Word of the Year - Do You Have Yours?

Ever wondered how a single word could transform your entire year? Discover the magic and simplicity of choosing a guiding word for the year, and learn how it can serve as your personal North Star in navigating life's complexities. Last year, "intention" was my beacon, helping me align my actions with my values, even when it meant saying no—with less guilt—to several opportunities. This year, I embrace "clarity," aiming for a sharper focus and more decisive goals. Join me as I share insights on how this practice has brought significant positive changes to my life, and how it can do the same for you.

This episode offers a toolkit for selecting your own guiding word, encouraging reflection on past experiences, careful consideration of your personal and professional objectives, and trusting your intuition. Your word should feel like a personal mantra, channeling growth and focus throughout the year. Whether you're drawn to words like "intention," "clarity," or something else entirely, this process can help you live a more deliberate and fulfilling life. I'd love to hear what word you've chosen to define your year, so don't forget to connect with me on social media at Jennifer Ann Johnson or leave a comment in the podcast section. Here's to embracing a year driven by purpose and focus!

Visit us at jenniferannjohnson.com and learn how Jennifer can help you build the life you dream of with her online academy, blog, one-on-one coaching, and a variety of other resources!

Transcript

Jennifer Ann Johnson: 0:37

Today we're diving into the powerful practice that has significantly impacted my life choosing a word for the year Instead of making countless resolutions that often fall by the wayside. This practice involves selecting a single word to guide your intentions, your decisions and your growth throughout the entire year. Now, I have been doing this for quite a while now and I'm really excited to share my experience with you, and it's really the power of one word. You might be wondering how can one word make a difference? And, unlike a list of resolutions that can feel overwhelming and not really doable, a single word serves as your North Star or your guiding light through the year. It's a simple and memorable and versatile thing. One word, your word, can apply to a lot of different aspects in your life, whether it's personal or professional, or maybe spiritual, and it becomes the filter for all of your choices that you make throughout the year and a reminder of what your deeper intentions are. Now, last year, my word was intention, and I chose it because I wanted to be more purposeful in the actions and the decisions that I made in my life. This encouraged me to pause before I actually reacted or considered what my choice was going to be, and I'll give you an example. When I was asked to volunteer for something or be involved in a certain board or a certain project, I made sure that it aligned with me and the goals and the values that I had before I said yes. I was really honoring the word intentional. But I also faced challenges where I was feeling guilty for not saying yes to everything, also faced challenges where I was feeling guilty for not saying yes to everything. So, overall, living with intention taught me to take a step back and pay attention, and you don't always have to say yes right away. You can take some time to step back and think about it, because that's what's really helped me live intentionally and it's also helped me let go of that guilt that I was initially feeling. Now, this year, I have chosen the word clarity. So, after a year of intentional living, I realized that I needed to focus on gaining a clearer vision for my life and cutting through that noise that's always out there clouding your judgment. With clarity as my guide, I really am aiming to set really clear and concise goals for this year and I plan to incorporate this word into my daily life by reviewing those goals and having them visible to me every day, whether I put them on my phone or I put them on a sticky note in front of my computer, and that's going to be important for me to make sure that I honor that word throughout the year.

Jennifer Ann Johnson: 5:37

Now I know you might be wondering how you go about choosing your word for the year, so I came up with a few tips. First of all, reflect on the past year. What have you found in the last year that has worked for you? On the contrary, what didn't work for you, or what is it that you really want to change over what happened last year? Second, consider your goals. What is it that you actually want to achieve this year? How do you want to grow professionally? How do you want to grow personally? What does that look like? And then trust your intuitions.

Jennifer Ann Johnson: 6:15

Sometimes there's a word that is going to resonate with you for reasons that you really can't put your finger on, and I got to tell you that's what happened to me last year when I chose the word intention. It just came to me and I felt in my gut that that's what it's supposed to be. You just have to remember that there's no wrong choice. Your word should feel personal and meaningful to you, and that for choosing the word of the year. Know that it's a powerful tool for growth and focus. Whether you choose intention, clarity or any other word, make sure that you let it guide you towards a more purposeful and fulfilling year. I'd love to hear what you've chosen as your word of the year, so please share it with me on social media at Jennifer Ann Johnson, or share it in the comments of the podcast. Thank you, guys. So much for listening and have a fabulous day.