When it comes to planning for the year, rather than making New Year’s resolutions, I recommend starting with a word for the year. Having a single word by which to plan your goals is a powerful way to stay focused and keep your goals in sight.
But the one question I get asked most when it comes to choosing a word for the year is how. How do you decide on one word for the year?
For some, it’s trying to figure out how to narrow it down. For others it’s the fear of commitment. And yet for others, it’s simply not knowing where to start.
Whatever brought you to this post, my goal is that by the end of this, you’ll have a clear way forward, and quite possibly, you’ll have your one word.
What about NEW YEAR’s resolutions?
By now you might know that I’m a not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. It’s not because I haven’t tried resolutions. It’s because I have.
Studies show that New Year’s resolutions have a very short life.
Many who start New Year’s resolutions give up on them even before January is over. Our good intentions don’t always pan out.
Now, if you happen to be in that very small percentage of people who stick with New Year’s resolutions all the way to the end of the year, please leave a comment on this post, so I can give you a virtual high-five! 😆
For the rest of us, New Year’s resolutions are notorious for failing.
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t have New Year’s resolutions. I opt for a word for the year coupled with SMART goals as opposed to New Year’s resolutions, but it doesn’t have to be either or. In fact, you can have both New Year’s resolutions and a word for the year.
The key is to find what works best for you, and you won’t know what that is until you try.
SMART Goal Setting
For a simple and effective way to set goals, grab my SMART Goal Setting Guide inside the Thrive Resource Library here. It’s free!
This is where I have turned to redeem my year. And I’m certainly not alone.
Having just one word feels a lot less overwhelming than having a long laundry list of do’s and don’ts for my year. But don’t underestimate the power of one word. This one little word, along with the goals inspired by your word, can make all the difference in the world.
What starts as just one word, becomes a beautiful tapestry as it weaves its way into your life. My word becomes the starting point for my annual goals in the various areas of my life. These are then broken down into monthly goals and plans, so you can see how this one word stays with me and keeps me focused.
Often, I don’t see the beauty of my word until I pause to reflect — and then I’m amazed by how God almost literally connected the dots.
Moments that I thought nothing of then begin to take new meaning in light of my word. I become of aware of missed opportunities, appreciate the lessons that were borne out of periods of struggle, and give God thanks for all of it.
And at the start of every year I get excited all over again for the new thing God is doing in my life, starting with prayer and my one little word.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.”Isaiah 43:19
Because the truth is, my word, as small as it is, keeps me dependent on God.
That’s the beauty of choosing a word for the year.
By the very nature of it, it’s a more intentional and mindful practice than New Year’s resolutions.
No longer am I trying to accomplish goals on my own strength. Instead I am looking in anticipation for how God will show up.
Sure, I do my part by setting goals but I also hold them loosely, allowing God to shape my year.
For more on setting goals, based on your word for the year, check out my article How to Achieve Your Goals in 5 Simple Steps where I share my 5-star goal-setting process.
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How to Choose Your Word for the Year
Let me say this upfront, the way I choose my word for the year is probably the most unconventional thing you’ll ever hear.
To choose my word for the year…
I pray about it.
Yep, that’s the gospel truth.
I turn to God and ask Him to give me a word that will guide and inspire me throughout the year. And you wouldn’t believe (or maybe you would) — He always answers!
Quite often, a word keeps coming to mind. Maybe it’s in a song, a Bible verse, or in a card from a friend. Sometimes it’s in a podcast or book. It sometimes gets to the point where it feels like a word is haunting me. But I’m a little stubborn and I don’t give in that easily, so I pray some more and ask God to make it clear if that’s my word.
Then I get still and listen.
I look for confirmation to see if that word is my word.
And if it is, it will continue to show up over and over again.
Just this year, I wasn’t sure what my word was going to be. I was thinking about a word but second-guessed it because it was a word I was using often in a course. I thought maybe the word was just showing up because I kept using it, not because it was MY word. So I let it go.
After the New Year, I started to think more intentionally about my word and decided to look up Scriptures that included this ‘possible’ word.
And the very first Scripture I turned to was all I needed to see.
