We’ve all been there - the start of a new year brings a flurry of resolutions, giant goals, and intentions of transformation. Yet, by mid-February, most of these resolutions have either faded into the background or been abandoned altogether. Why? Because our subconscious mind craves familiarity, predictability, and safety.

The truth is, your mind isn’t wired for drastic overnight change. It prefers small, consistent steps toward something familiar. That’s why choosing a Word of the Year is such a powerful practice.

Unlike rigid resolutions, a Word of the Year acts as a guiding light or North Star - gently nudging you back into alignment throughout the year. It’s less about forcing change and more about embodying an intention.

Why a Word of the Year Works

Our subconscious mind seeks patterns it recognizes. When you choose a word and anchor it into your daily awareness, your brain starts to filter your experiences through that lens. This is known as the reticular activating system (RAS) at work. The RAS filters out unnecessary information and highlights what aligns with your focus. Choosing a guiding word activates this natural process, making you more attuned to opportunities and actions that match your word.

For example, if you choose the word "Growth" for the year, your subconscious will notice opportunities for personal, professional, and even emotional expansion. If your word is "Joy," you'll become more aware of moments that bring lightness and laughter into your life.

The Power of Familiarity

Your subconscious mind wants to feel safe, not overwhelmed by radical shifts. Choosing a single word helps bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. It creates a gentle, familiar anchor that you can return to over and over. Instead of setting yourself up for failure with resolutions that feel like rigid rules, a guiding word offers flexibility. It grows with you, adapts to your life’s twists and turns, and keeps you centered.

How to Choose Your Word

1. Reflect on the Past Year: What did you learn? What themes emerged?

2. Identify Your Intentions: What do you want to feel, embody, or achieve in the coming year?

3. Choose a Word That Resonates: It might be a feeling (like peace, joy, or courage), a focus (like abundance, connection, or balance), or an action (like create, simplify, or thrive).

Once you’ve chosen your word, make it visible. Write it down, create a vision board, or set a daily reminder. The more you see and engage with your word, the more deeply it will embed into your subconscious mind.

A Year of Intentional Living

Forget the pressure of resolutions that demand perfection. Instead, embrace the power of a single word to guide your choices and actions. Your Word of the Year becomes your compass, leading you back to your intention when life gets busy or chaotic.

By aligning your subconscious mind with a familiar and empowering theme, you’ll find yourself making meaningful progress — not through force, but through flow. That’s the real magic of choosing your word: it taps into your innate desire for safety, familiarity, and growth, all while guiding you toward your highest potential.

This year, ditch the resolutions and choose a word instead. You’ll be amazed at how one simple word can shape your entire year.

My Word of the Year Year

My word for 2025 is Steadfast.

Last year, my word was Responsibility.

I figured this meant 2024 would be a year of developing new levels of discipline, paying off debt, etc. All of which I did - however, I ended the year realizing the greatest Responsibility I have is to myself.

To myself, to my purpose, to embody & utilize my gifts to create meaningful impact for myself & others.

For this reason, Steadfast is my word for 2025.

What’s yours?