What are your word prompts for 2022?
Have you been looking back at 2021, piercing through the surface fog and gauging the deeper trends of your life? What prompts have you chosen for the chapter you will write in the new year?
I don’t have resolutions but I do have word prompts for my story in 2022. I’ve chosen just three: breath, intention, and movement.
There is plenty of research out there on the transformative power of deep breathing. I’m sharing only one resource here:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/proper-breathing-brings-better-health
As I go about my day — writing, creating content, researching, doing chores, parenting, walking, driving — through it all, I plan to be more conscious of my breath, inhaling and exhaling more deeply, even if it’s just for a minute at a time.
As to intention, it’s one of my favourite words, and also part of this beautiful quote from the Upanishads:
“You are what your deepest desire is. As your desire is, so is your intention. As your intention is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.”
I’ve always loved the power of intention. What’s changed is that I want to break down all the larger intentions (ambitions, desires, dreams, even intentions for relationships or for my kids) into mini-intentions.
I frequently mix intentions and energies. What am I doing this hour? Working, researching, looking after the kids, making dinner, or listening to a podcast? I often try and do multiple things at once.
It’s so much a part of our modern lives — we juggle and multitask all the time. We have to. Some of that multitasking is fun and makes the day more productive. Yet, multiple intentions for the same slice of time can also create mega confusion and scramble and fritter away energy.
I’ve decided to build more clarity into my hours. I’m thinking of it as selective multitasking.
I’ll choose my intention for the hour, minute, second. Am I working? Free-flowing? Relaxing? Scrolling through social media? (Which is absolutely fine too, just let me not pretend otherwise) What is the intention, what do I really want and need this moment, or not?
Just like drinking water, or glancing at the watch, making a habit of checking in on my intention will keep things clear I hope and also create more joy.
Coming to my last word prompt, movement, when I use the word, I don’t just mean exercise. Yes, I work out with my yoga-pilates teacher twice a week. And sure, it will be great to increase the frequency. I certainly should and can.
But, just as I’m breaking intention down into mini-intentions; I’m doing the same for movement as well. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a big new class or a huge time commitment. It could be micro-increases in movement — turning my neck this way and that while on the laptop; waving my fingers; doing a little jig; dancing in the kitchen; going up the stairs and returning a second time; stretching more frequently. Essentially, finding organic ways of moving my body frequently, and not wait only for structured movement time.
So, those are my three word prompts for 2021: breath, intention, movement.
I’m curious about your word prompts for the new year. What are you thinking of? What do you feel like? What inspires you? Do write and tell. I’d love to know.
As the writer, Elizabeth Gilbert says, “A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life.”
And yes, we do get to design that creative life! All of us. And we writers here, get to design customized word-prompts for ourselves, too. Isn’t that great?
Wishing you all much joy, health, words, and wise choices in the new year. I hope if you choose intentionality, that it creates more magic for you.
I’m certainly looking forward to an invigorating dose of enchantment in 2022.
With breath and love,
Natasha
P.S. Words are great, and my favorite thing. But if you’re more of a visual person, here’s what I’ve been up to in images: