Do you need word-of-the-year ideas for personal and professional growth in 2023? If so, you’re not alone. Every year, language experts, dictionaries, and organizations worldwide choose a word that reflects the previous year’s trends, events, and cultural happenings. However, our focus is not on language or word trends.

Notably, most women choose a word of the year for personal and professional growth. Indeed, having a word of the year for personal growth is a powerful way to set intentions and focus on your goals for the coming year. This annual tradition can help you to reflect on the past year, identify areas for growth, and set meaningful and achievable resolutions for the future.

 Many people choose a “word of the year” instead of making a New Year’s resolution.   

As a registered dietitian nutritionist, I can confidently say that losing weight, eating healthier, and exercising more are among the top ten resolutions. However, while New Year’s resolutions give opportunities for a fresh start, they can be daunting.

Word of the Year Ideas Instead of a New Year’s Resolution?

Many people opt for a word of the year instead of a resolution. While New Year’s resolutions give opportunities for a fresh start, they can be daunting. So why is that?

According to the New Year’s Resolution statistics in 2022, 38.5% of adults in the U.S. made resolutions. Surprisingly, 59% of young adults (18-34) made resolutions, making them the largest age group. Despite good intentions, only 9% keep their resolutions for the year.

The top resolutions made in 2022 for U.S. adults were to:

1. Exercise more (52%)
2. Eat healthier (50%)
3. Lose weight (40%)
4. Save more money (39%)
5. Spend more time with loved ones (37%)
6. Spend less time on social media (20%)
7. Reduce job stress (19%)
8. Reduce spending on living expenses (19%)

One author noted that resolutions often fail because:

• The focus was on changing behavior rather than on changing mindset.
• There was little or no accountability structure.
• There was a deep-seated fear of achieving those goals.

Why Word of the Year Ideas Work for Me

I opted to use the word-of-the-year approach for a much-needed mind shift a few years ago.  With this approach, you select one word on which to focus for the year. This word is then used to create your vision board, set your goals and intentions, and empower you.

For example, if your word is “fearless,” you might create goals and sub-goals for:

• Starting a new job or business
• Pursuing a new relationship or end an existing one
• Saying “yes” to things that scare you
• Saying “no” to people and things that drain you

For example, if your word is “discipline,” you might create goals and sub-goals for:

• Saving money from every paycheck
• Contributing monthly to your retirement account  
• Going to the gym 3 days a week
• Going to bed at a consistent time
• Not eating after 7 pm
• Limiting use of social media

For example, if your word is “grow,” you might create goals and sub-goals for:

• Listening without interrupting
• Reading more books
• Taking a course
• Starting a hobby
• Getting out of your comfort zone

Why Choose a Word of the Month Instead of a Word of the Year?

Many people opt for a word of the month instead of a word of the year.  A few years ago, my word of the year was “BIG.”  Indeed, I really got into the word “BIG” for the first two months of the year. Then several things happened:

• COVID pandemic, with several new variants
• Remote work from home
• Not traveling
• Zoom overload
• Hurricanes in Florida
• Death of my mom (a year after my dad

I wrote in my journals a lot during the pandemic.  However, I quickly realized that the thing that really got “BIG” was my fear.  Focusing on that one word was overwhelming.  I finally acknowledged that:

• Each month was different and came with new opportunities and perspectives
• The different seasons of the year sometimes require a shift
• I was more deliberate and reflective during my birth month
• Emotions and feelings are powerful drivers
• Life events often require major shifts
• Flexibility is a gift that needs to be mastered

How to Brainstorm Word of the Year Ideas for 2023

Here are a few tips to help you choose a word of the year. Indeed, they will inspire and motivate you to grow, heal, and become your best self. So, grab your journal, computer, or phone to write your ideas.

