Why You Should Choose a Word of the Year

“NEW YEAR NEW ME! NEW YEAR NEW YOU!” We all do it-or have done it. January 1^st comes around and you have all your new year’s resolutions, to do list and top goals of the year set. You are ready to take-action and make this year the BEST YEAR YET, and you have the perfect plan for how to you achieve your goals all laid out! Sound familiar?

All this is great, and if it helps keep you focused and you actually-make all those goals happen, kuddos to you, and keep it up! But the truth is, statistics say only 8% of people actually achieve their New year’s resolutions. New year’s resolutions are often vague and difficult to measure, and within the first few weeks of the year most have already fallen off. 

It’s best and more effective to set realistic and trackable goals year-round, and sometimes may even take a complete reset when we fall off track. BUT, to avoid landing in that place, there’s one more step you can add to your plan that can make a world of a difference. And that’s….drum roll please…..Choosing a word of the year!!! 

So, “what is a word of the year exactly and how does it work?” you might ask. Well, you came to the right place, because I’m about to break it all down for you. If you’re looking for a way to make the most of the year ahead, choosing a word of the year is a great place to start and I’m going to tell you why.

A word of the year is a single word you choose to incorporate into your everyday life that will represent your year ahead. It is a powerful tool for setting goals and creating accountability. A significant word that deeply resonates with you and embodies the energy you want to bring into your life. 

It is a word to live by that gives a specific intention and purpose behind everything you do, and serves as a guiding light to help make decisions and navigate life’s challenges. It is a focused and specific goal that you can reference throughout the year to keep you on track and help you achieve your goals. This word becomes your mantra, and your very own mental mentor in a way-helping you snap back where you need to be when you’re tempted to fall off track (or even do fall off track).

There are so many benefits in choosing a word for the year, but the most advantageous at the top of the list, is a word of the year helps you live with more purpose and intention. When you have a specific intention and purpose in mind behind what you’re doing & why, it’s more MEANINGFUL. And we all know when something MEANS more to us, we are more bound to take it serious and make it happen.

It serves as a huge motivating factor because it is connected to our WHY which helps us enjoy the journey and process of making all those dreams we have come to life. Not only does having a word of the year make it is easier to make choices that align with your values and goals, but it also will be your guide when you go to make other choices that apply to all your other goals.

With that being said, it can be a helpful tool and simplify your goal setting process to begin with, by helping you decide which goals you should even set. It will help give you focus and clarity on what’s important to you and help you make positive changes in your life and be a reminder of what the bottom -line/end game goal is in those moments you may feel lost or confused. And most importantly, it is a way to help hold yourself accountable in a way that matters more to you, which will help make some of the difficult steps it takes to achieve our goals so much more enjoyable.

Whatever it is, choosing a word of the year is a great way to focus your intentions and make them more concrete. Whether you choose a word that represents something you hope to achieve or something you want to let go of, having a word of the year can help bring more happiness, clarity, less stress, and possibly even healing in certain areas of your life that need it. And is also a great way to reflect on the previous year and help you decide which intentions are best to set for the new one.

There are many ways you can choose your word of the year. But here are some of the top key factors to keep in mind when deciding that can be more effective and attribute to your growth and happiness best overall.

Think about an area you want to work on and grow in, an area you know needs improvement, or even an area you’ve never visited or only slightly have because it’s just a down-right struggle all together. An area you know if you improve, will help contribute to your overall success and happiness. A word that lights a fire in you and makes you WANT to do more, be more, and makes you feel ready and willing to hit the ground running.

It can be a quality you want to cultivate more of in your life. Maybe it’s GRATITUDE, more FOCUS or DETERMINATION, more SELF-CONFIDENCE, or even taking more RISKS. Maybe you have so much going on, feel all over the place, and need some more structured DISCIPLINE or ORGANIZATION. Or, you’ve been killing it the last few years, busting your butt at work-neglecting yourself and loved ones in the process, so you want to spend more time VALUING them and YOU.

It can even be an area that needs HEALING. Whether it’s an experience you’ve been blocking from your mind all these years, saying and thinking “I’m good”-but as time has progressed you’ve started noticing that how you handled (or didn’t handle) that particular experience has been holding you back in ways you wish it didn’t-maybe you need to make it a point to take the time to work through it, let it go, FORGIVE and finally find a place of PEACE with it.

Whatever word you decide on, make sure you choose the one that will help make the biggest difference in your life all the ways you are hoping for. One that will make you PROUD, feel ACCOMPLISHED, and keep you INSPIRED throughout the next 12 months.

But most importantly, choose a word that is realistic for where you’re at right now and what you're willing to truly commit to. Make sure it is attainable and trackable, a challenge-but not too much of a challenge that you’ll give up after a couple of weeks.  

What does it mean to actually apply your word of the year to your life? There are a few different ways you can do this. First, you can use your word as a filter for your decisions. That means that whenever you're faced with a choice, you can ask yourself whether or not it aligns with your word. This can help you to stay true to your intentions and make choices that will help you to achieve your goals. 

Another way to apply your word of the year is to use it as a focal point for your attention. That means that you can use your word as a as a reminder to stay present and aware of your surroundings. This can help you to be more mindful of your actions and make better choices that will keep you aligned with where you're trying to be/get.

Accountability is key to achieving any goal, and a word of the year is no exception .By sharing your word with family and friends, you are more likely to stick to your resolution and achieve your goal. So let those you are closest with know what it is so they can help hold you ACCOUNTABLE.

SO IN A NUTSHELL:

• Use your word as a guiding principle. Your WHY
• You can use your word as a filter for your decisions. That means that whenever you're faced with a choice, you can ask yourself whether or not it aligns with your word. This can help you to stay true to your intentions and make choices that will help you to achieve your goals.
• Use it as a guide for setting goals. Your word of the year can be a helpful guide for setting goals. Ask yourself how you can achieve your goals in a way that aligns with your word. For example, if your word is “abundance,” you might set a goal to increase your income or quality of life overall.
• Another way to apply your word of the year is to use it as a focal point for your attention. That means that you can use your word as a reminder to stay present and aware of what you're doing, where you're doing it, and who you're doing it with. And if those things align with, contribute or take away from the main goal . This can help you to be more mindful of your actions and make you more self-aware

Check out this quick video on choosing a word of the year