There is a new trend in the world of resolutions, goals, success building, and self-improvement. The past several years, people have been choosing one word at the beginning of the year to guide them throughout the coming year. I’m not quite sure how or where it started, but over the years, the idea of having a word of the year has been gaining momentum.

Everyone from celebrities to big name bloggers and entrepreneurs, to regular folks are choosing a single word, or short phrase, to be their “guiding light” that leads them toward their goals. People who have done this swear that it is a game changer in the way they approach their goals and ambitions.

My Word of the Year

We all have goals we are trying to achieve this year. I have quite a list of them. My main goal is to end 2017 better than I started. I want to improve all across the board. Even if only a little bit.

In the spirit of improvement and exploration, I am going to give choosing a word of the year a try. This year my word will simply be “better.”  In the coming year, all of my decisions and activities will be filtered through the lens of that word. Better.

This blog is about small steps of self-improvement in all areas of life. It’s my journey towards living better. Since this will be the first full year of “A Better Life Lived,” I thought “better” would be the perfect word for me.

Be a better mom and wife.  A better blogger and writer. Be a better co-worker and friend.

Make better decisions. Eat better and use my free time better.

Live better.

Choosing Your Own Word of the Year

Are you ready to join me and choose your word? It’s really quite simple. Follow the steps below to figure out what your word of the year should be.

• Think about what you want this year. What do you want to accomplish? What do you need this year? Is there anything you’re struggling with mentally or physically that you need to focus on? Write it all down. Example: I need to focus on self-care. I want to lose weight. I need to write more.
• Look at what you’re written. Are there any recurring themes or patterns? How about any words or phrases that jump out at you? Highlight those or make a separate list using just those.
• Look over that second list. Can you find one word that sums up all of it? If not, is there a word that sums up most of it? How about a word that’s prominent or repeated? The final word you decide on will be your word of the year.

Live by your word

Whatever word you choose will be your focus word this year. All of your decisions, goals, and plans should somehow be guided by this word. For example, if your word is “fun,” everything should be centered around bringing more fun into your life. Therefore, if you currently have a habit of working a lot of overtime, you’ll want to reduce that work in the coming year to allow more time for fun. See? Easy, but powerful.

A list of “Word of the Year” Ideas

While this is a simple exercise, it can feel difficult. Sometimes we have a hard time grouping topics that seem so different under one word. It can be tough to find that common thread that runs through it all. Sometimes it’s hard to just come up with words in general!

To help with the process, I’ve compiled a list of words to get your juices flowing. Feel free to choose a word from the list if it speaks to your needs and wants this year. Otherwise, let it service as a jumping off point to finding your perfect word.

Now that you’ve chosen your word, share it with me! What’s your word of the year? How will it help you reach your goals?

-To your Better Life-

Kira