Society often pressures people to define their identity solely based on their work, creating an unhealthy and unbalanced emphasis on that aspect of our lives. The New Year’s resolution is in full swing, or maybe it’s not, or perhaps it never happened. That’s the thing with resolutions — they’re so black and white. You either do it or you don’t. There’s no room for maybe and barely enough for resets. If you’ve kept it up so far, kudos to you, and if you haven’t, kudos. Resolutions are challenging for several reasons; high among them is the arbitrary nature of time. Starting a specific intention in January after a holiday may or may not be appealing.

Enter the concept of the “Word of the Year.” It is a cornerstone you can build upon all year long. Unlike a resolution, you can’t break a promise with your word of the year. The word can only augment your understanding and perception of the world and your inner space. It’s a word that you can reflect upon to center yourself and make sense of the chaos. Unlike the traditional resolution, you can start this practice at any point in the year. You can respect the calendar year or even give the word its 365-day orbit. It’s a flexible, organic process rather than a rigid, artificial one.

1️⃣ What is Great About One Word?

Having a personal Word of the Year is a way to set an intention. It is a word that serves as a guiding principle or theme for your growth. Some folks choose a word that sets a positive intention, while others use it as a tool for self-reflection. Your word can help define goals and serve as a reminder or motivation to stay on track. Sometimes, a word you choose can be so powerful that carrying it with you for multiple years might be helpful.

Here’s how a word outpaces a resolution:

• A resolution is often a specific goal you set for yourself, such as “lose 20 pounds” or “save $5,000.” While these goals can be valuable, they can also be challenging to achieve, and it can be easy to become discouraged if you don’t make progress as quickly as you had hoped. On the other hand, a Word of the Year is a broader theme or guiding principle that you can use to shape your goals and decisions. This can give you more flexibility to adjust your plans and focus on making meaningful progress.
• A resolution can sometimes feel like a burden or a chore, especially if it is something that you don’t care about or that you feel pressure to achieve. Because a word represents something meaningful to you, it can be more inspiring and motivating to work towards.

You can use your Word of the Year to track your progress and reflect on your journey by focusing on a specific quality or trait you want to cultivate.

​⛰️ How to Choose Your Word of the Year

The word you choose doesn’t have to be grand or elaborate – it just needs to be meaningful and relevant to you. The important thing is to choose a word that will inspire and motivate you to be your best self and make positive changes in your life.

• Reflect on the Past Year: Consider the challenges and successes you experienced over the past year and what you learned from them.
• Set Intentions: What values or qualities do you want to cultivate? What changes do you want to make in your life?
• Write a Shortlist: Look for words that embody a particular value or quality you want to cultivate or represent a specific goal or aspiration.

? Categories to Steer Your Choice

There are many ways to categorize words you might want to choose as your word of the year. Below is a helpful way to break down the words you might want to use. Bucketing words can help clarify and focus one’s intentions and goals for the year ahead.

• Positive emotions and mental states are feelings that have value in tough times.
• Personal qualities and values are traits you wish to cultivate or embody.
• Goals and aspirations are what you hope to achieve, either personally or professionally.
• Self-improvement and well-being are areas of focus related to personal growth or self-care.
• Interpersonal relationships and social interactions are ways of interacting with others or building meaningful connections.

I have categorized a few hundred words below so you can start making choices. See if they fit, or use free association to get more ideas.

?️ Inspirational Words to Get You Started

Popular: Growth, Courage, Gratitude, Balance, Focus, Wellness, Joy, Love, Success, Courage, Creativity.

More: Abundance, Adaptability, Adventure, Authenticity, Balance, Compassion, Confidence, Courage, Creativity, Determination, Empathy, Energy, Fairness, Flexibility, Forgiveness, Freedom, Generosity, Graciousness, Gratitude, Happiness, Health, Honesty, Humility, Inspiration, Joy, Kindness, Leadership, Love, Openness, Patience, Peace, Persistence, Prosperity, Purpose, Respect, Resilience, Self-care, Self-control, Simplicity, Serenity, Success, Tenderness, Tolerance, Wellness, Wisdom.

? Positive Emotions & Mental States

Popular: Joy, Happiness, Gratitude, Love, Peace, Serenity, and Inspiration.

More: Affection, Appreciation, Bliss, Calming, Comfortable, Compassion, Confidence, Courage, Cozy, Delight, Devotion, Determination, Ecstasy, Elation, Encouraging, Enjoyment, Euphoria, Fondness, Fortitude, Glee, Gratitude, Grit, Happiness, Inspiring, Joy, Kindness, Love, Mettle, Motivating, Nurturing, Passion, Peaceful, Perseverance, Persistence, Pleasure, Relaxing, Resilience, Romance, Serenity, Soothing, Supportive, Thankfulness, Thoroughness, Tranquility, Tenderness, Tenacity, Uplifting, Warmth

⚓ Personal Qualities & Values

Popular: Courage, Authenticity, Self-care, Empathy, Compassion, Confidence, Respect, Patience, Honesty, Creativity, Tenderness, Humility

More: Acceptance, Adaptability, Alertness, Amiability, Benevolence, Bravery, Caring, Compassion, Confidence, Consistency, Courage, Creativity, Dependability, Empathy, Fairness, Flexibility, Forgiveness, Generosity, Graciousness, Honesty, Humility, Ingenuity, Integrity, Kindness, Loyalty, Modesty, Optimism, Patience, Perseverance, Persistence, Responsibility, Respect, Self-control, Selflessness, Serenity, Service, Thoughtfulness, Tolerance, Trustworthiness, Understanding, Unselfishness, Willingness, Wisdom, Empathy, Loyalty, Modesty, Perseverance, Responsibility, Respect, Tolerance

? Goals & Aspirations

Popular: Growth, Purpose, Success, Prosperity, Abundance, Adventure

More: Accomplishment, Achievement, Advancement, Aspiration, Attainment, Career, Development, Excellence, Growth, Improvement, Leadership, Learning, Mastery, Maturation, Progress, Prosperity, Success, Advancement, Aspiration, Attainment, Career, Development, Excellence, Growth, Improvement, Leadership, Learning, Mastery, Maturation, Personal growth, Progress, Prosperity, Success, Achieving, Ambitious, Aspiring, Determined, Driven, Eager, Hopeful, Motivated, Passionate, Purposeful, Resolute, Starving, Tenacious, Thirsty, Ambitious, Determined, Eager

✅ Self-improvement & Well-being

Popular: Health, Simplicity, Balance, Wellness, Prosperity, Adaptability, Self-control

More: Accomplishment, Achievement, Advancement, Ambitious, Aspiration, Attainment, Career, Development, Determined, Driven, Eager, Excellence, Growth, Hopeful, Improvement, Leadership, Learning, Mastery, Maturation, Motivated, Passionate, Progress, Prosperity, Purposeful, Resolute, Success, Starving, Tenacious, Thirsty

? Interpersonal Relationships & Social Interactions

Popular: Kindness, Leadership, Fairness, Generosity, Tolerance, Forgiveness

More: Affability, Altruism, Amicability, Camaraderie, Civility, Collaboration, Community, Companionship, Compassion, Cooperation, Cordiality, Empathy, Fairness, Fellowship, Friendliness, Generosity, Graciousness, Hospitality, Humility, Inclusivity, Kindness, Leadership, Loyalty, Manners, Respect, Responsibility, Selflessness, Service, Support, Sympathy, Tolerance, Togetherness, Trust, Understanding, Unselfishness

? Remembering Your Word Throughout the Year

Once you have chosen your word, plan how to integrate it into your daily life and use it as a guide. Consider finding ways to remind yourself of your word, such as by displaying it in a prominent place or setting a daily reminder on your phone.

• Write it down: Keep a written record of your Word of the Year in a journal or on a piece of paper you can keep. This will help you to stay focused on your word and to refer back to it throughout the year.
• Display it: Consider creating a visual reminder of your Word of the Year. This could be a poster, a sticker, or a note you place in a prominent location where you will see it often.
• Use it as a mantra: Repeat your Word of the Year as a mantra or affirmation when you need motivation or encouragement.
• Reflect on it regularly: Set a time to reflect on your Word of the Year and how it has influenced your choices and actions. This could be daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on what works best for you.
• Share it with others: Consider sharing your Word of the Year with friends, family, or a support group. This can keep you accountable and allow you to discuss your progress and challenges.
• Incorporate it into your daily routine: Look for ways to integrate your Word of the Year into your daily routine. For example, if your Word of the Year is “gratitude,” you might start each day by writing down three things you are grateful for.

? Keep in Mind

While New Year’s resolutions may be well-intentioned, they can often be challenging to maintain due to their black-and-white nature and the arbitrary timing of January. An alternative approach to setting and achieving goals is to adopt a “Word of the Year” that can serve as a foundation for personal growth and understanding. Unlike a resolution, the word of the year is a flexible, organic process that can be reflected throughout the year and adopted at any time, not just in January. It’s a subtle yet powerful way to reflect on yourself, set your intention, and create a guide for the coming year.