Don’t laugh when I tell you that my eyes started to well up. That first Bible verse was like balm to a hurting soul. And I knew then and there that I’d found my word. See? Unconventional, right? But it works.
No Pressure
Choosing a word for the year is one of those things that you just have to try for yourself. Try it and see what God will do. You’ll never come away the same as when you started.
Sometimes I tell others about my word. And there are times I hold it more closely, keeping it to myself. Whatever the case, God always has a powerful way of impacting my life and my world, starting with that one little word.
There have also been times when I started my year with my word firmly planted in my mind and other times when finding a word took much longer, or felt impossible. I don’t sweat it. And I don’t choose a word just for the sake of it. I simply allow God to lead me to my word.
Once you have your word for the year, you might be wondering what to do next. In this article I shared three of my best tips for your next best steps after choosing your one word. (This is a guest post over on OneWord365.com — an ideal place for finding some one word inspiration).
25 Word for the Year Ideas
Speaking of inspiration, if you’re not sure what word to choose for your year, you might want to take one of these for a spin.
- peace
- become
- success
- heart
- prepare
- advance
- win
- prosper
- shine
- mercy
- marvelous
- steadfast
- full
- love
- rich
- power
- love
- commit
- trust
- one
- upright
- imagine
- humble
- joy
- persevere…
Don’t have a word for the year yet? Let’s fix that. Here are 25 ideas to get you started. Click To Tweet
Did any of those words speak to you? Pray about it and ask God to show you if He wants you to have a word for the year and which one it will be. Which brings me to the next point.
Do I Need a Word for the Year
You might be wondering if you need a word for the year. That’s kinda like asking if you need ketchup on your French fries. No, you don’t–it’s totally optional. Same with your word for the year. It goes well with your year but it’s up to you if you choose to have one.
Neither should it be a case of divided camps — those who choose a word and those who don’t.
A word for the year is but one of many ways to approach the New Year with all your goals and aspirations. I don’t swear by it, but I find it works well for me and keeps me inspired throughout the year. And that for me, is a good reason to have one.
No Magic, just impact
The truth is, it’s not as if having a word for the year is the magic pill that will solve all your problems, remove all your mental blocks and automatically deliver your goals to you on a shiny, silver platter. I wish! It doesn’t work that way, but it’s quite possible that this one little word will have a big impact on your life.
Are you willing to give it a try?
If you’ve chosen a word for the year, why not share it below. If you haven’t yet, let me know how this article helped you. And if you need help figuring out your next step, just get in touch. I’d be happy to help you find the clarity you need and maybe your word too!
Encouragement for the Journey
Sticking with your well-intentioned goals is hard work. For some encouragement to help you thrive in work, life and faith, come on over and join me in my private community for women here.
As the New Year approaches, it’s time to reflect on the past year, celebrate achievements and give thought to the year ahead. It is the time of the year when many people think about setting New Year resolutions which they quickly dismiss a few days or weeks later. Dismissed as little forethought went into it. Rather than setting resolutions, why not choose one focus word for the year. Choosing just ONE word can help you determine your priorities for the year and provide you a filter into the actions you take throughout the year.
I believe in setting goals. In fact, I like to set goals in 8 areas of my life. However, I have also learnt about the power of having ONE FOCUS WORD. I attended a goal-setting workshop where a coach said one word is all it takes to help you focus on your goals. The coach explained how to choose a word for the year, breaking it down into a few simple steps.
- Reflection
- Writing
- Visualising
- Use your word
Why choose one focus word for the year?
It was during a goal-setting workshop at Kikki K that I first heard about having a focus word for the year. As a group, we were individually choosing personal core values. About five core values each. I remember choosing family, freedom, community, balance and achievement. There were many values to choose from, and making a quick choice was not wise. It is best to choose your words and really think about them and what they mean to you.
You have multiple personal values. One of your core values will become your main focus word, Your power word for the year.
The power of choosing one focus word is to use the word as a lens. A word that guides you in your actions. A word that keeps you true to your overarching core value.
The benefits of just one word.
