ready, set . . . audacious.

i have been revisiting my word of the year from 2013.
wave.

it turned out to be such an accurate description of that season of my life.
of both the tumult and wonder i experienced.
of the uncertainty and the fascination.

this year i want to risk more.
i want to ride the most powerful wave that rolls in.

i haven’t exactly been living in a cocoon of security.
in the last several years i have ventured further and further out.
broadening the parameters of my comfort zone.
even moreso in the past twelve months.

but there are still challenges i’ve shied away from.
a want-to list untapped.
unwrapped opportunities still waiting.
personally and professionally.

because my fears show up now and then.
when i don’t reach out.
when i voice unrealistic concerns.
when i find a way out of doing something that scares me.

i hold myself back in those instances.
i feel myself shrink.
i let fear become the driver instead of me.

and i feel as if i’ve let myself down,
done myself a disservice,
allowed my weaknesses to overcome me.

so i’ve been making a conscious effort to expand my world.
by starting my own company.
by choosing to become a citizen of the world.

neither of these undertakings felt natural or easy to me at first.
especially since i had more of a tendency to “play by the rules” when i was younger.
through the years i have slowly stretched myself further each day.
and i have begun to appreciate and embrace those oh-so-necessary gray areas.

now i rule my life.
and i want it to be one without regrets.

i had a hard time deciding on my word of the year for 2014.
lots of possibilities (seventeen in fact!).
but that perfect “this is it” feeling escaped my grasp.

i initially selected the word RISK.
then shunned it a few days later.
partly because of its somewhat negative connotation.
and partly because it just felt too stereotypical.

during this process i described my business dreams to my husband.
and he said they reminded him of “big hairy audacious goals” from the book built to last.

at that moment i knew i had my word.
it sounded absolutely right.


 

this is my year to be AUDACIOUS.

 
 
extraordinarily bold.
daring, fearless.
extremely original.
highly inventive.
unrestrained by convention.
courageous, intrepid.
dauntless, venturesome.
brazen.

audacious.

 
 
there is so much i want to accomplish.
and sometimes i don’t feel as if i have enough.
enough energy.
enough time.
enough know-how.
enough guts.

but i’m knocking those anemic thoughts right out of my head.
i’m forging ahead with confidence.
with no remorse for past slip-ups.
no disappointment regarding so-close-but-never-made-it efforts.

i’m seizing the day.
making everything count.
getting things done.
moving steadily forward.
capturing my dreams.

behaving audaciously.

who presumes i shouldn’t?
who says i can’t?

certainly not me.
 
 
oh! i also want to share my 2014 vision board with you.
it’s loud and busy and colorful and wordy.
and exactly how i want it.
inspiring me every day from my studio wall.

what i want to do.
where i want to go.
how i wish to feel.

after i finished creating it, i realized something else.
the words i chose are not only visions for myself.
they embody what i want for my clients as well.

to never settle.
to travel deeper.
to discover.
to take action.
to bring on the fireworks.
to soar.

ready, set . . . audacious.

 
join me?
 
 
if you identify with anything i’ve said,
please leave me a comment.

i adore hearing from you,
and i respond to all of your thoughtful reflections.
 
 
 
 
get my free course!
 
 

18 Responses to ready, set . . . audacious.

  1. Kathy Temple says:

    Hi April,
    I really like your enthusiastic article you’ve write here. It’s very inspiring and I can feel your energy while I read it. You seem to have a real knack for writing. Thank you for sharing this inspiring article..
    Sincerely,
    Kathy Templw

  2. Catherine says:

    I’m stoping over from Create Your Nomadtopia and really love this post! I’ve seen a lot of posts about the New Year and words of the year and until I read yours I didn’t really think I wanted to engage in much of it. Now I fell a lot more inspired and I LOVE your word. I also love the idea of a vision board. I have a pile of magazine cutouts that my husband is annoyed by and my pet bunny keeps trying to eat so I’m thinking this is the weekend to finally do it (it’s not too far into 2014 yet!). Wishing you nothing but success as your audaciously head into 2014!

  3. Cheryl says:

    April, I thought I was so clear on what my theme was for this year. I loved that a new moon started off the year as well. I am still mulling my word…. “Allow”, but I reserve the right to change direction!!!

  4. Audacious is a GREAT word! I’m looking forward to watching you rock your audacious self in 2014! Love the vision board too.

  5. Bon says:

    AUDACIOUS sounds delicious. I’ve never done a “word of the year,” and I’ve been thinking a lot about it, seeing so many folks blogging about how they engage in this practice and how centering it can be.

    I really like your process for working through choosing the right word (I would worry I “got it wrong…” perhaps IMPERFECT would be a good word for me to focus on, huh?) and I love your writing style. Thank you for sharing this journey!

    I’m eager to follow it!

    • April Lee says:

      oh, bon, i love this: “AUDACIOUS sounds delicious.” and if you end up picking a word this year, please let me know what it is. i’ve already turned my word into action – i was hesitating over something the other day, letting fear step in. and i whispered “audacious” to myself, and did what i knew i needed to do. (thank you so much for your lovely comment.)

  6. Beautiful post, April! I love your word audacious. I also see a lot of courage in your journey. Bring on the fireworks!

  7. AUDACIOUS! You go girl! I LOVE IT! Can wait to read how audacious your year is!!!!!

  8. Casandra says:

    Great word and great goal! You are taking the first step by making it public here!

    • April Lee says:

      yes, casandra – putting our intentions in writing really makes a difference. as i mentioned to elizabeth, simply stating my word of the year has helped me identify with audaciousness!

  9. I love your idea of creating a vision board to reflect your word for 2014!!! My word(s) for 2014 have a similar intent” “feel the fear and do it anyway”.

Leave a Reply