How To Choose A Word For The Year

The new year is here, and while a resolution isn't for everyone, you might want to consider the concept of choosing a word for the year (or a new word each month), and growing from the meaning behind your new decree!

The end of a year often leaves us feeling pensive about what we’ve achieved during the past 365 days, our lifestyle, and changes we’d like to make looking forward. This self-reflection frequently manifests itself as the creation of New Year’s resolutions, or statements which promise a sprint toward a major goal or life change. These tend to become lofty, life-changing ambitions that are neither specific nor measurable. Both qualities we’re told are pretty crucial to creating achievable goals.

Some 88% of us don’t stick to our new plans, because New Year’s resolutions set us up for failure. A symptom of our always-on, instant gratification culture is that we’re constantly in a hurry and expect change to come quickly and effortlessly. Unfortunately, lasting change in lifestyle and mindset takes time. Instead of unrealistic New Year’s resolutions, at Slow Living LDN we prefer to take a more holistic, slow-living-inspired approach at the start of a new year. A great way to do this is to choose a guiding word of the year instead.

----> Here’s How To Choose Your Word:

STEP 1: REFLECT
Reflect on this past year and ask yourself these questions. Jot down whatever pops into your head without self-editing.
What could I use more of in my life?
What could I use less of in my life?
What characteristics would I like to have?
By the end of the day, I feel (fill in the blank).
How do I want to feel?
Once you review your responses you’ll have a better sense of the direction you’d like to go, or what you feel may be lacking in your life.


STEP 2: VISUALIZE
Visualize what the perfect day would feel like, the emphasis here is “Feel”. Think about how you want your morning routine to feel, how you want to feel at work or throughout the day, and how you want to feel right before you go to bed.
Perhaps meditating or sitting in silence for a couple of minutes and asking yourself “What word do I want to focus on in 2023?” would work wonders for you; It’s simple but effective.

If you’re having trouble maybe try it before you go to sleep or first thing in the morning. You could also turn on an aromatherapy diffuser, light a candle, smudge the space first, or put some calming music in the background. You’d be amazed how being still can help your intuition shine through, and bring your word to the forefront.


STEP 3: CREATE A LIST
Spend 10 minutes creating a list of the words that come to mind, no self-editing! Need some help? Here are some examples to get you started, but your word can be anything you want it to be… Try something like:
Thrive — Compassion — Courage — Nourish — Joy — Explore — Abundance — Balance — Grow — Empathy — Stillness — Adventure — Grow — Mindful — Brave


STEP 4: REVIEW & REFINE
Review your list and narrow down your favorites.
Do any of the words jump out at you, make you feel excited, nervous, scared, uncomfortable, or at ease? Is there a theme between many of your favorites?
Sometimes the words that scare us most can mean we’re on the right track because change isn’t always easy.
Think about the words, try them on, and see what feels right. No need to over-analyze this process, trust your gut instead. Gently review your list and let the words pick you.


STEP 5: ASK YOURSELF THIS VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION
Now that you narrowed down your list to three words, there’s just one more question to ask:
Are you interested, or are you committed?
If you’re merely “interested” then chances are you’ll make excuses as to why you’re not putting forth the effort actually to make changes. But if you’re “Committed” to your word, you’ll do whatever it takes to implement that word and bring more of it into your life.

If necessary, allow yourself a day or two, even a week to really think about this.

Share    More ideas for a "word of the year"   |   Paint with us in 2023