Word of The Year for 2021
Today I am talking about picking a word of the year, how I chose mine, and tips to help you pick one, if you decide this is the way to go!
Tired of New Year’s Resolutions? Struggle to keep them beyond the first few weeks of January? Yeah, me too. I used to pick the same handful of resolutions and felt like a failure when I didn’t end the year as I hoped. Everyone else was making resolutions, so I felt like I had to. But, I don’t. Instead, I pick a word of the year.
The idea is that you pick one word (or two, or three, honestly, you pick how many resonate with you!) that feels right and helps you to focus on your goals and where you want your life to be at the end of the year.
Your word is your focus.
You can use the word for goal setting, intentions, and mindfully going about your days. The word will give you focus in different areas in your life.
If you choose presence (like I did last year), you can decide that it means that you want to be a little more present with your children (put away that phone!) and more present at work (time-blocking and the pomodoro method). It could also mean developing a mindfulness practice and making meditation a priority. This is what it meant for me last year, at least.
By choosing presence, I gave myself a year long focus. Or at least that was my intention…
Choosing Your Word of the Year
For some of us and some years, the word just comes to us. We just know.
Other years, it isn’t as easy. On those years, take your time. Spend some time reflecting on what you want out of this year, what you might be struggling with, and what you are missing. Meditate on it. For more on the process I use to pick a word of the year, take a look at last year’s post:
For me, it is about finding a few words that call out to me. And then sitting with them for a few minutes to narrow them down. Then, I think about my goals and what needs improvement in my life and choose a few that are in line with those goals.
P.S. Don’t be afraid of phrases. Let go, Say yes, Be Still are all great phrases of the year. It just needs to feel right for you.
Word of the Year Suggestions
If you need a little inspiration, take a look at this list. Notice the feelings (both physical and emotional) that you get when you read this list:
Abundance
Activism
Authentic
Become
Bloom
Breathe
Center
Clarity
Compassion
Courage
Dare
Design
Dream
Elevate
Empower
Expand
Family
Flourish
Forgiveness
Fulfill
Go
Gratitude
Heal
Honesty
Imagination
Intention
Joy
Learn
Love
Minimalism
New
Peace
Pleasure
Purpose
Relationships
Resilience
Ritual
Serenity
Silence
Start
Surrender
Transcendence
Voice
Wellness
Wisdom
Acceptance
Adventure
Awakening
Beginnings
Bold
Calm
Challenge
Comfort
Confidence
Creativity
Delight
Discipline
Ease
Embrace
Endurance
Exploration
Fearless
Flow
Found
Fun
Grace
Grounded
Health
Hope
Innocence
Intuition
Laughter
Let Go
Me
Mission
Nurture
Perserverance
Quiet
Relaxation
Rest
Savor
Service
Simplify
Stillness
Thrive
Trust
Wake
Wholeness
Yes
Action
Alignment
Beauty
Bliss
Boundaries
Celebrate
Change
Commitment
Contentment
Cultivate
Deserving
Discomfort
Education
Empathy
Energy
Failure
Flexibility
Focus
Free
Generosity
Graciousness
Growth
Home
Humor
Inspiration
Journey
Lead
Listen
Mindfulness
MOmentum
Passion
Play
Radiance
Release
Risk
Self-care
Shift
Slow
Stretch
Tranquility
Vision
Warmth
Will
Even reading the list again as I edit this post, a few words jump out at me.
When they jump out at you, write them down. Change or add words so it sits right. Then, narrow your list (or don’t. Maybe you need all ten!) and make that your word of the year.
My Words of the Year
At the halfway mark of 2020, I felt that I had chosen the perfect words for the unusually challenging year. Presence, Progress, and Patience. All three were tested and I had kept my focus. I also added Practice and Perseverance to my list.
As I write this today, I realize that I lost this focus as the year wore on. Sometime in the late fall, things just sort of stopped. I lost my meditation practice after several years, I stopped actively practicing patience, and I am pretty sure I made no progress on anything.
That brings me to this year’s words:
Release, Reset, Recommit
As usual, I chose more than one word of the year!
I chose “release” because I know that I need to release last year. I need to learn from it (both the struggles and the unexpected gifts and new habits it gave me). And then I need to release it. I need to acknowledge that under the circumstances, I did pretty close to the best I could, most days.
And then, I need to LET IT GO.
I struggle with letting things go and often replay and re-do events and conversations in my head. It is a terrible habit that I have spent years trying to lose. So, this year it is a focus of mine.
Breathe and release.
My next word is “reset.” To me this word represents two things: resetting from 2020 now and a reminder that should things go differently than planned, I can always reset. I can reset my day, I can reset my week, month, or year. I can reset this hour if I need to.
It allows me to give myself a “start fresh” moment. This is especially important with a just about to be two-year-old. I do not need to let a tough morning set the tone for the day. I do not need to let disappointments set me back. I do not need to let surprises throw me off of my goals. I can reset.
Lastly, I want to Recommit to my previous words, goals, and habits. And when I am not as successful as I’d like to be, I am going to release it, breathe, reset and recommit.
Your Word of The Year
What about you, have you chosen your word of the year? Great!
Now, let’s go out and release, reset and recommit to 2021! (or whatever your words are!) Let’s do it together. I’ll be back here this summer taking a look at my word and my year, possibly choosing something different. Join me on your commitment to your word of the year.
Like this? Take a look at all of my Word of the Year Posts Here.
You chose great words. My word for 2021 is Fierce. Last year my word was becoming.
Oh, I love that! Fierce! I also love becoming – I considered that for this year as well.
Such a great list! I didn’t pick a word this year but there’s no greater time than now. Thank you!
I added to my word list in June last year, so I agree – no greater time than now!
Wellness, prosperity and expand. I will pit these words up in my room to remind me for the whole year.
Charina – that is awesome. I love those words and I love that you committed to it!
I never chose word for the year but I made a commitment to myself to do things that are just for me. So if there’s a word for that, that would be it!
Oh! That is awesome. I think that is definitely a focus. And it really doesn’t have to be a word!
I love that provided a nice list of sample words that can create an empowering mantra for the year.
Thanks Portia! Did you pick a word or a mantra? I’d love to hear it!
I love these suggestions! I am not one to be creative and I enjoyed looking through the list.
I am so glad you enjoyed it! I enjoyed putting it together. It gave me an opportunity to really consider how wonderful a year could be!
Is “creative” your word of the year?
My word of the year is healing.
Oh Danielle – I wish you a healing year. That is a great year.
my word for the year (unconsciously picked) has been consistency.. i am striving towards that goal in all aspects..
Oh, Vidya, that is a great word. I love it. I think that is a little what I was going for when I picked “practice” last year.
Love this. It is a bit hard for me to pick just one.
Thanks Sonia! You don’t need to pick just one. I have three this year!