What if this was the year where everything changed? The year where the uncertainty became incredible real, and the raw emotions released freedom, and the tension and stress of all the pressure we put on ourselves daily, turned to joy! What if this was the year where those things were possible? The year where we stopped doubting and took action in faith. The year where we truly wondered what if? What could be? Sharing with you my word of the year in hopes to inspire and encourage you to make this word, your word too! Bringing you the ONLY word of the year you need this year.

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An Honest Reflection on the Start of the New Year

It can be easy to be full of so much optimism and hope at the beginning of a new year. Hope that this year is going to be great. While, I love sharing positive and encouraging inspiration and have complete guides on simple ways to make 2023 your best year yet and how to make 2023 your year, sometimes a new year can begin and leave you feeling stuck in a complete tailspin. And truthfully, that is okay. It is absolutely okay to feel like the rest of the world is moving by so quickly around you and you feel stuck. That is absolutely okay.

I am so excited to share with you my word of the year for 2023 and why I believe this word can also be a great word of the year for you to embrace as well. But, before we dive into my word of the year, I think a pep talk is in order. A moment for real and raw encouragement, from my anxious heart to yours. 

A Pep Talk for the Beginning of the Year

If you are finding yourself feeling overwhelmed, and surrounded by all the things and the big emotions and hard feelings, that is okay. If the year has begun and you suddenly feel worlds away from all of your positive thoughts, and feelings, and intentions of the new you for the new year, please know, that is absolutely okay. It is okay to take a moment to step back and to reflect and to figure out what are the things you need in this current moment. 

What are the things you are dealing with? Are there changes? A transition? What kind of stresses are weighing you down? Is there too much pressure or too high of expectations? Are there too many things you are trying to get accomplished? Or are there too many stresses in your life? Have you been prioritizing the right priorities? 

Take a Look Back Before Moving Forward 

Take a look back at the previous week and think through the moments where you were the most stressed and figure out what caused that? Did you have moments of hope and joy? Great, what resulted in feeling that way. Take a personal inventory to figure out what are the things you need to work on. Use right now, this very moment, as an opportunity to hit refresh and restart on your intentions of what you hope to accomplish. To take note of what didn’t go well and the areas that caused incredible stress and anxiety. 

Pause and take a moment to figure out what is one little change you can make to pivot your trajectory. Is your expectation perfection? Are you defining your success by the success of others? Instead, let success be defined based on what is in your heart. Based on the things you feel in the inside. Based on your hopes and dreams of what you truly want to accomplish because of you and who you want to be. If you are already feeling defeated in 2023, that is okay. In fact, great! Take a look at what is causing you to feel that way and instead move forward with grit and grace. Embrace your imperfections as you move forward and declare your truth based on who you know you are called to be. 

Your Word of the Year 

If you have been feeling this way and feeling a little frustrated, a little discouraged. Have no fear. It is okay. Don’t worry. It is okay. Your year is still here! You are still capable of great and amazing things. Don’t let society win, don’t let the world win! Don’t let everyone else win! It’s okay if you have moments where you don’t feel secure in who you are. Focus on you and the things you need in this very moment to be your best self and to thrive as that person!

It is through this feeling of uncertainty and unsteadiness that I bring to you this message and share with you my word of the year. In hopes to give you a little grounding and purpose in your life. I truly hope that my word of the year can resonate with you and give you encouragement in order to inspire you to go after the things you want and to stand in faith. All to take action in faith and move in the direction of the dreams you hope to accomplish. 

The Only Word of the Year You Need

Usually at the start of a new year, I like to choose a word of the year. Something that I think about, pray about. A word that I feel has been highlighted within my heart to focus on for the year. While, some people love picking out a word of the year, others can easily feel overwhelmed by the task. Too much can be emphasized about hearing your word of the year in the right way.

Instead, this is a word that I felt like was placed in my heart. And the more I thought about this one particular word for the year of 2023, the more I did NOT want this to be my word. Is this it? The word I feel in my heart, is it really it? Is it good enough?  Or powerful enough? Can this word speak the life it needs to speak over my hearts and dreams this year?

Wonder – the Word of the Year 

My word of the year for 2023, is WONDER. So of course I looked it up. I truly love understanding and learning the meaning of words. After I stopped fighting with myself on it of course. But once I had fully determined that this was going to be my word of the year, my own personal anthem as you can say.

The Meaning of the Word – Wonder

Next, I looked up the definition of wonder. Wonder is both a noun and a verb. As a noun wonder is a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. While as a verb, wonder is the desire or be curious to know something. Furthermore, wonder can mean to feel doubt. Additionally, as a person of faith, I looked into the spiritual and biblical meaning of the word wonder and the biblical meaning of wonder is all about miracles. 

After looking at all the definitions of the word wonder, I felt pretty confident about this being my word of the year. Which is all so incredibly powerful. When you can look up the definition of the word and apply its meaning to your life. Think through the meaning, put it over your life, allow it to be an armor. Allow it to be an anthem you declare boldly and loudly. 

Why Not Wonder This Year? 

I am sharing with you my word of the year in true hopes to encourage you to also wonder this year. It doesn’t have to be your exact word, but I want to encourage you to wonder what if this year! Let this be the year where you no longer stand still in doubt, but instead take action in faith. To wonder what could be?  Wonder what could actually happen if you took a chance on yourself. If you took a step out of your comfort zone and really see what happens.

Wonder what could happen if you replace the doubt with action? When you stand out from uncertainty and instead, stand in faith. Affirm the things you know to be true. Wonder what your life could be like or what your heart might feel to pursue the very thing your heart is beating for? To wonder what if and to not hold back.  All, to move in faith NOW. To not wait until next year or the year after, but instead to wonder what could be? How could I feel? What exactly would it be like? 

Friend, I want you to wonder this year. Have a sense of curiosity in how you live your life and the very things you dream for. Truly cling to a sense of wonder and hope in pursuit of the what could be. What could actually happen if I eliminated stress? If I take away the things in my life that don’t give joy. To see what could really happen once the negative weights disappear. 

What It Means to Truly Wonder This Year – Applying Your Word of the Year 

For me, using this word in the beginning of 2023, I feel immense freedom. Simply by wondering what could be, has given me immense freedom to dream, to not doubt, to simply be curious and to pursue that curiosity with a passion. To truly wonder what if? In wonder of what could actually be? And to let that sense of wonder to drive me and to be the fuel behind what I am working towards and who I am working for. As well, as all the hopes and dreams, I hope to accomplish. In addition to the person I hope to be. I wonder what she will be like? What she is going to sound like? I cannot wait to meet her. 

And I want you to do the same. To be in a state of wonder. Continue to dream fearlessly. Pursue the things that move your heart. Don’t let fear stop you. Don’t let fear hold you down, instead, simply wonder. What could it be like? As always, my hope is to encourage you and to remind you that you are not alone. Continue to dream and go after the person you want to be.

When the days are hard and the things are heavy, to know that those things are absolutely okay! It is more than okay to give yourself a break, room to breathe. To extend yourself grace, all in order to be the person you need to be in that moment. And as you move through this week, I hope you maintain a sense of curiosity and listen to your heart, and the things you are moved by, and you wonder what could be if I followed them!