Every January, my social media feeds fill up with people announcing their word of the year- and by Valentine’s Day, I’d bet money that half of them couldn’t tell you what their word was. (I’m not judging. Okay, maybe I’m judging a LITTLE. 🤷🏽♀️)
Before you pick yours, I want you to take the free Holistic Life Audit. It’s hard to choose a word for where you’re going when you haven’t taken an honest look at where you are right now. (And if you’re still looking back at last year, start with New Year’s Day 2026.)
What Is a Word of the Year?
Word of the year: one word you choose to focus on, reflect on and live into for the next twelve months.
Think of it as the opposite of a long list of resolutions. Rather than juggling ten promises you made to yourself at midnight on New Year’s Eve, you have one word that you keep circling back to, asking yourself, “Am I living this?”
Start Smaller: A Word of the Week or Month
Before you commit to a word for a whole year, ask yourself: do you want a word of the year- or would you rather start smaller, with a word of the week or even a word of the month?
I’m really big on micro, meso and macro goals. If a word of the week helps you dial in to a new practice, habit or mindset, that’s a great jumping-off point. You can always stretch it to a few weeks, a month, or however long you want.
So instead of committing to a word for a full year, look at what that word means to you, and how you’d like to reflect it in your life over the next week or month.
How to Choose Your Word of the Year
I’ll be honest- I don’t usually choose a word of the year myself (although I’m not opposed to it!). More often, I circle back to my core values, again and again, to make sure I’m still living in alignment with them.
And that’s exactly where I’d have you start. What are your core values? Which ones are you living in alignment with right now… and which ones, if you’re really honest with yourself, need some work? Is there one you most want to strengthen this year?
Because THAT might just be your word.
(And if your word is part of a bigger fresh start, read How to Reset Your Life: A Plan Based on YOUR Life.)
Choosing a Christian Word of the Year
If you’re a person of faith- and ONLY if you want to go that direction- pray about your word. Pray over it. Pray about how you want to see God use that word in your life, and how you want to embody that word as a reflection of Him.
Be open to seeking your word, and to receiving it.
Then find a verse that really speaks to you, and fold it into your daily life right along with your word.
Word of the Year Ideas
Need a place to start? Here are my core values- the words I keep coming back to:
☐ Moral Courage
☐ Accountability
☐ Authenticity
☐ Honesty
☐ Integrity
☐ Sisu (wallow if you must, but for as short a time as possible- then get up and keep moving)
☐ Gratitude
And a few more to get you thinking:
☐ Rest
☐ Peace
☐ Trust
☐ Boundaries
☐ Persevere
☐ Focus
When Your Word Needs a Plan Behind It
Here’s the thing about a word of the year- it’s a GREAT reminder of who you want to be, but it won’t get you there all on its own. Somewhere along the way, that word needs a plan (and maybe a little accountability) behind it.
That’s what we do in SPARK, my six-week virtual coaching program. We take what you want and break it down into micro, meso and macro goals, then check in every week for all six weeks. (Expect HIGH levels of accountability!) Every SPARK and ICE program starts with a consultation.
This post is part of the Attitude & Gratitude series.
So I’ll ask you: what’s the ONE word you need to live into this year- and what would change if you actually started living it THIS week?
