Why Pick a Word of the Year Anyway?
Choosing a Word of the Year has become a meaningful way to set intention without the pressure of rigid resolutions. It has become:
✨ A filter for decisions
✨ A compass for my mental/emotional GPS
✨ A way to move with intention rather than momentum
If you pick a word, it won’t do the work for you (tragic, I know), but it becomes a quiet whisper guiding you back when life gets loud.
My word of the year is SELF.
Why did I chose SELF? It is not code for leave me alone, although boundaries are suddenly my love language.
SELF to me means:
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Self-knowledge: Understanding what drains me vs. what fuels me.
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Self-compassion: Speaking to myself like I would a friend, not a disappointed gym coach.
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Self-advocacy: Saying “no” without drafting a three-paragraph apology email.
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Self-investment: Time, money, care—because I am worth the resources I give away so freely.
In a world that loves to shout “more, faster, better,” SELF is my quiet rebellion. My permission slip to stay human.
How to Pick Your Word
If you’re thinking, “Okay, but how do I find my word?”, grab a cozy drink (and maybe a pen). Try these prompts:
1️⃣ What do I want more of this year?
Connection? Calm? Courage? Financial stability? Glitter? (No judgment.)
2️⃣ What do I want less of?
Overwhelm? Comparison? Chaos? Saying yes to things I resent before I even finish typing the sentence?
3️⃣ How do I want to feel?
Supported. Grounded. Brave. Free. Understood. Alive.
4️⃣ If this year had a theme, what would I want it to be?
Growth. Stillness. Expansion. Reclamation. Joy. Simplicity.
Circle words that jump off the page like they’ve had three coffees. That’s usually your sign.
Give Your Word a Job to Do
Once you’ve chosen it, don’t just whisper it into the void and hope for the best.
Put it to work:
📝 Write it on a sticky note on your bathroom mirror
📱 Make it your phone wallpaper
🎧 Create a playlist that embodies your word
📅 Check in monthly (“How did I honour my word?”)
✨ Say it out loud before making decisions
Your word is not a goal—it’s a foundation. The goals can be the walls and windows; the word is the ground you build them on.
If you’re debating choosing a Word of the Year, let this be your sign. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being present.
So here’s to a year of intention. A year of growth. A year of choosing yourself—not because no one else will, but because you finally realize you’re allowed to. It’s A WANDAFULT THING!!!
Warmly yours,
Wanda, xo 
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