The guiding word for my home (and life) in 2017 is simplify.
Choosing a guiding word for my home has become a New Year’s tradition. My past guiding words were:
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Want help choosing a guiding word for your home? Download the free Guiding Word for Your Home workbook.
How I’m Displaying My Guiding Word this Year
To keep my guiding word top of mind, I always find a way to display it in my home. I put “relish” on a pillow, “alive” in stencils on my mantel, and “open” in a frame.
This year, in the spirit of keeping it simple and using what I already have, my word is displayed on the chalkboard in my kitchen.
But I didn’t just want to write my word up there. Instead, I collected all my favorite quotes about simplifying. Many have the word simplify in them; others are about living simply.
I filled two pages in my journal with simplify quotes. Then, I channeled my inner Amy Latta, author of Hand Lettering for Relaxation, and designed each of the quotes in my bullet journal, planning them out in pencil first, then inking them in.
I ended up with 19 quotes in all—enough to display a new quote on my chalkboard every few weeks.
Now, I’m not much of a chalk artist. So, I cheated and used my mini projector to transfer my handwritten quotes to the chalkboard. It took less than five minutes, and I didn’t have to worry about centering and straight lines.
I think the quotes will help me maintain focus on my guiding word and home goals throughout the year. Each quote offers something new to ponder and a reminder of why I chose the word simplify in the first place.
For us, simplifying our home in 2018 is going to involve a lot of change, and it won’t always be easy. I think the quotes will serve as reminders, but also as nudges to keep going.
Collecting these quotes inspired me to add a NEW extra credit page to the Guiding Word for Your Home workbook this year. It includes space to document quotes for your chosen word.
Free Guiding Word for Your Home Workbook
To make it as easy as possible for you to find the right word for your home, I created a workbook for you. Inside you’ll find:
- Eight journal questions to help you choose a guiding word
- A place to document your chosen word and journal how you will use it to improve your home
- Extra Credit: A bonus page to collect and document quotes related to your word
Download the free Guiding Word for Your Home workbook now.
Share Your Word Below
Each year I collect and post a list of guiding words chosen by School of Decorating readers. Once you’ve picked a word, please come back and share it in the comments. Your word might inspire someone else.
Our word is Compassion.
My word is organize — meaning I will have a place for everything and everything in its place, put my affairs in order, do some Swedish death cleaning, purge and sort electronic and paper files, and most important create calm through orderliness.
Last year I chose the word Simplicity. In my “Know your Style class” with Jackie in the fall, it ended up being part of my style which was “Modern Southwest Simplicity” This year I had my husband do the workbook as well. It was interesting He was much more specific than I was and I learned what was really important to him. My word was BALANCE, and his work was SIMPLICITY/organized. I was ruthless purging our main floor level this summer when we were re-decorating, there were boxes & boxes of stuff that went out the door to donate. This winter my intention is to complete the upper level before summer. I need balance because I go till I drop, then have a hard time motivating myself back to work because I took all the fun out of it working while I was tired.
My word is receive. I’m a task-oriented person and push everyone and everything in front of me to get to completion. As if it all depends on me and nothing will get done if I don’t do it. That’s an exhausting way to live. So my word is focused on letting others help, letting others do it their way, letting others give me what I need, without my having to do it all myself. Thanks for the reminder about posting it in public places so others can help me stay in line with my purpose.
Wendy, You’re amazing! You just put into words something I struggle with too, especially letting others do it their way. One thing I always try to keep in mind, is to receive sometimes we have to ask. It’s hard for me to ask for help but my husband reminds me he can’t read my mind. As much as I’d like him to just jump in and take over part of my task list, he can’t if he doesn’t know what the tasks are. I hope you RECEIVE everything you need and deserve this year.
Jackie,
This years word is FOCUS. Last years was NOW. Unfortunately, I am a major procrastinator and the NOW word was to help start things that needed done instead of waiting until I felt like it or wanted to do it. Any guesses as to why the need for the word FOCUS? LOL
Maureen