Tips to Pick Your One Word for the Year
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Each year, starting at the beginning of December, I prayerfully consider a word for the upcoming new year. And this year is no different. But even before December came, I started to have a vision of what I believe God wanted for me for 2019. And so my One Word selection is looking a little different than the past few years. Do you know how to pick a word or phrase? These Tips to Pick Your One Word for the Year will help you become the person you were meant to be.
Most likely you came here looking for information on how to select your word for the year. We all know that New Year’s Resolutions don’t work. Well maybe the work for a period of time, but we soon get derailed and throw the entire thing out. However, every year we make resolutions to accomplish things such as lose weight or start a fitness program. Or sometimes I resolutions include avoiding things like cigarettes or sugary drinks. But most of us each fail. In fact, statistics show that 80% of resolutions fail by the second week in February.
MY JOURNEY TO BEING HEALTHIER AND BUILDING CHARACTER:
Years ago I developed a system instead of making resolutions. We know that little changes over the years add up. So if I say this year I will only start cooking with oils that help me become healthier without “breaking any resolutions,” I will be more successful than if I said I was going to lose 25 lbs.
Several years ago I started to change one thing about my cooking/eating. Years ago I began to buy mostly organic fruits and vegetables. Another year I replaced all the highly processed oils with healthier olive or coconut oil. I have switched my salt to unbleached salt. I now make all my own salad dressings and many condiments from scratch. We eat out far less than we used to. I buy less processed food. And we have decreased the junk food overall. We buy and drink far less soda (we call it pop here!), but I still drink a lot of tea and coffee, so for 2019, I am going to work on drinking more water. By replacing only one small food habit per year, I have radically changed my family’s eating habits over a period of 10 years and those habits have stayed with us.
PICKING MY ONE WORD:
As much as I am interested in my body and becoming healthier, I am far more interested in building character. So instead of just focusing on having a healthier body, I select one word each year to focus on. By focusing on just One Word I ultimately reach my goal without feeling like I failed to keep my resolution.
HOW TO PICK YOUR ONE WORD FOR THE YEAR
1. Who do you want to be?
My one word for 2018 was FOCUS. I felt that I had strayed from my purpose and wanted to FOCUS on my role as a blogger, homeschool mom, and wife. The distractions of the world had pulled me in so many directions. I knew I wanted to be more focused on my mission and less distracted by the world.
My word for 2019 was Courage! I do know that I want to get back to who I was meant to be, and not the person that others decided I should be. I remember being young, filled with joy and creativity. But over time, the voices (teachers, parents, siblings) told me who I should be – sit up straight, don’t color outside the lines, little girls shouldn’t (fill in the blank), you talk too loud. I became who society said I should be and not who I was created to be.
I know who I want to be at the end of 2019!
2. What character traits do you want to exhibit?
I wrote down a list of traits that will help me become the person I want to be. This tip helps as I pick my one word. It gives me an outline to follow.
The person I want to become trusts God, exhibits joy, doesn’t worry about tomorrow, forgives easily, plays hard, and is incredibly persistent. How many times do we as adults give up after 1 or 2 tries, but a child will keep asking over and over?
My One Word will center around one of those character traits.
3. Find something to Help You Focus on that Word:
Once You Select the Word – Find a Bible Verse or Quote that You can Write Down and Commit to helping you keep your focus on that word.
If I select Joy, my verse might be “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11
If I want to work at finding ways to embracing the child within – jumping in rain puddles and forgiving easily, my Winnie the Pooh verse might be “When life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles.” -Winnie the Pooh
What will your word be? Read my word STRENGTH from a previous year HERE! And my friend Kelly’s word SAVOR and what it meant, HERE!
Reviewing movies for parents from a Christian perspective since 2005. Know Before You Go!
Christian Homeschooling mom – 30 years and counting
Autism Mom & Disney enthusiast