Do you have a Word of the Year? Do you believe in having a Word of the Year? Don't knock it until you try it.
Last year, at her new year party, my amazing paper artist friend Dawn introduced me to the idea of having a Word of the Year (WOTY).
It's the sort of fancy, hocus pocus thing I tend to brush aside. To me, it was no different from Facebook quizzes that tell us about our Hogwarts houses. Utterly nonsensical and whimsical.
During the WOTY workshop at the party, I scoffed at those who shared how accurate their previous words of the year reflected their year.
"Must be confirmation bias," I thought.
But since it's harmless, I said, "Why not?"
I was sure it would be forgotten soon enough and have no influence or relation to my life.
Given that I'd always wanted to run my own business that I have real interest and motivation in, I thought a good word for 2023 would be "becoming" - so I would become what I've wished to be for a long time.
Unexpectedly, one year on, I can see how 2023 had been a year of "becoming" for me.
I wanted to leave my job and run my own business. It happened.
I wanted to be a professional speaker, and I had the chance to run a few Zoom workshops and in-person talks.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the whole year was spent trying to become something else.
Now I'm a believer. And not a trace of doubt in my mind. *cue the Shrek theme song from Smash Mouth.*
Could it be confirmation bias as I previously suspected? Could be. But it no longer mattered. I've experienced so many interesting coincidences that I can't dismiss.
It's the sort of thing that I had to experience for myself before I could believe it.
And so... that leads me to my word for 2024.
It's time to move on from "becoming" into actually being.
In attempting to become something different, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy and doubt.
It wasn't that I chose the wrong word of the year. Navigating the fog of uncertainty has led me to new learnings and experiences.
Walk in the fog long enough and you'll emerge on the other side. And that's what January felt like to me. I have arrived at a surprising sense of calm and, dare I say it, confidence.
So my word for 2024 is...
*...insert imaginary drumroll🥁...*
Thriving!
Thriving! Starting with a capital T and ending with an exclamation mark. Because that's the kind of vibrant energy I want for the year. The tone matters.
Do you have a Word of the Year? Do you believe in having a Word of the Year? Don't knock it until you try it.
Thriving! I love this word!
Almost feels like a manifestation example where the WOTY exercise stuck somewhere in the subconscious and you worked towards it.
I love the mystical feel here buddy!
In many ways, "becoming" also seems like a WOTY for 2023 for me too as I quit my job in hopes of pursuing my own venture with Coaching business in Health, lifestyle and mindset.
Your example is a powerful reminder the impact of intention and reflection onto action.
I hope you have a fab 2024!
Looking forward to more of your newsletters and visual content!