How One Word Changed How I Think About My Goals

As we approach the new year and the ‘new year, new me’ buzz becomes as common as a Celebrations tub on aisle three, I want to share a secret: one word changed my life this year. It took me from ‘new year, new me’ to ‘HERE I AM’!

The Fresh Start of January

Unpopular opinion: I love January. As an Aquarius baby, I’m a little biased, but I’ve always found the reemergence from the festive haze exciting. It’s a time of opportunity and recalibration. But I get it. For many, January is tough. Winter looms, wallets are empty, and cheese consumption has hit epic proportions. Add to that the pressure to transform overnight into a shinier, better version of ourselves, and it’s no wonder we feel overwhelmed.

We dive into January with high hopes and, for the determined among us, a long list of resolutions. But even with the best intentions, many of us falter. Research from Forbes Advisor shows one in five resolutions doesn’t last a month, and over a third fall by the wayside within three months.

A Different Approach to Goals

Let me say this upfront: you don’t need to wait until midnight strikes on January 1st to reflect on what you want. No fairy godmother is coming to wave a wand. Anytime you feel inspired to pivot, take action. That said, if the festive season offers you a natural pause to reflect, why not make the most of it?

Here’s the game-changer: instead of writing a list of resolutions, try choosing one word. A single word that resonates deeply with who you are and the direction you’d like to move in. Let that word guide your choices throughout the year.

My Word: Evolve

For 2024, my word was Evolve. Every time I faced a decision, big or small, I returned to this word. Would this help me evolve? If yes, I went for it. This word kept me grounded and adaptable. It wasn’t a rigid resolution but it was a fluid guide that grew with me.

Take running as an example. I love it, and this year, I set my sights on two big races. A typical resolution might have been: ‘Run two ultramarathons and set a PB with the second.’

I ran the first in June and loved it. I signed up for the second, but something shifted. Training felt like a chore. The joy was gone. The old me might have soldiered on or quit altogether. Instead, I tuned into Evolve.

It meant:
🌱 Listening to my body, which simply wasn’t interested
🌱 Honouring what I truly wanted
🌱 Understanding my motivations and recognising I felt obligated, not inspired
🌱 Redefining success as adapting, not sticking rigidly to a plan

So, I dropped to a shorter distance and do you know what? Ifelt great about it! The evolved version of me listened, honoured, and acted accordingly.

Tips for Choosing Your Word

If this approach speaks to you, here’s how to get started:

✨ Mindset: Shift from a mindset of reduction (I want less stress) to one of abundance (I want more calm). How does this change the way you approach your goals?

✨ Reflect: Spend time journaling or discussing what’s important to you. How do you want to feel in the year ahead? Look for themes and words that stand out.

✨ Explore: Wordmap as many words as possible - no filtering! Group them into categories and see which resonate most deeply.

✨ Commit: Let your word be part of your daily life. Put it somewhere visible: on your wall, your phone background, or share it with loved ones to keep yourself accountable.

✨ Pivot: Your word is a guide, not a ball and chain. If it no longer resonates, choose another. Flexibility is part of the process.

What’s Your Word?

I’d love to hear what word you’ll choose to guide your next year. Struggling to pin it down? Let’s figure this out together - the right word is waiting to inspire you.