How to Choose Your Word of the Year (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)
A Fresh Start: Why Your Word of the Year Matters
I’m recording this on December 29th, 2020 — the year none of us will ever forget.
It stretched us, challenged us, revealed us, and changed us.
But as we head into 2021, I’m pumped (and honestly, deeply relieved) to start fresh. This weekend I’m hosting a vision board + goal planning session for my team, and one of the core things we’ll be doing is choosing our Word of the Year.
This simple ritual has changed so much for me over the past several years, and today I want to walk you through:
✨ How to choose YOUR word of the year
✨ What my word is for 2021
✨ How to use your word to actually guide your life and business
Let’s do this!
https://pod.co/the-social-selling-sisterhood/word-of-the-year
What IS a Word of the Year?
Your Word of the Year is a single, powerful, anchoring word that guides your focus, decisions, behavior, and mindset for the next 12 months.
It can apply to:
- Your business
- Your personal life
- Your relationships
- Your health
- Your finances
- Your identity
- And the next-level version of YOU you want to step into
Your word becomes your intention.
Your grounding force.
Your reminder of who you’re becoming.
Step 1: Brain Dump Your 2021 Vision
Start big.
Like REALLY big.
Grab a pen and paper (trust me, this works better than typing), and answer:
- Who do I want to be in 2021?
- How do I want to show up daily?
- How do I want people to perceive me?
- What habits do I want to build or break?
- What does my next-level self look like?
- What are my financial goals?
- What do I want my business to feel like?
- Where do I want to travel, live, or grow?
- What do I want my health and fitness to look like?
- What would make me feel fulfilled and aligned?
Don’t limit yourself.
Don’t edit yourself.
Don’t talk yourself out of anything.
If it’s on your heart — write it down.
Even if it feels too big or “not for right now”… put it on the paper.
You never know what a year can do.
Step 2: Organize Your Vision Into Timelines
Now sort your goals into a few buckets:
- Short-term / immediate
- Quarterly goals
- Six-month goals
- Year-long goals
- Future “dream” goals
And then — go one level deeper.
Break the big goals down into tiny, actionable pieces.
Example:
If your goal is to make $100,000 this year…
100,000 ÷ 365 = roughly $275/day.
So your REAL question becomes:
👉 What can I do daily to generate $275?
You don’t have to build your full plan right now — but start thinking through it.
Goals without action steps are just wishes.
Goals with a roadmap?
That’s where the magic happens.
Step 3: Look for Common Themes
Now look back over your lists.
What patterns do you see?
What do most of your goals require of you?
What qualities would you need to embody to turn your list into reality?
Think about words that connect to:
- Who you are becoming
- What would help you stay grounded
- What would elevate your business
- What would transform your mindset
- What your next-level self would choose
Start jotting down words that tug at your intuition.
Words that feel aligned.
Words that spark something inside you.
Words that feel like they’re calling you forward.
Don’t pick yet — just gather possibilities.
Step 4: Feel the Word (Not Just Think It)
This part is important:
Your word can’t just “sound nice.”
You have to FEEL it.
Ask yourself:
- Does this word challenge me?
- Does it motivate me?
- Does it support the goals on my list?
- Does it apply to both personal and business life?
- Do I want to become the version of myself who lives this word?
- Does the word inspire the future I want?
Example words people often choose:
- Focus
- Purpose
- Intentional
- Fearless
- Thrive
- Change
- Abundance
- Consistency
- Growth
- Simplify
- Wellness
- Courage
- Worthy
- Vision
- Believe
- Create
And SO many more.
But again — don’t just pick a word because it sounds motivational.
Pick a word because it resonates.
My Word of the Year for 2021: ELEVATE
Drumroll, please… 🎉
This year, my word is:
✨ ELEVATE ✨
I fell in love with this word the moment I saw it in Beth Holden Graves’ Camp Elevate group (shoutout to Beth!). It felt powerful. It felt aligned. It felt like the next step after my 2020 word, which was Uplevel.
And honestly?
It feels like exactly what 2021 needs.
I’ve built an amazing foundation.
I’ve invested in coaches.
I’ve improved my systems.
I’ve grown personally and professionally.
Now it’s time to elevate:
🔥 Elevate my business
🔥 Elevate my mindset
🔥 Elevate my routines
🔥 Elevate my relationships
🔥 Elevate my health
🔥 Elevate my energy
🔥 Elevate who I am becoming
It hits every area of my life.
And THAT is how you know you’ve found your word.
Step 5: Showcase Your Word Everywhere
Once you choose your word, don’t let it become a forgotten note in a journal.
Put it EVERYWHERE.
- On sticky notes
- On your mirror
- In your car
- On your phone background
- On your laptop
- On your vision board
- As your planner front page
- Inside your wallet
- In your bathroom
- In your workspace
Let your word become a daily reminder of who you are choosing to be.
One Word. One Year. One Massive Transformation.
Sometimes people message me saying they can’t pick just one word.
My response?
Nope.
Pick ONE.
One focus. One intention. One anchor.
Because that one word will shape:
- Your mindset
- Your actions
- Your decisions
- Your habits
- Your energy
- Your momentum
- Your identity
And identity is what ultimately creates results.
Your Turn: What’s YOUR Word of the Year?
I’d LOVE to know what you choose.
Share it inside the Marketing Magic & Business Systems Group on Facebook or tag me on social!
Let your word guide you.
Let it stretch you.
Let it become who you ARE.
2021 is going to be incredible — I just know it.
And I’m so grateful you’re part of this journey with me.
If you got value from this blog, please share it with your team or your audience — it truly helps the podcast and helps more women find our community.
Here’s to an elevated year. 💛✨
— Lindsay