When you have one focus word you obtain clarity in decision-making. You grow personally through the actions you take by having one focus.
There are multiple differences between setting New Year resolutions vs goals especially if using a one-word focus.
- One word helps with a vision, a direction. In contrast, New Year’s resolutions are more of a promise to yourself to change something.
- A resolution looks a the negative aspect. One word provides a lens through which to visualize the future through. It is a positive action.
- Your one focus word is the word you pass your intended actions through to decide if the action is moving your away or towards your goals.
How to choose your one word for the year.
The first step in choosing your main focus word is to identify the person you would like to become. The best way to do that is to reflect on the past year.
Reflection: Reflect on the past year.
The first step is to reflect on the past year. Reflect on your achievements, what worked, and what didn’t work. Think about your goals, what you achieved, what you are still striving for and what you feel you no longer align with. As we get older, our values may change, and as we grow through personal growth, our goals and values may change too.
Reflect on what you would like to achieve this coming year in different areas of your life. Use the Wheel of Life to guide you through the different areas of your life.
Step 1 – Reflection
- How would you describe your past year?
- What are you proud of?
- If one word would describe the highlights of your year, what would it be?
- What sort of changes are you looking to make in your life throughout 2023?
- Write down a few words to summarise your year and the changes you wish to make in 2023.
Writing: Write down your goals,
Write a list of the goals you would like to achieve in 2023 in different areas of your life.
Next, review your list and look for a common theme.
Note down a few words that could relate to the goals you wish to achieve. Refer to the 40 words of the year list to help you work out interrelated words and guidance on choosing your word of the year.
Step 2 – Writing
- What are the characteristics of the person you wish to become?
- To level up, what qualities does the person you need to become have?
- Write down some of those qualities.
Highlight the core values in your lists and choose one word for your year.
Visualisation: Visualise the word.
Once you have a list of words, narrow down the list.
Step 3 – Visualisation
To help you narrow down the list, visualise the word in relation to your goals in all areas of your life.
Example: If your word is ‘Healthy’ – visualize how healthy relates to;
Relationships
Wellbeing, mind and body
Spirituality
Family and home
Career/business
Financial
Spiritual and Ethical
Community
At first, it may seem strange to connect your one word to the different spheres of your life, but with practice, you will see how the word connects and can be a focus word of the year. Below is how ‘healthy’ connected for me. Try your word to see how it connects with you.
Relationships;
Goal: To love myself and have ongoing healthy relationships with self, family and friends.
Wellbeing, mind and body;
Goal: To create healthy habits, including eating more vegetarian meals for healthy eating. Practice mindfulness daily and attend aerobatics regularly for a healthy mind and body.
Spirituality;
Goal: To create healthy spaces for mindfulness and meditation. Practice mindfulness, visualization and meditation daily.
Family and home;
Goal: To give thanks daily to my wonderful family and the home we have created.
Career/business;
Goal: To finish my studies and work in a job I love in a healthy environment.
Financial:
Goal: To pay off my debt by the year’s end. Paying off debt helps with stress and living, thus leading to a healthy life.
Community;
Goal: To bring positivity to people in the community through kindness. Creating healthy connections.
Tip: If a balanced life is what you’re after, choose a word that could apply to all areas of your life.
Keep your one word in focus.
Throughout 2023 keep your one word in mind. It is important to see it and use your one word daily.
Step 4 – Use your word daily.
Write your one word down where you see it every day and as you take action towards your goals, relate the actions you take to the word.
Think, does this one action bring me closer to my goals and am I in integrity with my core values? How do I feel when this action is seen through the lens of my power word?
Ideas on how to use your power word.
- Create a vision board and display your chosen word on your Vision board.
- Write your word of the year in your diary.
- Write about your word and how it relates to your goals in your journal.
- Make notes with your chosen word that remind you to take action towards your goals.
- Write affirmations with your goals and chosen word. A Little Spark of Joy shares 30 Manifestation mantras to help you manifest your dreams.
- Visualise your word in relation to your daily goals.
The more you see and use your word, the more you bring into your awareness the importance of the word and your goals. Just the ONE word you choose for the year can help you take action towards your goals.
