Word Up! It’s Looking to be an Awepique Year …
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." -Marcel Proust
As I shared in last week's blog, I believe words matter, which is why one of my New Year’s rituals is to pick my “word for the year.” This is a word that represents a personal and/or professional aspiration that will serve as an inspiration, motivation, guide, anchor, or “theme” for the upcoming year. Mine has traditionally been a self-created word, as I have found that for me most existing words either don’t adequately capture what I’m seeking or have become overlayed with so much baggage or “cliché” that they’ve lost their impact for me. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s “word for the year” for 2023, "authentic", would be one such example.
For me, the concept of choosing a personal word for the year is more than a trend; it's a psychological anchor. It helps in focusing my thoughts and actions, aligning them with core values and goals. For anyone, such a practice can lead to increased self-awareness, motivation, and a sense of purpose. It's a way to simplify aspirations into a single, powerful concept that can easily be recalled and reflected upon daily.
My 2024 word is “awepique,” which is a blend of awe, pique (stimulate), and “epique” (French for “epic”). I define awepique as: “The quality or state of regularly experiencing a profound sense of wonder and reverence for everyday moments, combined with a feeling of being gently prodded or nudged towards recognizing the extraordinary in the ordinary, leaving one to know that each moment of this life is part of an incredible poetic journey.”
The word awepique will be a “lens” that will encourage me to explore and appreciate the richness of everyday life, to “catch” myself in those moments when I am deviating from this path (driving in traffic and the EMR specifically tend to do this for me), and to remember and recognize the wonderment in the small details and routine experiences of life. I intend that my leading a more awepique life will open me to new levels of awareness and presence, and ultimately a greater sense of both elation and peace. There will be playfulness as well. In order to lead an awepique life, other words that will accompany me for the year include my practice for the year (“awelchemy”), my journey (an “awedessy”), and my attitude along the way (“awedacity”).
How about you? What might be the word or words to help you frame your year – or perhaps for you it’s a picture, quote, song, or poem (or all of the above!). Consider picking one or more and sharing their meaning for you with those close to you, including your PeerRx partner. I’ve found that doing so is great fun, can provide you insights into your psyche, and by inviting others into the conversation, can supercharge your intention by providing some