UPDATE: If you’d like a little help to choose YOUR Inspired Word of the Year, check out the How to Choose an Inspired Word of the Year Mini Course.
I’ve included a step-by-step exercise to help you choose your Inspired Word of the Year so you can enjoy the benefits I just described.
Tap HERE to get started!
Ya’ know, I think the week between Christmas and New Years is one of the most delicious times of the year, a little break from our routine and space to reflect on our lives. One of my favorite activities during this time is choosing a word of the year — a kind of theme word to help me set my goals and intentions for the upcoming twelve months. (But you can choose a Word anytime during the year.)
I first heard about choosing a Word of the Year in 2012 when a read a blog post about it.
There are many ways that people choose a word, but I have a specific process that I use which includes prayer because I’ve found that when I invite God into the process, amazing things happen. It turns out that my Inspired Word of the Year is usually a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy because it gives me a positive focus as well as a framework to guide me in my decision making.
Let me give you a few highlights of how choosing a theme word has transformed my life.
How Choosing a Word of the Year Has Transformed My Life
I Challenge Myself More
My Inspired Word of the Year for 2013 was “more“, so I decided to make a list of all the things that I wanted more of in my life. Creating that list was the catalyst for me to start stretching myself to do more and be more.
As a result, 2013 was definitely a year of “more” in almost every area of my life. I developed deeper relationships with my family and friends, became healthier, and expanded my reach and influence in my business. I even increased our income.
I Live More Intentionally
At the end of 2013 I felt that my Inspired Word of the Year for 2014 should be “align” which means to “line up” or “put in order”. I realized that with all of the success and activity of the previous year, I had actually allowed several of my life priorities to fall to the bottom of the to-do list.
I spent the next year focusing on re-aligning our family’s actions with our true values. We eliminated many of our activities and simplified many aspects of our life.
I’m More Hopeful
Taking time to re-align my life with my true priorities set me up for my 2015 Inspired Word of the Year which was “fruitful”.
And 2015 was one of our most fruitful years ever. We enjoyed more unity, fun and connection in our marriage and family than ever before, and after ten years of renting following a foreclosure and bankruptcy, we were able to purchase a new-to-us home with more space, a better location, a much lower monthly payment and no down payment.
We were also given a new-to-us vehicle, and after that car was totaled by a hit-and-run driver, we were able to purchase a second used vehicle. My three teens who were working all received raises and bonuses, and two of them were able to purchase reliable used cars for cash. I created nine new products for my business which brought increased income to our family, and I met all but one of the goals that I set for 2015.
As a result of all that happened that year, I continue to have higher expectations and hopes for every area of my life.
I Feel More Alive Than Ever
My word for 2016 was “vibrant” which means “full of energy and enthusiasm”. While 2016 had more than its share of challenges, it was definitely a time of me becoming more vibrant and alive than ever before.
God has used many events and circumstances this year to reveal how spiritually and emotionally numb I was, including a road trip with my 18 year old daughter and a family crisis which revealed areas of our family relationships that needed to be healed. As the weeks have passed, I have moved much closer to a life that energizes me and fills me with crazy enthusiasm.
One of the best blessings of 2016 was a surprise…
when my son gave us this sweet little fella.
We haven’t had a pet since 1999 when we took in a rescued dog who started attacking our children. I said that I never wanted to own a pet again, but God had other plans. Benji has brought so much joy and life to us this year, and I can’t imagine life without him now. (You can follow along with Benji’s adventures by following me HERE on Instagram or following the hashtag #BenjiBooPup).
My 2017 Inspired Word of the Year
After such a challenging year, I felt that my word for 2017 should be “rest”, but God had an even better idea. As I prayed, I felt that the word for this year is “restore“, and God gave me a verse as a promise:
“God, your God, will restore everything you lost;
he’ll have compassion on you;
he’ll come back and pick up the pieces
from all the places where you were scattered.”
–Deuteronomy 30:3 (The Message)
These words have a very specific and personal meaning to me, and I can’t wait to see how God restores parts of me that have been lost or broken.
If you’d like a little help to choose YOUR Inspired Word of the Year, check out the How to Choose an Inspired Word of the Year Mini Course.
I’ve included a step-by-step exercise to help you choose your Inspired Word of the Year so you can enjoy the benefits I just described.
Tap HERE to get started!
If you choose a Word of the Year, let me know what it is in the comments.
Let’s Have an AWESOME New Year!
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My word for 2018 is abundance- & I love the spread from your book on the 2018 Goals page with abundance across the center!
