Change Your Year with One Word

For the last few years, I’ve been choosing one word to focus on for the year. There are times I’ve started with two or three, but there was always one word that eventually took first place.

Why One Word?

This practice has helped me gain clarity on what I want in life and how I want to live, where I want to spend my time, and how to make decisions that align with me at the moment. It’s helped me become aware of my limiting beliefs and has truly changed the way I think. Yes, I could choose multiple words, but the decision to choose one is a challenge for me that I like to take. It encourages me make a commitment be more focused.

Choosing one word isn’t the only thing I’ve done to make changes in my life, but it is a fun and exhilarating experience. I also read books, listen to podcasts, read a devotion each morning, journal, doodle, recite affirmations, create dream boards and most recently mediate.

I don’t tend to do all of these activities at once. I don’t do all of them everyday, but I do make it a point to do a combination of them each week. And honestly, these changes started when I became intentional about doing them each year as I longed to be the best version of myself.

Words of My Past

That being said, my word for 2016 was intention. I even blogged a little about it here. It was a tough year for me personally. Trying to find myself amidst the chaos and joy of raising a family, wanting to provide financially and making time for the things I wanted to do.

There was a struggle, a bit of a push and pull feeling torn between things I wanted and felt I needed to do. The word intention saved me and continues to have an impact on my life moving forward.

In 2017 my word was trust. I vowed to trust God, trust myself, trust the process and the journey that has been laid out for me. My entire dream board, my life was set on that one word.

I’m happy to report I experienced a lot of transformation during that year. Because I had vowed to trust myself, I was also given many opportunities to make sure I did indeed trust myself. I stepped out of my comfort zone a little each time, and just like Darren Hardy says in his book, The Compound Effect,

“Small, Smart Choices + Consistency + Time = RADICAL DIFFERENCE.”

I felt more like myself at 35 than I ever did before and it was all because of the little steps I chose to take.

My Word for 2018

This year my word is abundance with belief that I will accept and receive more than enough than I need so that my cup will run over and bless everyone around me. The keywords for me are accepting and receiving. At first I felt selfish picking such a word. Initially the word was wealth, but I wanted more. It’s taken me a long time to realize that wanting more is not bad thing. When we have more, we have more to give, in every way.

When I shared my word with a friend, she said she loves that word because with abundance, there is no lack! It made me feel good about my choice. I’m excited for where my word will take me this year.

How Do I Choose My Word?

With each word I open a new layer of myself, and because I learned to trust myself the year before I knew I wanted to step up and change my life a little bit more.

So, how do I choose my word you ask? Well, I think about it a few months before. I don’t have a set process, but so far here’s what I’ve got.

Reflect. First, I reflect. I think about what I’ve accomplished over the last year and I especially think about ways I personally want to improve myself. I look at every area of my life — mentally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. I also think about what I want for my family and my career.

Choose. Then, I choose a few words that speak to me or stand out. I ponder a little. And as I mentioned, sometimes I start the year of with a few and eventually drop to one.

Pray. Next, I pray about it. I’m not a religious person, but I truly believe in the power of God and honor my relationship with him. I ask for guidance and direction and really seek out what’s already there for me.

Decide. When I decide on my word, I run with it. I write it down, I use it when listing my goals and creating my dream board for the year. Finally, I create a diagram of how it will take a place in every aspect of my life.

I hope this post has inspired you to choose a word for the year! If so, share your word with us in the comments below.

Thanks so much for being here!