How To Choose A Word for the Year

Why choose a word for the year? Choosing a word for the year helps you to focus on your values and your goals. Just ONE word can help you with determining your priorities for the year. It wasn’t until 2019 that I commenced choosing a word for the year. It was at a goal setting workshop that a coach said one word is all it takes to help you focus on your goals. The coach explained how to choose a word for the year, breaking it down into a few simple steps.

Reflection
Writing
Visualising
Use your word

Reflection: Reflect on the past year.

Step one of choosing a word for the year is ‘reflection’. Reflect on the past year.

The first step is to reflect on the past year. Reflect on your achievements, what worked, what didn’t work. Think about your goals what you achieved, what you are still striving for and what you feel you no longer align with. As we get older our values may change and as we grow through personal growth our goals and values may change too.

Reflect on what you would like to achieve this coming year, in different areas of your life. Use the Wheel of Life to guide you through the different areas of your life.

Last year my word was action, as I reflect on the word and the past year, there were times I noted a lack of action and a disconnect from my chosen word. I was distracted by outside influences, and it is from noticing the distraction in 2021 that I choose my one word of the year. My word of the year will help me reconnect and refocus.

Writing: Write down your goals.

Write a list of your goals and what you would like to achieve in 2022 in different areas of your life.
Next, review your list, look for a common theme.
Note down a few words that could relate to the goals you wish to achieve in 2022.

Here are 40 words of the year ideas, to help you work out the interrelated words for your goals.

Visualization: Visualize the word.

Once you have a list of words, narrow down the list. To help you narrow down the list visualize the word in relation to your goals in the different areas of your life.

Example: If your word is ‘Healthy’ – visualize how healthy relates to;
Relationships
Wellbeing, mind and body
Spirituality
Family and home
Career/business
Financial
Spiritual and Ethical
Community

At first, it may seem strange connecting your one word to the different spheres of your life, but with practice, you will see how the word connects and can be a focus word of the year. Below is how ‘healthy’ connected for me. Try your word to see how it connects with you.

Relationships;
Goal: To love myself and have ongoing healthy relationships with self, family and friends.
Wellbeing, mind and body;
Goal: To create healthy habits including eating more vegetarian meals for healthy eating. Practice mindfulness daily and attend aerobatics regularly for a healthy mind and body.
Spirituality;
Goal:  To create healthy spaces for mindfulness and meditation. Practice mindfulness, visualization and meditation daily.
Family and home;
Goal: To give thanks daily to my wonderful family and the home we have created.
Career/business;
Goal: To finish my studies and work in a job I love in a healthy environment.
Financial:
Goal: To pay off debt by the years’ end. Paying off debt helps with stress and living, thus leading to a healthy life.
Community;
Goal: To bring positivity to people in the community through kindness. Creating healthy connections.

Use your word for the year daily.

Once you have chosen your word for the year it is important to see it and use it daily.

• Put your chosen word on your Vision board.
• Write your word of the year in diary.
• Write about your word and how it relates to your goals in your journal.
• Make notes with your chosen word that remind you to take action towards your goals.
• Write affirmations with your goals and chosen word.
• Visualise your word in relation to your goals daily.

The more you see and use your word, the more you bring into your awareness the importance of the word and your goals. Just the ONE word you choose for the year can help you take action towards your goals.

You can read my one word for the year and what it means to me in ‘Just One Focus Word for the New Year’, where I share my past words for the year.