How to Choose Your Word of the Year – Inspiration and Guidance for Choosing a Word of the Year

Have you ever considered choosing a word of the year — only to feel unsure where to begin? Some people love the idea immediately, while others feel overwhelmed by the pressure to choose the right word. How can a single word possibly guide a whole year? And what if you choose the wrong one?

Here’s the good news: choosing a word of the year doesn’t have to be complicated, heavy, or perfect. It can be simple, meaningful, and even life-giving. In this post, I’m sharing gentle guidance to help you choose a word that supports the season you’re in — and allows it to serve as a steady anchor as you move into the year ahead.

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How to Choose a Word of the Year That Supports the Season You’re In

If you’re not quite ready to dive headfirst into a brand-new year, I want you to know this: that’s okay.

There’s a lot of pressure at the beginning of the year to be ready — ready to set goals, ready to move forward, ready to have a clear vision. But not everyone feels that way right away, especially after the holidays, when routines were different and rest may have looked unfamiliar. If you feel like you’re still adjusting, you’re not behind. You’re human.

So much of our overwhelm comes from constantly thinking ten steps ahead — trying to anticipate what’s next. Checking all the boxes, and rushing ourselves into productivity before we’ve even begin. And when we do that, burnout can creep in quickly — often before the year has even really begun.

You don’t have to jump straight into ready, set, go. You’re allowed to ease into this season slowly. You’re allowed to take the time you need to adjust, reflect, and settle into the year ahead in a way that feels supportive rather than rushed.

How to Choose Your Word of the Year – The Importance of Words

Words have always held deep meaning for me. My love language is words of affirmation. Furthermore, encouragement through words is the heart of my podcast, The Best Day Podcast. One of my favorite ways to approach a new season — especially a new year — is by choosing a word of the year.

This practice isn’t about perfection or setting unrealistic expectations for yourself. Nor about creating pressure or holding yourself to an impossible standard. Instead, choosing a word of the year offers freedom — a gentle way to create focus and clarity without overwhelm. It becomes something you can return to. A roadmap that helps guide what you want to prioritize and protect.

In this post, I want to share why choosing a word of the year can be such a meaningful practice — and also walk you through five simple, approachable ways to choose one for yourself. If the idea has ever felt overwhelming or intimidating, you’re not alone. These reflections are meant to help you choose a word that feels supportive and aligned, so it can serve as an anchor for the year ahead — whatever your heart is hoping for most.

Why Choosing A Word of the Year Matters 

Before you choose a word of the year, it’s helpful to understand why this practice can be so meaningful in the first place.

I’ve chosen a word of the year for myself for many years now, and what I’ve learned is this: sometimes the word stays the same from one year to the next, and other times it changes completely. There’s no formula. The word isn’t about novelty or perfection — it’s about what you need most in the season you’re in.

Choosing a Word of the Year Serves as a Guidepost

A word of the year can act as a guidepost. It becomes something steady you can return to. An anchor that helps center you when decisions feel overwhelming or when life feels noisy. As you move through the year, your word can gently influence the choices you make, the boundaries you set, and the way you show up in your everyday moments.

We live in a world full of voices, opinions, and distractions. Some of them are helpful and inspiring — and many of them simply aren’t meant for us in this season. When you know your word and understand what you’re focusing on, it becomes easier to stay aligned with what truly matters to you, rather than feeling pulled in every direction.

Stay Focused on Your Specific Calling

Your word helps you stay rooted in your priorities, your dreams, and your life — not someone else’s. It gives you permission to filter out what doesn’t fit and stay focused on what does.

Choosing a word of the year can also deepen your intentionality in everyday life. It invites you to be more present, more mindful, and more aware of how you’re living — not in a perfection-driven way, but in a grounded, meaningful one.

Our culture often encourages us to do everything, be everything, and keep up at all costs. But that way of living isn’t sustainable — and it isn’t what most of us truly need. This can be the year you choose to focus on what you’re called to, knowing that it may look different from what others are doing — and that’s more than okay.

