Word of the Year
At the beginning of every new year, I pick a word for the year.
We all know that things don’t change at the stroke of midnight and resolutions made on January 1st will magically happen on their own, but you can find peace in the process of making intentional progress and when you look back one year from today, you will see your incremental progress adds up.
So rather than set a New Year’s resolution or a bunch of goals that I know will not get accomplished, I like to think of one word for the year that can help me remember to stay focused and find peace in the process of whatever I’m working towards.
Behind the scenes in early January at my work at Choco le`a, transitioning from the holiday rush, year-end inventory, goodbye to seasonal help, tax season prep, and executing all new specials can be overwhelming. This is why we take it day by day and try our best to focus on the progress we are making together as a chocolate family rather than the long list of to do’s. Try it. Finding peace in knowing that we are making progress, helps us all.
What will be the word that will guide you through the process? What is one word to remember that will sum up everything you want this upcoming year to be about?
Last year, my word was "discipline" to find peace physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. And 2022 was a year of trying to stay disciplined to the things that I said were important in all areas of my life. Honestly, it was a struggle the first half of the year, but once I faced my fear and kept progressing in faith to stay disciplined to my myself and what I hoped for, things really changed the second half of the year and I proved to myself during the craziest time of the year, Christmas, that I really can take it slow, have peace, and make it the most wonderful time of the year when I trust in God.
This year, my word is "family."
How do I come up with my word? I usually beginning reflecting on my past word in December and analyze how I did and start praying and asking God what my year for the upcoming year will be. I know it’s his word and not mine because in 2020, the word He gave me was “peace.” I was excited thinking early in the year that it meant it was going to be a year full of the peace I imagined, a chill year, but instead it was a year that turned all of our lives upside down and peace was the word I had to find in the midst of it all. In 2020, my word “peace” guided me to find peace beyond chocolates. Peace beyond secure finances. Peace beyond my position and identity in my work. Peace beyond childcare available and being a full-time stay at home mom. Peace beyond everything which led to our book, changes in work and parenting, changes in my thinking and heart, and ultimately, finding THE PEACE that only God can provide. After all, God is our Prince of Peace.
My 2023 word "family" came easily this year. It was clear as day and I knew as soon as I felt it after daily devotions in my Word, journaling, and praying, that this is what God wanted me to focus on and put first. Family is not just my immediate family, but a reminder to continue to stay disciplined and find peace for myself that I have come to learn I need first to be my best for my family, bring peace to my family, bring peace to my work family (aka chocolate family), and to reach out to YOU in a way that will benefit your family too.
What is your word for 2023?
erin’s tip
Not sure on your word? Start with the first word that comes to your mind and go with that. Then get into the daily habit of reading The word, journaling, praying, and God will reveal to you your word when you let go, and let him decide.