is a trail of crumbs, a magic carpet, and a yellow brick road.
Follow it and you show up. It is your reminder that YOU CAN.
And YOU WILL.
As you have, so many times.
No Pressure
As we enter 2024 may we put aside the need to be an amazing, redefined version of ourselves.
Instead we…
- Just close our eyes.
- Choose our word.
- And make a promise to ourself to commit.
For the next 360 days or so...
we commit to doing our best to find the path, live the dream, do better, and glow up…
even on those days when we won’t even be able to get ourselves out of bed.
And may we remind ourselves to PAY ATTENTION to the most important WORD of the year, every year.
LOVE.
Because in the end, the greatest intention for all of us must be:
- to be more loving with ourselves,
- to be guided by love each day, and
- to do love better.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN! SHARE YOUR WORD FOR 2024 IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
Resources
Further Reading (Including Some of My FAVORITE BOOK SUGGESTIONS)
- LIVING WITH INTENTION – Why Setting Intentions Is The Most Important Thing I Do Every Morning
- Dreaming My Way To My First Book – How To Face The Doubt With Determination
- HOW TO PROTECT JOY IN THIS UNJUST WORLD
- Personal Growth Reading + 6 of the Best Books to Inspire You To Love Better, Feel More and Live Fully
- 7 of The Best Motivational Books To Buy And Gift For A Better You (& World)
Guided Meditations – YOUR 14 DAY PLAYLIST FOR A GREAT START
- MANIFEST AN AMAZING DAY, 14 Minutes
- CHOOSE JOY, 13 Minutes
- MENTAL RESET, 15 Minutes
- EMPOWERED ME, 10 Minutes
- WILLFUL OPTIMISM, 20 Minutes
- SET YOUR INTENTION, 8 Minutes
- DAILY RECHARGE for Love & Energy, 16 Minutes
- I CHOOSE TO FEEL GRATEFUL TODAY, 10 Minutes
- FEEL JOY AGAIN, 7 Minutes
- DEVOTED TO SELF, 14 Minutes
- NATURAL STRESS RELIEF, 10 Minutes
- READY FOR THE DAY, 7 Minutes
- DEEP CONNECTION, 15 Minutes
- INNER LOVING WARRIOR, 20 Minutes (Special Meditation with End Message – Coming This Saturday @inspiredwithdanni (YouTube –SUBSCRIBE TO CHANNEL and Turn on Bell for Notification)