Shift Your Focus Inward

When you shift your focus inward — toward the life you’re living right now — a word of the year can help you show up with clarity and intention. It reminds you to engage fully with the moments in front of you, rather than chasing a version of life shaped by comparison or things beyond your control.

That’s the heart behind choosing a word of the year. And with that foundation in place, let’s talk about how you can choose one that truly supports you.

5 Tips for Choosing Your Word of the Year

To help guide you through this process, I want to share five gentle reflections for choosing your word of the year. These are here to support you — especially if you’re feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or simply want to approach this practice in a more intentional way than you have before. Whether this is your first time choosing a word or something you’ve done for years, these thoughts are meant to help you slow down and choose a word that truly fits the season you’re in.

Step One – Reflect on What Your Heart Needs the Most

Before you choose a word of the year, the first step is simple: pause and reflect. Pause and reflect on what your heart needs the most, this year!

Reflection helps you notice what’s really going on beneath the surface of your life. It gives you clarity. It helps you name what you need. And it keeps you from choosing a word based on pressure, comparison, or what sounds good on paper.

But a quick reminder before you begin: reflection is not the same as self-criticism.

It’s easy to look at different areas of your life and instantly spiral into shame — I’m not doing enough. I should be better. I’m failing here. I get it. I’ve been there too. But the goal of reflection isn’t to judge yourself or pile on guilt. It’s simply to notice what’s working, what feels heavy, and what your heart is craving most right now.

A Gentle Way To Start Choosing Your Word of the Year

Set aside a few quiet minutes this week — in the morning, at the end of the day, or anytime you can find a pocket of stillness — and journal through questions like these:

• What am I most proud of from the past year?
  
• What felt hard or heavy — and why?
  
• What do I wish I had more of in this season?
  
• What am I craving deeply right now?
  
• What keeps coming back to my mind as “if only…”?
  

Sometimes the word you need begins to surface when you name what you’ve been longing for.

You might find yourself drawn to words like:
restoration, clarity, community, hope, boldness, peace, joy, renewal, confidence, presence.

How to Choose A Word of the Year – Reflect By Categories (to make it less overwhelming)

If journaling feels too broad, try reflecting through a few areas of your life — the spaces where you show up every day.

For example:

• You (physical health, emotions, mindset, personal needs)
  
• Relationships (marriage, friendships, family)
  
• Motherhood (the kind of mom you want to be in this season)
  
• Work / calling (your career, purpose, energy)
  
• Home (the environment you’re creating, what feels supportive or chaotic)
  
• Dreams / creativity (the goals on your heart, what you want to pursue)
  

Then, within each category, name one thing that’s going well and one thing that feels hard.

This matters — because it’s easy to only list what isn’t working. But you need to hold both truth and grace: the wins and the struggles.

The Goal Of Reflection

At the end of this step, you’re not trying to come up with the perfect word immediately.

You’re simply gathering honest insight and asking:
What does my heart need most this year?

Because when you start there — when you choose your word from what you actually need — you’ll find that your word becomes more than an idea. It becomes something you can return to again and again as you move through the year ahead.

Step #2 How to Choose A Word of the Year – Dream About The Year Ahead

After reflecting on where you’ve been, the next step is to dream about where you’re going.

This isn’t about pressure or performance. It’s still rooted in what your heart needs most — but now, you’re allowing yourself to look ahead with anticipation and openness. You’re asking yourself: What feels important right now? What do I hope this next year holds?

Take a moment to think about what’s sitting at the forefront of your heart and mind. What desires keep coming back to you? What goals or ideas feel meaningful — not because you think you should want them, but because they genuinely matter to you?

If you enjoy visual practices, you might imagine what would land on a vision board if you created one. But instead of focusing on achievements or outcomes, pay attention to the feelings you’re longing for beneath them.

Create An Environment Perfect For Dreaming

One simple way to support this process is to create an environment that helps you slow down and think clearly. Listening to music — especially instrumental or calming playlists — can help quiet distractions and allow your thoughts to flow more freely. For some, worship music or reflective music can also help create a sense of connection and clarity during this time.

As you dream, give yourself permission to have fun with it.

Close Your Eyes and Visualize

Close your eyes. Visualize yourself in a moment where you feel your best — relaxed, grounded, and at peace. Ask yourself:

• What am I doing in this moment?
  
