So here we are at the start of another new year. A new fresh set of days lie before us, and I hope for you those days are filled with the promise of adventure, love, a sense of potential and positive change, and of course, vibrant health.

I found, for the first time in a long time, that I didn’t have the driving sense right on January 1st to draft a complete set of goals for the year ahead. Instead, I’m letting my brain and dreams drift, and as I go about my days and get back to routine, I’m writing down goals as they occur to me. This feels like a more organic approach based on my energies so far this year, so I’m listening to that bit of internal direction and just going with the flow. I’d encourage you to do the same, if you’re feeling like plunking down fixed goals right here and now feels a bit too rigid.

I did think a fair amount about what POWER WORD I wanted for 2018 (Susannah Conway has a great worksheet and email series available on her website here). My brainstorming kept bringing me the image of a tree – I want to be reaching upwards and stretching to new things and goals just slightly beyond my comfort zone, and I want to be also grounded, stable, peaceful, calm, and rooted.  Guided by my image of the tree, and taking into account how it is I want to feel, I’m going with ASPIRE and ROOTED and as a bonus word, I’m adding JOYFUL.

So I say, pick as many words as you want! Just write down all the words that make you feel nourished and fuelled and loved and inspired and use them when you’re wondering what to prioritize in your life and what to let go of.

A few other ideas

If you’re looking for words to help you shift your relationship with food or improve your dietary choices:

• nourish, fuel, satisfy, empower, gratitude, vibrant, connected, aware, enjoy, pleasure, heal, soothe, balance, glow

If you’re looking for words to help you continue to move your body and stay active:

• move, invigorate, strong, powerful, active, upwards, reach, delight, driven, achieve, focus

If you’re looking for words to help you connect with your inner self or your spiritual side:

• loved, connected, calm, peaceful, silent, bliss, still, divine, hopeful, inspired, glow, aware, listen, brave, expand

It’s kind of fun, isn’t it? It’s a real boost to think – what do I need more of this year? what do I need less of? – and then try to pick words that help you feel like you’re moving towards that thing.

Whatever your goals and plans are for 2018, though, I hope they bring you more positivity about who you are, more permission to go after what you want, more self-love and compassion, and more self-care in the form of nutrient-dense eating, food gratitude, building in time for yourself, and actively incorporating movement and stress management into your life. And maybe healthy smoothies too.

If you need help achieving your goals, or even figuring out where to start, consider working with a coach, therapist, or nutritionist (like me!). It can be a relief to have someone else on your team who is there to listen, guide, and help you on your path to becoming your best self.

Happy New Year!

© Emily Joldersma, R.H.N. Eat Well, Live Vibrantly