Is it helpful to have a word of the year? How will you know unless you try it? Not so long ago, I would have dismissed the idea of a word of the year thinking it’s all a bit “woo woo” and wondering whether there’s any solid evidence to show that it’s useful. My evidence now comes from my own personal experience – and that’s the only evidence I need. If you’re wondering whether you might benefit from having one, why not give it a try… it’s the best way to see whether something works for you.
My word of the year
Last year, my mantra was “be more me”. I repeated it over and over until it became part of my decision-making process. It helped me create my own voice on social media, wear clothes that made me feel happy, and compare myself less with others – both on social media and in real life.
This year, I’ve chosen a new word I’ll be relying on to shape my year: Nourish.
How I chose my word of the year
I spent a lot of last year being ill – early in the year I had full-on flu, which saw me bed-bound for 4 weeks and house-bound for another 4. It was a difficult period both physically and mentally, but I learnt a lot – most importantly that self-care is imperative always, not just when there are germs about. It was during this time in bed that I started my Instagram account so it wasn’t completely wasted!
When I recovered from the flu I found I had been harbouring some golfball-sized gallstones for several years, and this led to the removal of my gallbladder in October, followed by a lengthy recovery period. I’ll take a moment now to say that the NHS is bloody wonderful sometimes!
Anyway, back to my word of the year – nourish. After last year, this year had to have a health focus. I’m keen to nourish my body with good food and regular exercise, but nourishment means much more than that… It means making the right decisions for my physical and mental health, regardless of what is thrown at me. It means putting my wellbeing first, before any business needs. I’m also keen to nourish in terms of learning, nourish friendships new and old, and nourish my inner self with positive self talk rather than a tirade of abuse from my inner critic who can sometimes be a bit shoutier than I’d like her to be! Nourishment will guide my decisions, large and small.
What’s your word of the year?
So, is it helpful to have a word of the year? Yes, I believe it is for me – but the only way you’re going to find out whether it’s helpful for you is by giving it a go and seeing how it feels for you. If you’ve chosen yours, I’d love to hear what it is! Drop me a line here and let me know!
