It's a new year - so let's find your word of the year!
You may be wondering: why choose a word of the year?
Well, for one thing, a word of the year can help you make decisions all year and stay on track - it can help you when your new year's resolution is loooonnnng gone. Your word is your compass for the year!
Ok, let’s find your word of the year! Grab a piece of paper and let's dive in:
1. Start by picking a word or words for the year.
Don't worry too much about picking the right one - just pick one that feels right to you. We'll dive deeper, but for now, choose a word that makes you feel good, inspires, or excites you - something you can be proud of at the end of the year!
2. Let's find out who you need to BE to achieve this.
Start by determining if your word's an adjective or a verb?
• If it's an adjective ( describing you and a way of being) - what action would you need to take to make that happen?
• If it's a verb (describing how you would act) who would you need to be to make sure it happens?
Example: get into shape (verb) --> you might choose health-conscious or active (adjective)
Example: happy is my word (adjective) --> you might decide that would look like spending alone time or playing music (verb)
Why does this matter?
In order to take any action or start a new habit, you must understand who you are being first, because who you are being drives your thoughts which then drives your actions.
The model is: Be -> Do -> Have
You are being someone - in order to do, take an action - then you receive or have (it is not Have -> Do -> Be as some think. )
So, if you can understand how a person would think and feel to take any action then you can begin to understand how you'll need to think and feel also in order to take that action too.
You’ll begin to understand who you have to BE and become to achieve this!
(Success leaves clues.)
3. Gain a better understanding by stepping into someone else's shoes.
You can create a clearer picture and have a better understanding of who you need to become by stepping into someone else's shoes for a minute.
• What would they think?
• How would they feel?
• What would they believe?
Step into the life of someone you admire and write down what you think their answers would be. Just let it flow!
4. Let’s make sure that if you have a goal for the year it aligns with your word.
(if your goal is your word - you can skip this)
- What is your goal for the year?
- Who would you need to BE to achieve that goal?
- What would you need to DO to achieve that goal?
- Why is this important to you?
- Does your word support your goal?
(You don't want your goal and word of the year to be in conflict. They must feed into one another.)
5. Let's finish this up and choose your word of the year:
A. What is your word for the year so far?
B. Who would you need to BE?
Write your top three down and circle the most important for you.
C. What would you need to DO?
Write your top three down and circle the most important for you.
Let’s turn this into one sentence:
I am a ______A_______ person who ______B_______ and _______C________.
6. From this sentence choose your word(s) that resonate with you the most.
This exercise helps you explore your word for the year and home in on it. You may decide to keep your original word, add a word, or you may have found a new word that resonates even more for you.
- For example, if you had chosen the word Giving - you may end up with Be of Service.
- Or if you started with Get in shape you may decide that Health-conscious is better for you because it helps you to be the person who will exercise and eat healthy.
The idea is to find the word that resonates with you the most so when you think of it throughout the year it automatically aligns you to what you want to achieve!