I’ve chosen a word of the year every year since 2015.
What started as inspiration has evolved over time into something a bit different.
Today, I treat my word like a personal operating system.
An operating system runs quietly in the background.
Shaping priorities, influencing decisions, and revealing what no longer works.
That’s what I want my word to do.
Guide me, inspire me, and keep me on track.
Why a Single Word?
We make hundreds of small decisions every day.
What to focus on. What to commit to. What to ignore. What to let go of.
A single word gives me a consistent filter.
Clarity on the direction to take.
The Process
I don’t begin by trying to pick a word.
I start by looking at all my dreams and aspirations for the year ahead.
Before choosing a word, I reflect across the eight dimensions of wellbeing:
Emotional, Occupational, Financial, Physical, Social, Intellectual, Spiritual, and Environmental.
For each one, I write a simple statement:
In December, I want to look back and…
This highlights what is most important to me this year.
When these 8 statements are viewed together, patterns emerge.
I look for repetition.
Themes show up across dimensions.
Tension between where I am today and where I want to be.
The word starts to emerge.
Looking for Inspiration
Sometimes I need help discovering the right word.
At this point, I turn to word lists.
I look for words that speak to me and keep a longer list.
I don’t force the choice.
Over time (a few days or weeks) one word consistently rises to the surface.
Somehow, I just “know” it’s my choice.
For ideas, here’s a past post with 200 word ideas.
Using the Word During the Year
Once chosen, the word becomes a filter.
I return to it when making decisions:
Does this support how I want to live this year?
Does this align with the life I’m building?
Is this friction telling me something is not aligned?
I also use it to guide me.
What will I do in the next month/week that is aligned with my word?
How do I stay on track to meet my goals and aspirations?
No Perfect Word
There is no perfect word.
There is only the one that helps your system run better right now.
Choose something honest and supportive.
Something that fits the season you’re in.
That’s enough.
Your Turn
Where does your current system feel strained or outdated?
What theme keeps showing up across different areas of your life?
What word would help you make clearer decisions and inspire change this year?