Courageous Intentions
2024: Let's do this!
"Nobody stumbles into a well lived life. It has to be cultivated. Reflection and review are critical." — James Clear
Happy 2024, all!
I’ve been journaling, brainstorming, and planning for the next 12 months. In fact, my first show of The Courage Effect for the year is about intention setting. Rather than creating resolutions that come from a good place but rarely stick, I’m a fan of creating intentions that capture what’s important to me now and identifying the changes/behaviors/actions that will make them a reality.
Where do I start? Since I’m a visual person, I love vision boarding. It allows me to think in pictures and get excited about what’s ahead. Here’s a snapshot of my 2024 vision board (which I’ve never shared publicly . . . feels a bit strange, but I’m embracing vulnerability!):
Next comes my word of the year. It surfaced in December as I was participating in Stacy Harris’ workshop called Canvas of Imagination - Goal Setting for the Year Ahead. As I reflected on my priorities and what I want to create space for in 2024, it quickly became clear that I would need to do some subtraction. There are things I need to let go of, and move away from. And rather than simply orchestrating a process of removal and addition, I arrived at an approach I’m happy to embrace: curation.
My word for 2024 is CURATE. It’s my anchor, something I’m threading into my life and work so I can be discerning about what I ultimately say yes to, minimize, or see in the rear view mirror.
This gives rise to my intentions and goals. It’s like the yeast that creates lift for what’s next – now I’m putting the plans together for what I want things to look like in a year, and outline how to make it happen.
At this point I get into the nitty gritty — using the SMART goal structure (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) and ensuring I consistently ask myself “Why?” so they matter, are concise, and meaningful. I like to do this in a couple of rounds, feeling more confident as it’s honed.
And to help with accountability, I’ve created quarterly check-ins on my calendar to reflect, adapt, and keep my anchor in place. It feels good to do it now, so I have dedicated time when I need it. And if I have something to celebrate, there will be treats!
In the spirit of encouraging you all to join me in living an intentional year, I hope you’ll listen to the show (links below), share your thoughts/comments/additions, and let me know how this space might support you in realizing your 2024 goals.
Onward! 🙌🏻 🙌🏻
Give this week’s episode a listen here on your favorite platform:
About Suzanne Weller:
Find out more about Suzanne’s work at Weller Collaboration’s website
Suzanne is the creator and host of The Courage Effect, a podcast sharing inspiring stories about what courage looks like, and the opportunities that surface when we choose courage over comfort.
Follow on Instagram at @suzannenweller
About Weller Collaboration:
Weller Collaboration is a team of talented leadership coaches, executive advisors, and facilitators partnering with individuals, teams, and organizations to transform leadership talent, cultivate agility, and achieve tangible results.