Key ideas for picking a word of the year

For nearly two decades I’ve turned to words as an alternative to New Years resolutions. I find that words are far more supportive, and have much to teach us. Since 2020 coming up with a “Guiding Force” (word, phrase, theme) has been a key tool we work with in the fall cohort of Mapping Your Path into the New Year. I’ve not only learned so much about the power of these words for framing a year, but I’ve learned so much from the MYP community as I witness how the right Guiding Force for the right season of life can be incredibly supportive.

While we spend three months building to our Guiding Force inside MYP, these are 9 key ideas to keep in mind as you come up with your own word for the year.

The word you pick should be a support and anchor to return to throughout the year—whatever comes your way.
Different seasons of life have different needs. Some are more active. Others are more recovery.
Words have multiple meanings and associations. Consider the spirit and energy of the word.
The true power of the "Guiding Force" is returning to it when life gets hard or something goes wrong. It is your support.
A word is only helpful if you actually remember it. Make it memorable.
Pay attention to how words land in your body. You want to feel lit up and supported, not heavy with a sense of obligation/shoulds.
Own it. The more you embrace your word, the more supportive your guiding force can be.

Friday, December 20th I’m hosting a 2-hour Mini Mapping Your Path into 2025 workshop to support people in developing a Guiding Force and map for the year ahead. There will be additional exercises to help you extract what you really need in the season ahead.

A replay will be available if you can’t join live. Either way, bring a banana! There will be my signature banana mapping inside—this will be FUN! Sign up by Dec 20th to get access to the workshop.

Three times a year I open my 3-mo Mapping Your Path workshop + community for enrollment. Every fall we develop a Guiding Force and Map for the Year ahead; the Feb-April cohort is to encourage you to move your way. (Sign up to be notified of future cohorts.)

myp, goalsAnne Ditmeyerword of the year, guiding force, new years resolutionsComment