Have you ever "picked a word" for the year? Picking a word simply means that you pick one general theme to base your year around. All your goals and intentions are based on this one word. This method has become more and more popular as more and more people fail to keep their "New Years Resolutions". Many have chosen to ditch them altogether, but some (like myself) choose to take a different approach to set those goals and intentions for the year.
Where's the "Proof"?
I'm not going to quote any fancy research or link you back to scientifically proven data. Let's start this blog by disclaiming that this is something I have seen work for MANY people, including myself. I've been picking a theme word for 3 years now. It started back in 2020 when I was sick and tired of never reaching my goals and having my new years' resolutions fizzle out by March!
In 2020 I was able to stick to my word and saw massive GROWTH in my social media, my business, my blog, and my personal life. (my word in 2020 was "growth" if you didn't catch that)
In 2021 I chose HOPE. We were living in my in-law's basement, my business was at a standstill again, my job felt like a broken record, and we were struggling with some health issues. I was new in finding my faith again and decided to choose a word from my favorite scripture, Hebrews 6:19. I needed a little "hope" to get me through the year.
How do I pick a word for the year?
It will come to you, I promise. I know that's not the answer you wanted to hear, but listen, this is the best way to make sure it's YOUR word, and it's what YOU need! I can't pick it for you, neither can your spouse or best friend. It's just gotta feel right!
But here is what I did to pick my word for 2022.
I'm a faithful person, so I prayed about it. I asked God to show me what I needed and to lead me towards the right path. I read blogs much like this one, I wrote down my goals (yes, I still make goals, and yes you should be writing them down), I meditated and I asked myself where I wanted to be in a year from now. The questions that really solidified my word for me were:
"How do I want to feel when 2022 is over?"
"What would make me proud to have accomplished?"
"How do I want others to feel when they are around me?"
So what is MY word for 2022, and why?
SERVICE. Ultimately when I think about my goals for 2022 I think about serving others. How can I add the most value to others' lives? I want to grow closer to God and I asked him, "How can I best "serve" you?" and it clicked! God's calling for me in 2022 is to serve and to pour into others. Some of my happiest memories of 2021 are when I did service projects and I was able to make someone's life better through simple actions. I truly believe that God is calling me to be of service to as many people as I can in 2022.
Are you ready for the list?
Here is a list of over 50 words and a brief explanation of how you can incorporate them into your life.
Abundance - of relationships, money, time freedom
Action - putting things into motion
Adventure - going places and doing things you've never done before
Align - to bring into alignment all areas of your life
Authenticity - being totally and undisputedly genuine
Balance - finding stability
Calm - quieting the noise
Celebrate - acknowledging the significant and happy times
Challenge - getting out of your comfort zone
Change - pivot, rearrange
Commitment - sticking to it
Confidence - learning to be unapologetically you
Create - crafting and creating the life you want
Daring - being bold without fear
Discipline - put your nose to the grind and have total self-control
Dream - creating it, achieving it, envisioning it
Embrace - taking on whatever comes your way
Empower - yourself, others, your family
Energy - the vibe you are putting out in the world
Example - as to be one for others
Faith - in God, in yourself, in others
Forgiveness - to yourself, to others, to the past
Grace - towards yourself and others
Growth - in mindset, in sales, or in influence
Hope - a feeling of trust, expectation, desire (H6:19)
Integrity - honest and moral in all things
Intention - doing something with purpose
Joy - great happiness
Learn - that could be school, or it could be a new craft or skill
Love - like unconditionally and without expectation
Magnify - make larger than
Move - your physical and mental self
New - trying something new
No - set boundaries
Nurture - encourage and care for growth and development
Passion - strong and unwavering
Permission - giving it to yourself
Power - influence, strength, determination
Present - existing in a particular space (of mind or location)
Professional - a state of being
Quality - excellence over numbers
Realistic - in your expectations and reality
Recovery - from trauma, pain, adversity
Release - letting go
Rise - a comeback
Service - to God and others
Simplicity - stripping it down to the basics
Sparkle - shine brightly, be vivacious
Strength - tough mentally and/or physically
Teach - show or explain
Tranquil - peace and serenity
Vision - like a dream with purpose and an actual visual outcome
Voice - expression, communication
Yes - to opportunity, to adventure, to life
Zest - to have great enthusiasm and energy
I hope you found some value in this post and I hope it helped you pick your word for this year.
I'd love to hear your thoughts or even what word you picked and why! Comment below and I will send one random commenter one of my absolute FAVORITE skincare products totally FREE!