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If you could sum up everything that moves you…everything you want to achieve….everything that you want to be for 2018 in One Word, what would that word be?

In 2014, I (Becky) noticed many of my online friends picking their “Word” for the upcoming New Year. At first I was puzzled by this whole concept, but then I saw the infinite power and usefulness of this practice.  My first-ever Word in 2014 was Wellspring.

Years later, I am hooked and I look forward with huge anticipation to picking my Word every time the calendar flips to a new year.

At first, I felt a little like the Lone Ranger since so few of my immediate circle of offline friends were familiar with the One Word practice. Imagine my giddiness when I found out that fellow UpNoPa mom, Laura, was a “One Worder” too!

Just one more of the many things this amazing woman and I have in common. 🙂

What is the One Word Movement, and Why is it Important?

Your “Word” is the one word you pick to sum up what you want to accomplish or achieve in the upcoming or existing New Year.

You pick just one word to inspire and guide you all year.

Instead of creating endless goals and resolutions, people can pick the One Word that will fuel everything they do and strive for that year.  Some people even forego making written goals or wish lists and just let their word guide them.

We love this idea. Simple, powerful and to-the-point.

At its core, the premise of the One Word Movement is this; picking a simple word creates clarity, power, passion and life-change. The simple power of One Word is that it impacts all six dimensions of your life – mental, physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, and financial. Simply put, One Word sticks. There is a word meant for you and when you find it, live it, and share it, your life will become more rewarding and exciting than ever. {excerpt from GetOneWord.com}

Becky’s One Word for 2018

My (Becky’s) words have really run the gamut over the years but one thing I know for sure; they all meant something to ME even if they meant nothing to others.

Some of my words included deeply motivating/comforting words like “Harvest” and “Anchor.” And then there were more obviously inspiring ones like “Re-focus” and “Fierce.”

This year, my Word is Intentional. When I looked up that definition I saw this: done on purpose; deliberate, calculated, conscious, intended, planned, meant, studied, knowing, willful, purposeful.

THIS is how I want to be in all facets of my life in 2018.

Instead of always being in a mad rush, making decisions on the fly or feeling like I need to “get through” things…I want to slow it down, breathe and make intentional decisions. No more fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants this year. Nope. Just Nope. I am excited….and also feeling a little challenged!

Laura’s One Word for 2018

Just like Becky, I (Laura) have participated in the One Word Movement for a several years. It’s always fun to look back and see how the words I’ve chosen have ended up influencing that year; something that’s often only possible to see in hindsight.

A few years ago, I too chose Intentional as my guiding word. It continues to be one of my all-time favorite words and life-concepts, along with “being present,” and is something I continue to incorporate into my daily life even now.

Another year, I chose the word Trust, and it ended up being the perfect mantra for a health struggle I endured for months.

The year I gave birth to my firstborn son, my word was Surrender. I was anxious about the change coming to my life and our family, and I was anxious about the labor and delivery process. Surrender was a fitting word for me as I turned the experience over to God to handle and guide me through.

This year, my word is Savor.

I’m in the thick of motherhood right now, raising a toddler while trying to devote time and energy to two side businesses at the same time. Not to mention spend time with my family and friends, and nourish my marriage.

I’m a driven, type-A person by nature, and I love goal-setting and accomplishing those goals. But often, that same drive gives me a sense of never being completely content, and my mind is often someplace else, working on the next thing or worrying about something else.

I am face to face right now with how fast my son’s childhood is passing by. He is no longer a baby, and is growing into a kid with each passing day. He tests my patience daily, but man do I love him and it is the most bittersweet thing to watch him grow and change.

So my goal this year, my One Word, is Savor.

I want to savor this crazy phase of life I’m in right now. I want to slow down and pay attention; I want to savor Raleigh and his toddlerhood. I want to savor my home, and the memories we are making inside it. I want to savor my marriage (we celebrated 10 years of marriage last month!) and I want to savor having my WHOLE FAMILY living in the same city finally since my sister and her husband moved back with their two daughters last summer.

I’m fully aware THESE are the “good ol’ days” I’ll be talking about for the rest of my life, and I want to very consciously savor them this year.

So for me, in this place in my life, Savor is the perfect One Word for me this year.

Things to Keep in Mind When Picking your One Word:

Don’t force it. This may seem like a daunting task, but we promise your Word will come to you when it’s supposed to. The harder you wrack your brain for the perfect word, the more frustrated you will become. Just chill and pay attention; your Word will pop up and you will know it’s “the one.”

Your Word is not engraved in stone. People evolve, grow and change as the months pass and what may have been a strong and inspiring Word for you in January may not apply to where you are in life in June. It is perfectly OK to ditch a Word that you’ve outgrown and pick a new one that serves you better for the rest of the year.

Be open-minded. It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your one word will shape not only your year, but also you. It will become the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps. Trust us and give it a try…what can it hurt?

Make it tangible. One thing Laura and I both try to do with our word is make it tangible.

By that, we mean take it offline and create something that is a reminder that can be hung on the wall or worn on your body. This can be as simple and quick as taking a note card or sticky note and writing your Word on it to hang on your office wall, creating a piece of jewelry that has your Word on it (or have Deb Hess make you one!) or even create a beautiful decor piece for your home with your Word on it.

Lucky for us, one of our wonderfully talented mom friends is Maren LaVoie from Frugal Farmhouse, and she has an upcoming DIY Farmhouse Chic One Word Sign class that we think would be perfect for bringing your Word offline and into your every day life. Go here for her class times and details.

Stuck? Check Out These One Word Resources

There a many online resources that explain the power of One Word, and can also help you pick your Word.

Here are a few: