Why You Need A Word Of The Year And How To Choose It

by | Values

Looking for a fresh start in the new year?

As December winds down, many of us are drawn to consider our goals for the coming year. Unfortunately, resolutions are often hastily chosen and soon forgotten, and the energy of starting over tends to fade quickly as the weeks pass.

But there is another way to harness the potential of a new year without all the pressure, and that’s by choosing a word of the year.

Your word of the year can be a powerful tool that helps bring focus and guidance to the things that are most important to you.

If this sounds intriguing, read on; you’ll learn what a word of the year is and how you can use it to enhance your life in 2022.

Why You Need A Word Of The Year And How To Choose It

What Is A Word Of The Year

Have you ever attended a party or celebration that had a theme? Like an 80’s party or a Hollywood glamour dress-up dance? If so, you’ll know how themes can help create a vibe or ambience.

When organising a themed event, you don’t have to think too hard about what to wear, what food and drink to serve, what music to play, or how to decorate: you simply refer to your theme and let it guide you.

Well, think of next year as your party, and your word of the year as the theme.

A word of the year is a word (or words) that you choose to represent the things you want to be/do/think/remember in the coming months.

Rather than more rigid resolutions or goals, your word acts as a gentle prompt to align you with your values and help you move towards the things you want.

Why You Shouldn’t Make New Year Resolutions

Did you know that around 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail before February? That is a huge number!

But, why is that?

We make these resolutions because they are things that are important to us. So why do we struggle to follow through on them?

Well, often we aren’t ready in ourselves for these big changes. Also, we don’t have an accountability structure in place that will help us to sustain the change long term. And we have a nasty habit of getting in our own way, letting internal fear of achieving the big goal hold us back.

Resolutions generally involve big, audacious goals that require a lot of change and commitment. Those changes aren’t always in line with our core values, so cause us to fail unintentionally.

That’s why a word of the year can be more powerful in helping create change. It aligns with your values and helps you stay on track in a less imposing way.

Why A Word Is Important

Humans tend to get distracted easily. We lose sight of our goals, lose motivation or focus, and yes, even forget what’s important to us.

This is understandable. After all, life is busy, and we are constantly juggling commitments to family, friends, work, and ourselves.

We don’t need more complicated resolutions or ten-step programs to follow. We need a simple, effective compass to bring us back to our true north (ourselves) and remind us of what’s important.

All it takes is one powerful word.

How Your Word Of The Year Can Impact Your Life

Words matter. They have energy and power to inspire and motivate. When you select a word that is meaningful to you – something that connects you to your values and aspirations – you find a little beacon in the dark to guide you through the rough patches, help you prioritise, and keep you grounded.

Need an example? Let’s say you had a really stressful year last year, worked yourself too hard, feel burnt out, exhausted, drained, and unappreciated.

You want to have a more positive year next year and take better care of yourself. Perhaps you would choose one of these words:

  • Nurture
  • Self-care
  • Reflection
  • Inner peace
  • Wellness

Or maybe you spent too much time stuck at home and forgot how to have fun! Your word might be:

  • Joy
  • Adventure
  • Freedom
  • Possibility
  • Expansion

Whatever word resonates with you (and there are thousands to choose from!), it will help you manifest the energy you want, go for the opportunities that speak to you, and create the life you imagine.

Ready To Choose Your Word For 2022?

Pretty neat, huh? One little word can have such a huge impact on our lives. If you love the idea of choosing a word for the year, you probably want to know how to get started.

Well, I love having a word for the year too, and I am so excited to share the process of choosing my word for 2022 with you.

I’d love for you to join me in my Free 5-Day Word of the Year Challenge, where I walk you through the steps you need to reflect on the last 12 months, envision the next 12, and choose a word that resonates with you.

Together, we’ll take time to look at 2021 and ask some key questions to help wrap the year up. We’ll use those insights to envision 2022 and learn how to find your perfect word for the year ahead. Then, we’ll wrap it up by discovering rituals, reminders, and systems that enable you to embrace your word of the year to its full potential.

Want to join me in choosing your word of the year? Sign up for the challenge here. We start on Monday the 10th of January 2022. 

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