Choosing your word of the year is about far more than selecting a random word. You want a word that encapsulates your goals, your values, and the very person you're striving to be in the year ahead. Once you have your word for the year, you'll be ready to start crushing goals and change your life over the next 365 days.
How to Choose a Word of the Year
You may have heard of the concept of choosing a word for your year and longed to make a selection of your own. For a successful year ahead and a word that fully embodies the lift you imagine, try these tips for choosing your word.
- Start by writing down the things you want to accomplish this year alongside the things you want more of in your life.
- List out some of your core values as an individual or the values that your family upholds.
- Write down some feelings you want to experience this year.
- Look for any words that overlap or have similar meanings. This may point to some values, goals, or feelings that matter the most to you.
- From everything you've listed, choose five words that mean the most to you or show up the most often and write them down.
- Out of the five words you've listed, choose the word that speaks the most to you as you think about the year ahead.
- The remaining words can be your sub-words for the year.
Your word of the year can be a noun, verb, or anything else. If it means something to you, that's all that matters.
Inspiring Word of the Year Ideas for the Life You Want
You might have a vision for your life in the year ahead, but wrapping it all up in one word might leave you with more than one good idea. That's why we've rounded up some of the most motivating and positive words to help you choose your word of the year with ease.
Motivating Words of the Year to Inspire Ambition
If you're going into the new year with a lot of big goals, you need a word that will motivate you from January to December. Try some of these ambitious words for a year of crushing goals and accomplishing your dreams.
- Above
- Accomplish
- Achieve
- Action
- Adapt
- Chase
- Clarity
- Conquer
- Courage
- Create / Creativity
- Dare / Daring
- Dedication
- Determination
- Dilligence
- Dream
- Eager
- Energy
- Engage
- Enthusiasm
- Expand
- Explore
- Fervent
- Fight
- Finish
- Gain
- Grow
- Hustle
- Lead
- Learn
- Limitless
- Improve
- Increase
- More
- Move
- Opportunity
- Overcome
- Passion / Passionate
- Persistence
- Practice
- Pride
- Pursue
- Strong / Strength
- Rise
- Win
You don't have to stick to a single word. You may also choose multiple words or a phrase in place of your word of the year.
Restful Words of the Year for Slowing Down
Maybe you're ready to ride the restful train this year. You've done the whole success and goal-achieving thing and now you're craving a slower approach. These words might inspire you to choose a pause this year and just enjoy the simple parts of life.
- Align
- Balance
- Breathe
- Be
- Calm
- Care
- Comfort
- Cultivate
- Ease
- Enjoy
- Enough
- Flow
- Gentle
- Glow
- Heal
- Hospitality
- Intention
- Nourish
- Nurture
- Pause
- Peace / Peacefulness
- Rebirth
- Regenerate
- Release
- Repose
- Rest
- Restore
- Safe
- Slow
- Spirited
Positive Words for a Happy Year Ahead
From family to fearlessness, a positive word is anything that inspires you to be the best version of yourself. Whether you're focusing on self-improvement, relationships, or career goals, these positive words will help you approach the year ahead with confidence.
- Acceptance
- Abundance
- Authentic
- Blessing
- Bliss
- Bloom
- Bold
- Cherish
- Connection
- Exhilaration
- Faith / Faithfulness
- Family
- Fearless
- Forgive
- Foundation
- Fulfillment
- Give
- Generosity
- Happy / Happiness
- Honest / Honesty
- Hope
- Imagine
- Joy
- Laugh / Laughter
- Love / Loving
- Radiance
- Satisfy
- Selflessness
- Sustain
- Truth
- Unflinching
- Worthy
Display your word somewhere you'll see it every day, like your planner or bathroom mirror.
Reclaim Your New Year
This year you're going to reach your goals and build a life you truly love. Let inspiration push you toward your dreams and give yourself plenty of grace along the way. With a word that means so much to you, this year will truly be your year.
