Choosing My Word for 2025

A few years ago, my sister suggested the idea of choosing a "word of the year." I was intrigued, and since 2021, I’ve been doing it consistently. The concept is simple yet profound: you select a single word that encapsulates your hopes, goals, or energy for the year ahead. This word can be whimsical and fun or deeply meaningful and used as a guideline for daily journaling. It’s entirely up to you! Before diving into my thought process for this year’s word, let me share the journey of my past words.

2021: Easy

In 2020, I enrolled in relationship coaching and received some surprising feedback: my mindset was too negative. My coach emphasized, “Words have power,” and pointed out my frequent use of words like “hard,” “challenging,” and “difficult” to describe situations in my life. Her recommendation? Stop viewing life as hard.

Choosing my word for 2021 was a no-brainer: I chose “easy.” Each morning, I reminded myself that life was easy and recorded experiences that felt easy in my journal. Over time, this mindset shift transformed how I viewed challenges, making even familiar struggles feel more manageable.

By the end of the year, the word “easy” had become second nature. Not only did I avoid negative language in my self-talk, but I also found myself encouraging others to view life through a similar lens. This experience set the stage for my next word.

2022: Savour

With life feeling easier, I wanted to deepen my appreciation for the good moments. Reflecting on what brought me joy, I settled on the word “savour.” For 2022, my focus was on being present, appreciating the victories, and prolonging the feelings of delight they brought.

I journaled about moments I savoured—a beautiful sunset, laughter with my children, or a particularly delicious meal. Sometimes, I even wrote the word repeatedly to engrain it in my mind. By the year’s end, I found myself savoring more than just individual moments. I’d cultivated a deep sense of gratitude for the abundance in my life.

2023: Magic

Life was feeling pretty amazing by the end of 2022. So, for 2023, I asked myself: What do I want more of? The answer came quickly: magic.

To my delight, as soon as I embraced “magic,” I began noticing it everywhere. Serendipitous moments seemed to multiply. A song I was thinking about would play on the radio, or travel plans I worried about would align perfectly. Recording these magical moments in my journal made me more attuned to the wonders of everyday life. By focusing on magic, I created space for more of it to flow into my world.

2024: Explode

By the end of 2023, I felt as though I’d been planting seeds in a beautiful garden, patiently tending to them. For 2024, I wanted to see those seeds flourish. The word that came to me was “explode.”

And explode it did! This year brought significant movement in my life. I launched my own business, watched my youngest child graduate and head off to college, traveled to new places, and pushed myself beyond my comfort zone. It was a year of explosive growth, filled with milestones that made me proud and excited for the future.

2025: Align

As I reflect on the past few years, 2025 feels like a time to integrate all the progress I’ve made. My word for this year is “align.” To me, alignment means living authentically, flowing naturally with life, and remaining grounded. It’s about noticing when my goals, values, and actions are in harmony and fostering synchronicity between my inner peace and outer achievements.

This year, I look forward to exploring what alignment feels like in different areas of my life. I’ll use my journal to capture moments of alignment and reflect on how it shapes my journey. I’m excited to see how this word steers my ship and what it teaches me about myself.

What’s Your Word?

Have you ever chosen a word of the year? If not, why not start now? Reflect on what matters most to you and let a single word guide your journey. Whether it’s a word that inspires you, challenges you, or brings you joy, the act of choosing it can be transformative. Here’s to a year of growth, discovery, and alignment—for all of us!