It’s a new year and everyone is talking about the best path to a fresh start. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a New Year’s resolution, I have to agree with Psychology Today’s notion that perhaps setting a theme for the new year should be the first step to long-lasting change where Dr. Marcia Reynolds shares similar ideas. You can use your annual theme as a guiding light just in case you get lost along the way. Often, if a solid routine is not established, we lose focus in less than four weeks from the original goal. Instead of giving up, review your theme throughout the year. Use it to make decisions, set boundaries, and return to your purposeful and satisfying path. Here are a few suggestions and questions to ask yourself when building your theme:

Step 1 Learn from the past. Ask yourself:

• When were you able to use your best skills? What were you doing and how did you feel?
• What do you know about yourself this year that you didn’t know last year?
• What did you wish you spent more time on?

Step 2 Clearly see the present

• What impact are you making? Is this enough for you right now?
• What are you clinging to that defines you but it’s time to let go of?
• What used to bring you joy but it is now time to let go of?

Step 3 Declare what lights you up

• What do you dare dream of doing? What do you long to create?
• Is there something you are called to do but thought you couldn’t?
• What inside of you wants to be heard?

Now, declare your theme for the rest of the year. You might choose a word, a phrase, or even a state of mind. After following the steps, I decided that my theme is Be the Vessel. What will your theme be?