10 - Creating a New Year Theme

It’s the start of a new year! For some, it’s important to set New Year's resolutions or intentions. As this might be helpful for some it can often leave many feeling disappointed in themselves as once again they did not achieve their goals. There are many reasons why that person did not achieve their goals, however, today we are not going into how to set SMART goals. Today I would like to share with you another way to make meaning of a year. Many years ago, I ditched the resolution and intention tradition and chose to go with a more freeform technique. I call my way: The New Year Theme. 

So what does it mean to select a theme? I will use myself as an example. In 2019, I set the theme of “do things that scare me.” At the time I was a MFT Associate and was working with clients. Frequently I was asking my clients to try something new. That “something” was often a behavior or thought process that brought them fear. So, I thought I would take my own advice and do things in my life that often intimidated me or scared me. This openness to try new things led me to join a roller derby team, something I had always wanted to do but was too scared of. Then in 2020, about halfway through the year selected the theme of “living in the gray.” During this time I started to notice the black-and-white dichotomy we live in and want to challenge my viewpoint. I wanted to start looking for more of the grey in life and feel what it’s like to be in the unknown. As I entered 2023, I went in a different direction and chose a theme from the tarot arcana, “The Fool.” During this year I practiced seeing the word as a learner and not attempting to be an expert on anything. This led me to be more open to the twists and turns of becoming a parent and delivering my baby 3 months early.

If this sounds like something you want to try this year start here!

Step 1: Set aside some time to brainstorm. This might be anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour. Make sure you have either paper and pen or a computer. Write down any and all ideas you have for your New Year’s theme. As mentioned above, this could be an idea, a word, a saying, an arcana card from a tarot deck, really it can be anything! If nothing comes up for you that is okay too! This might be something that comes to you in a few weeks or months from now. 

Step 2: Put that writing down and go about your day. I believe that sometimes we need to get some space from our writing and reflections. But before you walk away set the intention to come back to that writing in a few days to a week. Set a day and time and then put away your writing. 

Step 3: Now that some time has passed take a look at what you wrote down. Does anything stand out to you? From what you wrote down does anything jump out and speak to you? If so, bam you have it! If not keep writing and taking space from that writing, it will come to you. 

Step 4: Once you have come up with your theme write it down on a piece of paper, on your phone, or your computer. Just somewhere where you can look at it and take more notes on the topic if you want. 

Step 5: At this point, go about your life. Take occasional time to think about your theme, journal about it, or reflect on how it interacts with your life. There is no need to do heavy work with it, but make sure you bring it into your awareness from time to time. 

Step 6: At the end of the year reflect on your theme and what new insight or actions you did differently. Talk about it with a friend, partner, or even your therapist. 

I hope this new way works for you and gives you a different way of looking at the new year and yourself.