Why You Should Choose a Word of the Year (And How to Do It)
Welcome, if you’re new to my Substack home. I am here to share what I’ve learned, but more so to be in community and make more friends :) Thank you for being here.
************************************************************************************
Every year offers a fresh opportunity to redefine your life, set powerful intentions, and move closer to your dreams. But did you know there’s a simple, proven way to amplify your focus and motivation? Choosing a Word of the Year is like giving your brain a GPS for success. It creates a magnetic force that pulls you toward your goals while helping you stay grounded and inspired. Let me show you how to harness this game-changing tool to make this year your most aligned, impactful, and fulfilling yet.
Why Choose a Word of the Year?
Clarity and Focus: A single word can serve as a touchstone, helping you navigate decisions big and small. It reminds you of your priorities when life gets busy.
Neuroplasticity: Repeating and meditating on your word helps rewire your brain. It creates a mental framework that supports your goals and intentions.
Alignment with Goals: Your word becomes a filter through which you view opportunities and challenges. It ensures your actions align with your deeper desires and aspirations.
Reflection: Reviewing the Past Year
Before diving into a new word, it’s essential to reflect on the year you’ve just lived. What were your greatest wins, challenges, and lessons? Here are some questions to guide your review:
What are the top three wins from the past year?
What unfinished business or lingering lessons need to be carried forward?
What risks did you take, and what did they teach you?
What were your happiest moments? When did you feel the most love and connection?
In my review of 2024, I celebrated moving to Florida, launching this Substack, and becoming a consistent writer. But I also recognized challenges, like neglecting my health goals, managing difficult work relationships and industry obstacles, more than 75 nights away from home, and a just an exhausted, unresourced mental state. These reflections informed my desires for 2025 and helped me choose a word that bridges my lessons and aspirations.
Go as deep as you want to go. The more you contemplate your unfinished business and your magic moments, the more fulfilled and satisfied this coming year will feel.
Desires for the Year Ahead
After reflecting on the past, it’s time to clarify what you want to bring into the new year. Consider:
What would make this year your best yet?
What habits will support your goals? Which bad habits need to go?
What immediate steps can you take to create momentum?
In 2025, I’m focusing on building my service to you, deepening my relationships, building community, and achieving greater health and balance. Slowing down to speed up. I never really understood that until I took these past 3 weeks post holidays to really connect with how I want to show up in my life and serve the people I lead, live with, and my outer sphere of connections.
These insights led me to a Word of the Year covers all my bases.
Numerology and Chinese Astrology for Guidance
This year, 2025, is a "3" personal year for me, which is about creativity, charisma, expansion, and collaboration. It’s a time for growth and taking risks, perfect for manifesting big dreams. From a global perspective, 2025 is a "9" year, symbolizing endings and preparing for new cycles 🤔. These energies invite us to reflect and release what no longer serves us while stepping boldly into our creative potential.
In Chinese astrology, 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake. The Snake’s wisdom encourages transformation, resourcefulness, and a slower, more intentional pace—a perfect complement to the themes of alignment and manifestation.
My Word of 2025:
After reflecting, I chose the word "Alignment" for 2025. Here’s why:
Creativity: Alignment means tuning into your authentic self and passions, unlocking natural creative flow. When your actions, thoughts, and energy align with your desires, ideas flow freely.
Manifestation: Manifesting your dreams requires aligning thoughts, beliefs, and actions with your goals. Alignment creates intentional pathways for your dreams to become reality.
Balance and Action: Unlike words like "harmony," which emphasize peace, or "coherence," which focuses on clarity, alignment bridges inner desires with outward action. It’s about finding balance while actively pursuing your purpose.
I have all of these passions, dreams, and desires that I can no longer ignore. My heart, my mind, and my calendar must all align to avoid another disappointing end of the year review.
How to Choose Your Word of the Year
If you’re ready to select your own Word of the Year, here’s a simple process:
Reflect on the Past: Review your wins, challenges, and lessons from the previous year. What themes emerged?
Define Your Desires: What do you want to create, feel, or achieve in the year ahead? Be specific.
Explore Keywords: Write down words that resonate with your goals and desires. Consider how each word feels—does it inspire you? Energize you? Ground you?
Consider Alternatives: Sometimes, similar words evoke different energies. For example:
Expansion for growth and creativity.
Expression for bringing ideas into reality.
Flourish for thriving in your goals.
But for me, "Alignment" felt right because it bridges creativity, manifestation, and purposeful action.
Anchor It: Once you’ve chosen your word, make it visible. Write it in your journal, set it as your phone wallpaper, or create a vision board around it.
Why a Word of the Year Works
Your brain craves clarity. A single word acts as a mental shortcut, reminding you of your intentions whenever distractions arise. It provides focus, motivation, and a sense of purpose. Over time, this repetition reinforces new neural pathways, helping you embody the qualities and goals your word represents.
For example, with "Alignment" as my Word of the Year, I’m constantly asking myself:
Are my actions aligned with my values?
Does this choice bring me closer to or further from my goals?
Am I creating harmony between my inner desires and outward expression?
This practice transforms my word from a mere intention into a way of being.
Choosing a Word of the Year is more than a fun exercise; it’s a powerful tool for intentional living. It helps you focus your energy, align your actions with your goals, and create a life that feels deeply meaningful. Whether your word is "Alignment," "Expansion," or something entirely different, let it be a guiding light for your year ahead.
So, what will your Word of the Year be? Share it in the comments or reflect on it in your journal. Let’s make this year our most aligned and impactful yet.
And hang it in a prominent spot where you will not forget it!
You are worth it, make this THE year you ________.
xoxoxo
PS: If you enjoyed this post, or know someone who might, please share it!
Also, join me on YouTube for additional insights and quick tips and tools to live a more soul-aligned life.