My word of the year
- Joëlle P
- Jan 4
- 2 min read
I love this time of year.
I‘ve just completed my yearly ritual of beginning January: I spend a few days in retreat reviewing the previous year‘s successes, struggles and challenges. Then I meditate on what my soul desires for the year ahead, establishing my goals and dreams. And finish it off with my “word of the year” that will guide me through the fog on difficult days.
This ritual has become a pillar in my mental health practice and management of Bipolar Disorder; it allows for self-reflection, self-awareness and wisdom to shine through.
When I ride the dysregulated waves of bipolar instability, my distorted thoughts tell me “you’ll never get through the storm…” and yet I always do.
This tells me that moments of grounded perspective are key to navigating my depressive and hypomanic tendencies; and establishing a road-map for my year with goals and guiding words are the foundation to that journey.
So here it is — my word of the year:
“RAYONNER” — in English, that means ”TO SHINE” or “TO RADIATE”.
This is reminds me that I am already where I am to be, I’ve done the work, I don’t have to struggle so much to be ok.
When in doubt in unstable times, I get to BE the lighthouse to guide others, rather than the rescue boat out in the storm.
Stand tall.
Stand still.
Shine with ease.
I’ve been in recovery with Bipolar Disorder for 14 years now — this does not mean I am cured, but rather that I actively work toward stability on a daily basis.
Recovery for me is a daily commitment to self-responsibility. It is possible for everyone, as long as we steer the ship in the right direction.
Shine on.
STRUGGLES-2-STRENGTHS BLOG aims to connect with those experiencing Bipolar Disorder (BD) like myself, as well as those who support them, by sharing reflections on personal experiences rather than clinical perspectives. Please share with others and don’t hesitate to comment
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