My focus word is a lens that helps guide my actions, Your focus word is a lens which helps guide your actions, the actions that can move you closer to your goals.
How to focus on your goals using your one word.
Every goal is achieved by taking daily steps towards it. This requires creating new positive habits, that help lead you towards your goal. As you go about your day, think about your chosen word.
If, for example, your goal is to lose weight and you go out for lunch with friends. As you look at the menu to choose what to eat, think about your word and your choice. Does it lead you closer or further away from your goal?
If your goal is to work from home, though you do not make time to take action on your home business. Think about how this brings you closer or further away from your goal. What steps do you need to take to achieve your goal? Is you are taking action with your focus word in mind, is it helping you make wise decisions that empower you to achieve your goals?
My One Word for the New Year.
In 2019 some words on reflection for me are consistent, reliable, and supportive. The changes I was looking at in 2020 are healthy changes.
For 2020 my one word was health. Health is a word I can apply to many areas of my life. In my article on work life balance, I talk about the wheel of life and balancing different spheres of life.
Healthy lifestyle, healthy finance, healthy relationships, healthy mind.
Word of the year for 2020
2020 One Word: Healthy
What healthy means to me. Healthy means living each day in gratitude, being aware of the choices I make, and ensuring they lead to a healthier lifestyle. I want to strengthen and create healthy connections with family, friends and people who inspire me and who I may inspire. Healthy means creating a healthy, meaningful abundant lifestyle.
Word of the year for 2021
2021 One Word: Action
What action means to me. Action means taking meaningful action towards my goals and my ideal life. It is asking myself, ‘What can I do today to feel amazing and bring me closer to my goals?‘, or What can I do today to that helps me move to the tomorrow I envision.’ The only way to create the life I imagine is to take action while enjoying life.
Word of the year for 2022
2022 One Word: Reconnect
Why I choose reconnect: The world has had a few chaotic years, and I like possibly you and many other people, have felt disconnected in some way or another. Disconnected from family, friends, goals, and self, even disconnected from our work colleagues, systems and processes as working from home became the norm.
What reconnects means to me. Reconnect means reconnecting with myself, my family, and my friends. It is reconnecting to my goals and the goals of my family, friends, and community. It is living life now, living in the present. Reconnect is connecting through friendships, hobbies, and interests. The word reconnect links to my interest and future studies in reducing social isolation.
Word of the year for 2023.
2023 One Word for the year: Growth
Why I chose growth: I’ve chosen GROWTH as my word of the year for 2023. There have been many lessons over the years each guiding and enabling growth. Growth to me is about awareness and understanding of myself and my surroundings which nurtures growth. I feel 2023 is a year of growth in all areas of life.
What GROWTH means to me. Growth means innovation, learning and developing oneself. Growth acknowledges both acquired skills and knowledge as well as the learning required to step out of the comfort zone and find a way through the challenges. I know there will be plenty of growth in 2023.
Choosing one focus word for the Year can really help you clarify your core values and help you with achieving your goals.
Your turn now. Choose your one word for the New Year.
When you have your One Word for 2023. Decide what it means to you. Share in the comments below.
Don’t forget to check out my Word-of-the-Year Mini Guidebook!
I’ve been picking a Word of the Year since 2012 and if you’ve got the Self-Love Planner then you’ve probably already chosen a word. I’ve always been big on new beginnings and I anxiously wait for the New Year because it’s fresh and shiny with no mistakes in it yet. Every year since I was a teenager I’ve made New Year’s Resolutions and I believe I failed at every single one of them. They were all your usual teenage resolutions – lose weight, make friends, become pretty and popular.
Choosing a word of the year actually coincided with discovering the concept of self-love.
It’s been a game changer. If you’d like to share your word and how you chose it, join our Facebook group, the SoulSisterhood.
These have been my “words”.
Surrender (2012)
Shine (2013)
Strength (2014)
Depth (2015)
Mend (2016)
Magic (2017)
Surrender – Part Two (2018)
Soften (2019)
Sacred (2020)
Pause (2021)
Why do you choose a Word of the Year for yourself?