That’s a good word Haylee! 🙂
Thanks for sharing more about this…. it is a new concept to me. I also just came across this link by Dayspring and the results were the same word for both my husband and me. Though it was a word on my listof options, I’m not sure yet what I’ll settle on. 🙂
https://www.dayspring.com/yourwordquiz#/home
That’s so neat that you and your husband got the same word Christine. 🙂
I’ve never chosen a word of the year before but I have noticed over the last couple of years that for a period of time there is one thing God wants me to focus on, which basically boils down to one word (the words I can remember are “trust” and “contentment”). This year, since I have a new word, and it’s a new year, I figured, “why not?” 🙂
My word is FOCUS. I’m pretty sure that will keep me busy all year.
That’s neat that God was speaking to you about it before you even “knew” about the one word idea. Love your word and I pray that you will have a strong focus all year! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
I am hoping after I get paid I can afford to join. I have to double check my budget and with my fiancé to make sure he doesn’t mind.
But I have chosen a word of the year which is “Reclaim” I am working this year to get past all that happened long ago and to become a better person. To become one who does trust those close to her
Hi Gen – If you get paid after enrollment closes, just click the contact tab at the top of the site and let me know. I will work with you.
I really, really like your word of the year and I am excited for you to reclaim everything that is rightfully yours. 🙂
Kimberlee, I chose two words, and both were words you have used and are using. I chose align and restore. And as I was working on how they would be used in my life, this statement came to me: This year I will align my thoughts, actions, plans and goals with God’s purpose for my life, that I may be able to restore what I have allowed to become broken inside of me. No other words spoke to my heart the way that these words spoke to me. I know it may sound silly to some, but instantly I felt a peace I have not felt in quite a while. I am looking forward to the great things that will come this year. Thank you for your wonderful advice, and encouragement.
SOOOOOO Awesome Heide! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I feel so encouraged for you!
My word for 2017 is “persevere” and my theme for the year is “finish the work.” Scripture verses that brought me to choose this way are:
James 1:4 — “Let perseverance finish its work in you, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
2 Corinthians 8:11 — “Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.”
I have a number of projects that I keep putting off doing because I am a huge procrastinator, so I am hopeful that, through perseverance and having the goal of finishing, I will be able to make progress in completing those projects and moving forward.
Excellent Margaret! I actually kept painting the color orange in my art journal a couple of years ago when
I was going through a difficult time. I decided to look up the meaning and discovered that it symbolized “perseverance”.
Hi, Kimberlee! I just downloaded and read through the 2017 planner. I’m really excited about it! I’m about to go print it while my husband watches the kids. Yay! I think my word for 2017 will be DILIGENCE. 🙂 I have been reading your blog for 5 years and I really appreciate your honesty, boundaries, and your devotion to Christ. Thanks for your encouragement!
Hi Suzanne! Thank you so much for hanging out with me for so long. 🙂 I am so glad that you are excited to use the planner and I love your word for this year! I hope you have a marvelous 2017!
I read your post and then my devotional for the day also told me to pick a word after praying about it. The word that came to me in my bible reading was the word “strength’.
Strength to say yes to what is important
Strength to put myself and family first
Strength to turn to God first to ease anxiety
Strength to save not spend
Strength to focus on healthy foods and water
LOVE IT! This is awesome Emilie!
Picking a Word of the Year is very powerful. I tend to pick words that only mean something to me (not others) like Harvest and Anchor. 🙂
Yes! That is absolutely the best way to choose a word of the year. Thanks for taking the time to comment Rebecca!
Hi Kimberlee!
I am so excited to be a part of this, I have seen many blog posts on it, I just have never felt motivated enough to pick a word. That is until I read your post today, and a word popped into my head. My word for this year is MOTIVATION!!!
2016 was a horrible year for my family and I let so much slide, but I have had no motivation to do anything, until now. For 2017, I am going seek motivation, big or small, everyday!
God Bless,
Susan
I LOVE this Susan! So awesome! I pray that 2017 is full of motivation for you. 🙂
I loved reading your past words. Last year was the first year I did a word of the year. It was “balance,” but a new perspective during the course of the year changed that and I never got a word to replace it. God’s thoughts are often so different than our own!This year, I believe my word will be “new.” I am determined to get on track with losing some weight and getting healthy. I have a NEW study group I am joining on the Made to Crave book that will help with that .I have started a NEW business with essential oils and am excited to see where God takes it in the new year. After 2 years of being single since my husband’s passing, I am preparing my heart for some NEW dating experiences. So needless to say, I have a good feeling about 2017!
I cannot find where to access this month’s freebie, and I’d love to make it part of my annual end of year reflections. Would you mind pointing me in the right direction? Thanks and Happy New Year!
I LOVE that word Heather! It sounds like you are going to have a fun and amazing 2017. 🙂
The freebies are linked at the bottom of your Peaceful Mom emails. If you can tell me which list you are subscribed to I can send you the link to the freebie for that list.
Thanks!