1. Reflect on the past year. Take some time to think about the past year and how it affected you. What were your highs and lows? List 3-5 things you learned about yourself. Where did you shine the brightest? What were your proudest moments? These reflections can help you to identify themes and areas of focus for the coming year.
2. Set specific goals. Instead of choosing a broad and vague word like “happiness” or “success,” try to be more specific with your goals. For example, if you want to improve your health, then choose words like “fitness, or” self-care.” Likewise, if you want to focus on personal growth, then choose words like “persistence,” “humility,” or “grace.”
3. Choose a word that resonates with you. The word of the year should be personal and meaningful to you. Don’t just choose a trendy word because it sounds cool. Instead, choose one that truly speaks to you and your goals.
4. Make it actionable You can actively work towards and strive for a word of the year. Choose a word you can incorporate into your daily life that will motivate you to take small steps toward your goals.
5. Be flexible. Remember that your word of the year is meant to be a guide, not a rule. Indeed, choose a new word if it no longer resonates with you. However, try the word for a few weeks before abandoning it by the end of the first week. Undeniably, personal growth is a journey, and your word of the year is a tool to help you along the way.

Tips for Choosing a Word of the Month in 2023

Now, you don’t want to miss this. Instead of choosing one word for the year, you can choose 12 powerful ones to focus on during the year.  Here are a few tips for using them for a successful year:

• Don’t choose all 12 words at once
• Choose a new one before the new month starts.
• If one really resonates with you, use it for a few months.
• Learn the meaning of the word and its alternatives.
• Choose a mixture of adjectives, nouns, and action verbs.
• Focus on words that nourish your soul, refocus your mind, and recharge your body.
• Incorporate the word into your vocabulary.
• Write it in your journal each day.
• Print out the word and place it over your desk or bathroom mirror.
• Make it the screen saver on your phone, tablet, or computer.
• Write a few I AM affirmations using your word.
• Find inspirational quotes or Scriptures that use that word.
• Create a vision board for the word of the month.

Read Prayers for Healing and Strength: A 30-Day Journal to Stop Emotional Eating, Stress Eating, and Binge Eating.

70+ Words to Consider

1. Abundance
2. Accept, acceptance
3. Act
4. Adapt
5. Adventure
6. Align
7. Balance
8. Begin
9. Big, bigger
10. Bold
11. Breathe
12. Challenge
13. Create, Creativity
14. Collaborate, collaboration
15. Commit, commitment
16. Confident, confidence
17. Dare, daring
18. Discipline
19. Dream
20. Embrace
21. Empower
22. Enjoy
23. Faith, faithful, faithfulness
24. Family
25. Fearless
26. Flexible, flexibility
27. Forgive, forgiveness
28. Freedom
29. Friendship
30. Gratitude, grateful
31. Grow, growth
32. Give
33. Health, healthy
34. Help
35. Higher
36. Honesty
37. Hope
38. Humility, humbleness 
39. Joy
40. Kindness
41. No
42. Peace
43. Persist, persistence
44. Play, playfulness
45. Refocus
46. Relationship
47. Release
48. Renew
49. Rest
50. Risk
51. Serve, service
52. Simple, simplicity
53. Sparkle
54. Strong, stronger
55. Survive, survival
56. Teach
57. Thrive
58. Touch
59. Unity
60. Victory
61. Whole, wholeness
62. Yes
63. Zeal
64. Zest

Read It’s My Time: A Guided Journal for Deeper Self-Love

Now, It’s Your Turn

A new year brings hope, excitement, and opportunities. Indeed, there are no right or wrong words for the year. Ultimately, choosing your word of the year for 2023 is a deeply personal and subjective process. What works for your friend may not work for you. The most important thing is to choose a word that truly resonates with you. and that will help you to become the best version of yourself.

Don’t feel guilty if you change your word or go in a new direction. Remember, things happen in life, and we need to shift and grow. I think you will enjoy the posts on how to give yourself time, why you should join a women’s circle, and how to command your morning.

• What are five possible words that you will use?

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