Your word takes the place of a New Year’s Resolution. It’s a word that embodies what you want to be/think/feel/do. Something that you can apply in little ways throughout your life instead of a concrete goal that involves either failure or success. It’s a theme, a lantern in the darkness, your guiding light.
I created a workbook specifically to help you choose a word-of-the-year. You can find even more suggestions in the workbook, as well as worksheets that will help you apply the word to your life.
How do you choose?
Ask yourself what you need. Right now and going into the new year, what do you need? My word almost always forms from that question. If that word doesn’t immediately resonate with you, check with a thesaurus and see if one of the words associated with it does. Ask yourself what qualities can help you achieve that thing that you need.
Make a Word List. Write down all of the words that are calling out to you right now. They can be random words, don’t overthink it, just let the words release and flow out.
Write down your goals. If you are someone that likes to make a lot of goals or resolutions, write them all down and then see if there’s a theme that’s connecting them. Maybe your word needs to ‘motivation’ so that you can tackle all of those things and get them done or ‘fit’ to inspire you to move more.
Who do you want to be? I think it’s common to want to turn over a new leaf. I can name several qualities I want to cultivate within myself. What qualities or traits do you want to bring into your life? Let your word inspire you to be that thing.
Don’t overthink it. My word sometimes takes me a while to figure it out. I usually start thinking about it in the beginning of December and sometimes it doesn’t come to me until I’m halfway through January. Your word will feel right. You’ll know it when you find it.
Let it find you. If there’s a word you just feel drawn to – even if it doesn’t make sense right now, take a leap of faith and go with it.
Here are some words that might resonate with you!
- Discover
- Steady
- Simplify
- Valued
- Trust
- Immerse
- Inspire
- Bravery
- Complete
- Visible
- Confidence
- Radiant
- Motivation
- Loyalty
- Feel
- Gentleness
- Healing
- Home
- Believe
- Ease
- Worth
- Adapt
- Emergence
- Courage
- Heard
- Depth
- Stability
- Accomplished
- Improve
- Capable
- Boldness
- Fullness
- Give
- Wholehearted
- Begin
- Sacred
- Adventure
- Boundaries
- Mindfulness
- Space
- Unconditional
- Tend
- Connection
- Daring
- Progress
- Determination
- Cherished
- Love
- Enlightened
- Build
- Prayer
- Quiet
- Vision
- Communication
- Reset
- Clarity
- Spirituality
- Forward
- Blessed
- Abundance
- Free
- Dependable
- Rebuild
- Heart
- Family
- Gratitude
- Service
- Light
- Slow
- Bliss
- Survivor
- Travel
- Explore
- Softness
- Cultivate
- Self-Acceptance
- Encourage
- Fit
- Authentic
- Change
- Wellness
- Embrace
- Patience
- Tender
- Available
- Relax
- Hope
- Seek
- Celebrate
- Direction
- Passion
- Thankful
- Truth
- Transformation
- Peace
- Intention
- Start
- Reflection
- Breathe
- Delight
- Better
- Dedicated
- Recovery
- Express
- Kindness
- Present
- Self-Care
- Faith
- Power
- Forgiveness
- Learn
- Fearless
- Potential
- Renewal
- Rest
- Transparency
- Open
- Uplift
- Consistency
- Receptivity
- Unstoppable
- Devotion
- Tranquil
- Dream
- Journey
- Uniqueness
- Commitment
- Yes
- Thrive
- Bright
- Become
- Rise
- Unafraid
- Calm
- Grace
- Listen
- Friendship
- Organized
- Whole
- Persistence
- Aware
- Body-Love
- Honesty
- Empower
- Intuition
- Joy
- Compassion
- Teach
- Creativity
- Growth
- Glowing
- Play
- Grounded
- Centered
- Sparkle
- Balance
- Align
- Motion
- Challenged
- Relationships
- Nourish
- Zen
- Oneness
- Focus
- Integrity
- Release
- Distance
- Expand
- Support
- Wise
- Happiness
- Foundation
- Finish
- Soul
- Stillness
What’s your word of the year for 2021?
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