6 Questions To Ask Yourself To Find Your 1 Word

We are coming quickly to the end of January-how did that even happen???
If we did make New Years resolutions, (I didn’t) chances are they are they already have been thrown out the window.
BUT wait—There’s more!!
​ If you haven’t chosen a word of the year (WOTY) it’s not too late!
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​You may be asking, where do I begin?
There’s really not one right way to pick a word—Here are some of the things that we have found helpful in choosing our words over the years.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What is it you want as you think about this year?
• How to you want to BE? Rather than focusing on what you want do-- think about how you want to be. As we focus on the ‘being’, the doing will follow. Take losing weight for example… rather than focusing on the weight you want to lose, ask yourself “how would you be ‘being’ if this were happening?” Maybe it’s confident, secure or about being well.  ​  

​1. Envision yourself at the end of the year looking back. You review your year and see yourself living intentionally in alignment with your values and best self. How were you being last year? Who was around you? How were you living life? What activities were you involved in as you look back at 2018?


2. For me (Sue) as I begin to ponder my word, I pray. I get quiet. I listen. I ask questions. I write down my impressions, even if I’m not always sure if they are from me or from God. I first write without editing or evaluating. I evaluate later.


3. Lynn often picks words that scare or challenge her—words like ‘surrender’ or ‘beloved’, because she knows it will stretch her and take her out of her comfort zone. Throughout the year she began to explore and embody what it looked like to live from these postures.


4. Dictionaries help—As I narrow down my word, I look them in various dictionaries. The definitions give ‘flavor’ and intentionality to a word. It helps us expand and embrace what it might mean for us.


5. Talk about possibilities with someone. As you are narrowing down your choice of a word. Talk about it with people you trust – bounce it off them. Get their feedback. Sometimes just talking out loud helps narrow down your choice.


6. Sit with it for a while. I try on words like outfits. Does it fit? Is it comfortable? Sometimes this takes time and it can be helpful to let them marinate inside your heart. This year my word is dance. It’s a much different type of word for me. It involves worship, following the Spirit’s leading. It involves different moods, rhythms, cultures and styles for various situations. It involves celebration. It’s been a perfect word for me this year, but it helped to ‘sit’ with it in order to know it was the right fit.
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Choose one word.
For those of us who struggle with indecisiveness, this can be difficult. But I’d encourage you to take the plunge… even I you don’t feel ready.
The first year I chose a word… I wasn’t fully sure it was the best one for me. But it got me started. It’s been said that It’s easier to steer a moving ship than one that is not moving!

​​We can always make course corrections along the way.
So-- jump in with us and play for a bit.
Choose a WOTY!