Your 2023 Word of the Year

There’s a new twist to the age-old tradition of declaring new year’s resolutions that has burst onto the scene in the past few years — a word of the year. 

When New Year’s rolls around, it seems like everyone is choosing and sharing their word of the year on social media that represents the values they want to guide them over the next 12 months. 

Have you chosen a word of the year for 2023?

Different from a resolution, your word of the year acts as an anchor to what you want to create in your life. It is the theme you select that will set the tone for your year. It’s a desired feeling you hope to experience. 

I like the flexibility of a word of the year because it can influence many areas of your life and business. I have been choosing a word of the year since 2015. Some of my previous words have been connect, impact, space, surrender, and ease. 

This year, I’ve decided that my word is BELIEF.

“You can do a thing only if you have the belief that it can be done.” -ANONYMOUS

What does BELIEF mean to me? In 2023, I want to strengthen my trust and belief in myself, my business, my vision and the journey. I want to feel confidence and relinquish control. (Yes, I admit I can be a bit of a control freak!)

I want to feel an effortless sense of security instead of the need to overdo, overanalyze, overplan and overwhelm myself. 

I want to let go more and lean into my inner power. 

I want to loosen my grip, reduce my stress, remove my doubts and just believe that amazing things and lessons await me. 

I want that feeling that I am in the right place at the right time with no need to rush into the desired results. 

Can anyone else relate to this? 

As an entrepreneur and a mom of three, I tend to obsess about everything and try to plan out every scenario. I want to make a change in my outlook and really bolster my sense of belief. Maybe it’s turning 50 and wanting to go with the flow more…but I am looking forward to 2023 with more trust and inner belief. 

Choosing Your Word of the Year — The Process

There are many different ways to choose a word of the year that supports your goals, but this is the exercise I use:

1. Reflect. Think about what occurred over the past year and write down your accomplishments, your favorite moments, your collaborations, and the challenges you’ve faced. 

   What worked well? What did you struggle with? Do a massive brain dump recapping your year, including the highs and the lows.

2. Feelings. Think about how you want your life and business to feel. Stop, quiet your mind and really think about the emotion and feeling that you want to have for yourself.

   How do you want to wake up everyday? What do you want more in life? What do you want less of? Ask yourself what you need to feel fulfilled and successful.

3. Dream. Think about your goals and aspirations. Paint the picture in your mind and jot down a few words on what and who you will be in the future.

   What do you hope to achieve? Where do you want to go with your business? 

4. Brainstorm. Now that you have the prep work done, see if there are any common threads or patterns. Write words down that describe the reflections, feelings and dreams you recorded in the above steps. Add to that list any other words that jump out to you. Don’t over edit or overthink in this step, just freely write and allow yourself to be open. 

5. Patience. From your list, pick 3-4 words that really resonate and make you feel something. Personally, I like to sit with my options for a few days and think about them ALOT. I even write the words I am considering down on index cards and stick them on my computer screen. Over time, my word just comes to me. It starts to make sense and feel right. 

6. Declare. Once you have selected your word, share it! Declare it to your audience, friends and family. Let it be known so it can open the door to having some impact in your life. Even me, a non-woo gal, believes in this process — The more you say things out loud and to your world, the more it will create the change you are asking for.

The key in selecting a word of the year is to give yourself permission to dream without restraint and let your spark reveal itself. There is no right or wrong way to do this!

I hope my process helps you select your word of the year!  I would love for you to share with me your word for 2023 in my Facebook group, The Brand Power Hour. Share your word for 2023 in the group and hear other entrepreneurs’ words as well!

If selecting a word of the year for 2023 is a struggle because you are lacking clarity on your brand vision, I can help. Join me for my FREE Brand Power Hour: Step Into Your Brand Vision on Jan 12, 2023 at 11 AM EST. 

During this FREE virtual event, I’ll help you design the business of your dreams by creating a brand vision statement that will lead your brand into the future. Register HERE to become the best version of you in 2023!