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! š
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!
Why Choose A word for the Year
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!
Isaiah 43:19
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.”
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.
This page includes affiliate links which means if you purchase using a link here, I may receive a commission. It’s no extra cost to you and helps support this site. Please know that I only share products/resources that I love and trust and which I believe will benefit you. See my full disclosure policy here.Ā
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…
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.
Love this! My word is āabideā. I chose it from John 15. Around the first of the year, I was reading and praying over these verses and it just popped out at me. Thatās my word, my goal, for 2020. To simply Abide.
I love your word, Kristina. Can you imagine the impact we could have on this world if we all chose to abide with Jesus this year? Just wow! Blessings to you.
My word of the year is Growth.
What a powerful word you have there, Alyssa! I can’t wait to see the GROWTH God has in store for you this year.
Blessings!