Peace of Mind Organizing

What's your Word of the Year?

3 January 2022

Each year since 2013 I have come up with a Word of the Year to guide my year. I keep a list of them in Evernote. Here’s the list:

2013: growth
2014: innovation
2015: recognition
2016: balance
2017: fearless
2018: connection
2019: expertise, processes, health
2020: intention
2021: ease

This year I added my tenth Word of the Year. It is generosity. I came up with it when I was behind the wheel of my car, cursing another driver for a minor infraction. I realized I would benefit (really, we all would benefit) from a more generous spirit toward others and myself.

That was in December and the word has come to mind many times since then. My hope that is in 2022 I will embody generosity in thoughts and actions.

Why do I take the time and effort to come with a Word of the Year? (It’s not usually as easy to come up with one as it was this year.) A Word of the Year serves as a filter through which I make decisions throughout the year. It helps keep me on track. It’s my North Star.

Most years, I try to come up with some sort of reminder of my word to keep it top of mind. Last year, I bought a necklace from My Intent that was a metal circle pendant with the word EASE stamped on it. This year I haven’t yet come up with a great reminder, but I am posting on my bulletin board the Post-It® note on which I wrote my word for the top of this blog post.

If you don’t yet have a Word of the Year, you might consider coming up with one. I urge you to stick to a single word. In 2019 when I had three words, the whole exercise really lost its power. I couldn’t remember them! If you’d like a little help in coming up with yours, check out Christine Kane’s Word-of-the-Year Discovery Tool. I’ve used it many times to come up with my word.

The Word of the Year can be a powerful tool and it is fun to look back and see what your focus was in years gone by!

Tagged with: goals, planning, resolutions

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