Word Of The Year For 2025
For the past few years, when a new year rolls around, I’ve been selecting a Word Of The Year. New Year’s resolutions aren’t really my thing… although I’m always setting goals for myself and trying to start or stop new habits. But with a Word Of The Year, I try to find a word I can incorporate in various aspects of life: day-to-day, work, family, my relationship, friendships, etc.
Choosing A Word Of The Year
Deciding on a Word Of The Year can be a daunting task, for me at least. Being the perfectionist and overachiever that I am, I want to find the “right” word. This process can take a while, as I scour the internet for ideas, poll friends and family, and write a list. In the end, the word often chooses itself, so to speak. What does that mean? Once I find a few words that stand out to me, I’ll ponder them for a few days. And then, whether it’s fate or simply my reticular activating system (RAS), I’ll hear or see the word in multiple places.
That is how I chose my Word Of The Year for 2025. My list included words like: create, transform, align, connection, growth, etc. But when I wrote this one word down, it felt different. So it was at the forefront of my mind when I started listening to an episode of one of my favorite podcasts. And there it was… this word. Not just ONCE, but multiple times. That was all it took… It sealed the deal.
Without further ado… that word that presented itself to me? Embrace. I can’t explain why that word stuck out among the rest. But it did. So here we are. My goal will be to embrace all life has to offer me this year.
How I’ll Use My Word Of The Year
When I think about how I’ll use this word in my life this year, I want to embrace who I am. Show up authentically and embrace every little thing about me. I’ve lived a lot of my life trying to please others and fit into boxes where I honestly don’t care to be. This year, I’m going to embrace the quirks, the “imperfections,” and learn to let go and laugh at myself more.
But I won’t just apply it to myself. I also want to embrace others in a way that they can feel comfortable and confident in being themselves. I want to embrace people for who they are, even if they are “different” than me because everyone deserves to feel accepted, loved, and at ease being themselves.
How else can I use the word “embrace” this year? How about… embracing new adventures? Maybe this involves saying yes to something out of my comfort zone, visiting a new place, or starting a new hobby. This doesn’t mean I’ll say yes to just anything, because boundaries are important. But it will be a great way for me to pause and consider my options. As someone who tends to get stuck in a routine, I hope this word will help me expand my horizons and see things from a different perspective.
Embrace Life – Embrace This New Year!
There are many things I hope to embrace this year. And also, people that I want to embrace. Life is short, and I want to make sure the people in my life that I care about know that this year. That’s going to involve me being intentional in connecting with them. And on top of that, showing up fully for them. One thing I want to get better at in this new year is listening. Not just “hearing” people talk, but putting the distraction (aka my phone) away and really listening to what people have to say. Because remember, I’m here to embrace new things… and by truly listening to people, I might just learn a new thing or two.
So here’s to 2025 and my Word Of The Year. I hope you embrace this year with excitement and momentum to go after the goals and dreams you set for yourself. And maybe this year, I won’t forget what word I choose… because I’m putting it out here for all the world to see. If you see me out and about this year, remind me!