• Who am I with?
  
• How do I feel?
  
• What feels present — and what feels absent?
  

Often, when we truly sit with these questions, we realize that what we’re longing for isn’t accolades or accomplishments. It’s connection. Presence. Peace. Wholeness. A sense of joy and ease in the life we’re already living.

Imagine A Day Where You Feel Aligned and Content

Let yourself imagine a day where you feel aligned and content. This kind of dreaming helps reveal what your heart is really seeking — and those insights will guide you toward the word you need most.

As you journal, keep your reflection and dreaming connected:

• Step One: Reflect on the Past — the wins, the struggles, what shaped you
  
• Step Two: Dream About the Future — what you hope for, what you desire, what you want to feel
  

With both written down, you’ll begin to see patterns emerge — and those patterns will gently point you toward your word.

Step #3 How to Choose a Word of the Year – Brainstorm a List of Words That Align with Your Reflection and Dreams

Once you’ve reflected on the past and dreamed about the year ahead, the next step is to brainstorm a list of words that align with your reflection and your dreams. Now, if you’re doing this all in one sitting, that’s wonderful. And if you’re returning to it in pieces because life feels full, simply revisit your reflections and dreams before you begin. This step is about letting what’s already there come into focus.

Create a cozy, unhurried environment. Turn on music that helps you think and feel. Grab your favorite journal and pen. Then allow yourself to simply write.

This List Is For You

As you begin, remind yourself of this: this does not need to look pretty. This list is just for you. Your handwriting can be messy. The words don’t need to be in order. Spelling doesn’t matter. Grammar doesn’t matter. There are no rules here.

Sometimes we get stuck trying to make things perfect — the right pen, the right layout, the right kind of word. Let all of that go. This is a place to release control and let the words flow freely from your mind to the page.

Set a gentle boundary to keep pressure from creeping in. You might play one or two songs and allow yourself to write until the music ends. When the song stops, you’re done. This helps you stay present and keeps the process light.

Trust the Process

As you write, trust what comes up — even if it surprises you. A word might feel unfamiliar. It might remind you of a situation, a feeling, or something you’ve been longing for. When you’ve taken the time to reflect and dream, there’s often a deeper purpose behind what rises to the surface.

If your faith is important to you, this can also be a meaningful moment to pray — asking for clarity, wisdom, and insight as you brainstorm. You don’t have to force anything. Simply remain open.

Through This Journaling Activity

By the end of this step, your journal will hold:

• your reflections from the past
  
• your dreams for the year ahead
  
• a scattered, honest list of words
  

It might feel messy — and that’s exactly how it should be. This list is the raw material that will guide you toward the word that fits your season best.

Step #4 – Choose 3 to 5 Words That You Connect With The Most

Now that you’ve created a list of words, it’s time to gently narrow it down.

Look back over your brainstorm and begin to notice which words stand out to you. This is where you get to have a little fun with the process. Grab a highlighter or a different-colored pen and simply mark the words that catch your attention.

If a word immediately resonates, circle it.
If one keeps pulling you back in, underline it.
If a word feels especially meaningful, add a star or note beside it.

The Key to Choosing Your Word of the Year – Don’t Overthink It

The key here is not to overthink.

You’re not analyzing or trying to justify your choices — you’re simply paying attention to what connects with your heart. Let yourself notice which words feel exciting, comforting, or meaningful right now.

And yes, it’s okay if you’re drawn to words simply because they feel beautiful or inspiring. That attraction matters. It often reflects what you desire, what you’re yearning for, or what you hope to cultivate in the year ahead.

Release the rules. There is no “right” word or wrong reason for choosing one. Allow your intuition to lead you. By the end of this step, you should have three to five words that feel especially aligned — words that reflect what you need and what you’re hoping for in this season.

These are the words you’ll carry with you into the final step.

Step #5 – Choose Your Word of the Year

Now it’s time to choose your word. Return to the three to five words you’ve highlighted and notice which one carries the strongest, deepest connection for you. This is where you gently bring everything together.

Revisit your reflections from the past year and the dreams you’ve written for the year ahead. Ask yourself:

• What have I been yearning for the most?
  
• What has felt hardest or most draining?
  
• What do I want to experience more of this year?
  

Often, the word that fits best is the one that meets both your struggles and your hopes — the word that feels like it speaks directly to where you’ve been and where you want to go.

And here’s an important reminder: there are no strict rules here.

If one word stands out clearly, trust that. And if you feel connected to more than one word, that’s okay too. You’re allowed to hold multiple words if they feel supportive for this season. This practice is meant to serve you — not limit you.

Sit With Your Word For A Moment

Once you land on your word (or words), sit with it for a moment. Notice how it feels.

• Does it encourage you?
  
• Does it feel grounding or energizing?
  
• Does it bring a sense of clarity or peace?
  

If it does, you’re likely on the right track.

Give Yourself Permission to Pause

And if you feel unsure, give yourself permission to pause. Step away for a day. Revisit your reflections. Let the word settle — or shift — if it needs to. Choosing a word of the year isn’t a binding decision; it’s a gentle one.

When you’ve chosen your word, begin to weave it into your life in small ways. Write it in your planner. Place it where you’ll see it. Return to it at the start of your week or when you’re making decisions.

Let it become something you carry with you — not as pressure, but as a reminder of how you want to show up and what you want to protect this year.

How to Choose Your Word of the Year In 5 Simple Steps

To bring everything together, here are the five steps we’ve walked through to help you choose your word of the year:

• Step No. One – Reflect on the past year — the wins, the challenges, and what shaped you
  
• Step No. Two – Dream about the year ahead and what your heart is longing for
  
• Step No. Three – Brainstorm a list of words that rise from those reflections and dreams
  
• Step No. Four – Narrow your list to three to five words that feel most aligned
  
• Step No. Five – Choose the word that connects most deeply with your heart and this season of life
  

Once you’ve chosen your word, allow it to move with you — not as pressure or expectation, but as something you carry gently throughout the year.

Important Reminders When Choosing Your Word of the Year

As you begin living with your word of the year, there are a few gentle reminders I want to leave you with — because this practice is meant to support you, not add pressure.

Give Yourself Grace and Freedom

Your word of the year is not meant to fit perfectly into every moment of your life — and that’s okay. Life is layered, unpredictable, and full of seasons, and not everything will align neatly with a single word.

If your word feels deeply meaningful in January and February but life shifts by March, you haven’t failed. You’re allowed to adjust. You’re allowed to change course. This practice is flexible because you are human.

Let Your Word of the Year Serve You As Long As You Need It To

And if you had a word of the year last year that still feels supportive, you don’t need to choose a new one. You can absolutely carry it with you into this year if it still fits. There are no rules that say your word must change simply because the calendar does.

Your word can serve you for a season, a year, or even longer. Personally, I love viewing words of the year as a continuation — like each word builds upon the last, revealing meaning over time in ways that are unique and personal.

Above all, let your word act as a guiding light — something you return to gently, not something you perform or prove.

You Don’t Need a Perfect Start

You don’t need to start the year with everything figured out. Nor do you need a vision board, a perfectly printed word, or a complete list of goals and plans. Furthermore, you don’t need to have your best routines in place or feel fully motivated right away.

You’re allowed to take this year one day at a time. Show up as you are. Learn as you go. Grow at your own pace. Be open to what unfolds, and allow yourself to enjoy the process — even when it feels imperfect or slow.

You are doing a really good job, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.

A Final Encouragement for Choosing A Word of the Year

If you’ve chosen a word of the year, I would truly love to hear it. And if you haven’t yet, that’s okay too — it will come when it’s meant to.

Whatever this year holds, I hope you move through it with intention, grace, and freedom — trusting yourself, honoring your season, and staying present in the life right in front of you.

Looking For More

If choosing a word of the year has stirred up reflection around your energy, expectations, or the pace you’ve been living at, you’re not alone. Many of us step into a new year already feeling tired. If that resonates, I shared a gentle reflection on the blog about avoiding burnout and moving forward with intention — especially when you still care deeply about your goals.