The PowerSheets Facebook Group is a wonderful place for inspiration and encouragement as you dig into your PowerSheets goal planner. It also helps Team Cultivate keep tabs on what's trending in this community: what are you loving? Where are you struggling? What requests have been upvoted, and what questions are being asked over and over?
One of those repeated questions that pops up like clockwork towards the end of the year? How to choose a word of the year. It can feel like an important—and therefore stressful and anxiety-producing—decision, but it doesn't have to be! Because many of us feel the pressure to choose the “perfect” word for our year, today we're offering a pep talk and some advice for anyone feeling paralyzed by their choice of word of the year.
Remind yourself that you don’t have to be perfect.
It doesn't have to be perfect! The PowerSheets® process is not about doing everything perfectly; it’s about discovering the right goals for you in this season. The same is true for your word of the year! If you start to feel overwhelmed, remind yourself that this isn’t traditional goal-setting. This is grace-filled goal-setting, and there is plenty of room for you to get messy and change your mind as you go.
Read through your Prep Work with a fresh set of eyes.
As you consider your word of the year, go back to page one of your PowerSheets (yes, page one!) and start from the beginning. Grab a highlighter or colored pencil and start circling or underlining any themes that you see. When you look at all you’ve written so far, what word rises to the top?
Ask yourself: what one word most resonates with you for the year ahead, pulling together all that you want to make happen?
Brain dump.
You know we love a brain dump! Once you’ve read through your Prep Work again, find an empty page in your PowerSheets and start brainstorming a list of words you think could work, even if they aren’t exactly right. Writing everything down in the same place will get your ideas on paper and give you a chance to see them all together.
Open a dictionary and thesaurus.
Take your brainstorm list and use an old-fashioned dictionary/thesaurus to start researching your words. Look at the definition of each word, its origin, and synonyms and antonyms. You may be amazed at what you discover!
Choose a word (or a few!).
Don’t box yourself into only choosing one word if multiple words or a phrase resonate with you. There is no magic rule that says you can only have one! Many gals have chosen pairs of words or short phrases over the years, so do what feels best to you.
Write your word down.
Whether it’s written on the Word of the Year card included with your goal planner or a post-it note, write it down and stick it somewhere. It can go on your desk, on your bathroom mirror, or in your car—just make sure it's somewhere you'll see it daily, offering a reminder of what you're focusing on for the next season.
Give yourself permission to change your mind.
One of the best things about the PowerSheets process is the built-in opportunities for reflection and redirection every three months. In each Quarterly Goal Refresh, you'll have a chance to choose a new word or phrase to focus on for the next three months. (Of course, you don’t have to wait three months to change your mind, if needed—grab a post-it note or an old-fashioned bottle of white-out and add your new word over the old one! Progress, not perfection, friends!)
Have you chosen your word for the year ahead? If so, leave it in the comments and let us know! We can’t wait to see what you’re focusing on in this next season!
P.S. Need some ideas? This list of 90+ word of the year ideas might help!
Emily Thomas
It’s hard to focus when your brain is cluttered—but a fruitful, purposeful life requires it. The Refresh Brain Dump Journal (now in Periwinkle!) helps you capture, sort, organize, and take action on what matters most to you.
Create a life you love—and live it out each week— with the Fresh Start Goal Planner. With powerful goal-setting pages plus space for your calendar and tasks, you can dream big, plan well, and take action!
1 comment
This year, my word of the year is “advocacy.” I am dedicated to advocating for my children. Despite residing in one of California’s most picturesque tourist destinations, our city lacks adequate resources for children’s well-being. This includes recreational activities, educational programs, and healthcare professionals specializing in special needs. As a parent of a child with special needs, we must travel over an hour to access necessary therapies and behavioral health services. Becoming a mother has transformed my life, and since six years ago, I have made it my unwavering mission to advocate for my children’s needs and aspirations. I am resolute in ensuring that no obstacles hinder their progress or prevent them from receiving the care and opportunities they rightfully deserve in life.