Several years ago I made a shift from traditional New Year’s Resolutions to a Word of the Year. For years, I’d set random goals that usually fell flat by February at the latest, and forgotten completely come the following December.
The Word of the Year comes with intentions for the New Year, but also organization, mindfulness, and simplicity. It is an umbrella for my goals, but also a touchstone for the coming days, something to hold onto and even let it guide me in the unexpected moments. Keeping God at the center of the process helps me align my perspective with his as I make loose plans but also trust in his hand for whatever is to come (Proverbs 19:21).
Some previous year’s words include brave, speak, cheer, and reach. Sometimes they stick and sometimes they shift through the year. But all in all, it’s become a tradition I look forward to. If it’s something you’d like to try this year, here’s my process for you to use and adapt as it works best for you.
Look Back
Start with reflection. Give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Celebrate the joys of this past year, however many or few there seem to have been. Spend time in wonder over the things God has done, even if you haven’t seen the final outcome of it yet.
Reflect on the challenging times, too, and look for the ways God has walked with you through them. Don’t rush past the grief of loss and change, even if it takes you well into the new year. There’s no time limit. Often it’ll be something to carry with you even as you set your words and intentions.
This is important–write these things down. In your own handwriting. Maybe get yourself a new journal to write them down in. My mind will play tricks on me in being forgetful or leaving out the good in favor of the bad, and writing it down helps me see the full picture and remember it in the next year.
Take Stock
Let’s shift into today. Think about how you’re feeling physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. (Again, write it down!) Lean in with curiosity instead of judgment–not how you should feel or will feel once _____ happens, but where you are right now.
Take note of what has been working for you–what habits and choices are helping you to be well, and to be connected to those around you. And then write down what hasn’t been working, or what could use improvement.
Think Ahead
Choose 4-5 priorities in your life: maybe to do with relationships, faith, career, or well-being. For each of those priorities, come up with 2-3 goals. These don’t have to be big changes–maybe they are things you want to do differently, start anew, continue, or uplevel in your life. For each goal, write down one practical step you can take in the next week to move forward in that goal.
Have lots of grace with yourself in what you choose, and don’t expect a full upheaval of your life to happen in the next few months. Aim for slow, steady growth.
Here’s one of my examples. A priority in my life is maintaining my well-being. Something new I started last year was running, and I noticed how much it boosted my mental and physical health, so I want to continue the habit and even achieve new goals with it. My goal will be to run a 10K race. Some practical steps I can take towards doing that is to look up a new training routine, to sign up for a 10K, and/or to go for a run today.
Choose a Word
Hopefully having reflected, taken stock, and started working out some goals has helped you get into a mindset of what you want this year to look like. Start brainstorming some words that are in line with your goals. Here are some ideas to get you started:
To be well: thrive, flourish, revive
To be present: sustain, savor, marvel
To grow: motivated, purposeful, cultivate
To do new things: endeavor, create, courage
To hold on in struggle: resilience, discipline, endeavor
If there are a few that stand out to you, write them down and look up their definitions; maybe their synonyms too. I’ve found that the right word tends to jump out at me, and the definition will often align with many of my goals. For example, the year I chose the word reach, I was inspired to go after new health goals (as in, physically reach), do things that stretched my comfort zone (like public speaking), and build connections with God and with friends (like reaching out).
How about you? Do you use or would you consider using a Word of the Year to help guide your goals and mindset for the upcoming days? What helps you get organized for the new year?
Read more of Jenn’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
