Choose One Word to Change You in the New Year

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, change, choices, dreams, Faith, goals, holidays, hope, Life, New Year, perspective, Quotes, Scripture, Thoughts, time 10 Comments

As 2019 wound down and the new year – and the new decade – approached, I gathered words.

One Words, to be exact.

Let me back up.

Many of you might be concentrating on a list of resolutions for 2020, but I abandoned that practice 14 years ago. Instead, I choose One Word for the year and center my heart and mind on that for 365 days. I no longer fret about losing my list of New Year’s resolutions by the end of January. It’s easy to remember a single word for 12 months.

I should clarify that while it’s easy to remember my One Word, it’s not always easy to apply it. Worthwhile, yes. Life changing, yes. But allowing my One Word to reveal my weaknesses as well as my strengths? That’s the day-to-day challenge of choosing One Word.

My first One Word – chosen way back in 2006 – was gratitude. To be honest, I was a bit of a grumbler with a glass-half-empty attitude until I focused on being grateful for an entire year of my life.

Then there was 2009 when my One Word was forgiveness. I ended up keeping that word for not one, but two years. Forgiveness is too often seen as nothing more than an easy apology. Words spoken and acknowledged. Mission accomplished.

Forgiveness, my friends, is some of the hardest work you’ll ever do.

Different people besides me will be happy to talk to you about finding your One Word. I’ve read a good book about titled My One Word: Change Your Life with Just One Word by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen. Dayspring even has a seven-question quiz to help you find your One Word.

Here’s my three-step process:

 

  1. Take your time. Go past your first impression. It’s okay to think someone else’s word is a great One Word and then wait for yours. Look for repetitions of the word in your life. In songs. In your reading. Let the One Word settle in your heart.
  2. Pray about it. Faith is integral to finding my One Word. I always want God to lead to what he has waiting for me in the new year. I also look for a key Scripture verse to support my word.
  3. Find a visual. It helps to have some sort of visual reminder of your One Word. I’ve used a quote or graphic. Sometimes I’ve made them or sometimes I’ve found them online or locally. Last year, when my One Word was anchor, I wore an anchor necklace and also hung another anchor necklace in my car.

Some of my friends’ One Words for the upcoming year include:

  • Beauty
  • Pursue
  • Joy
  • Renew
  • Focus
  • Imagine

 

I didn’t settle on my One Word for 2020 until mid-November, which is later than usual for me. But once the word rose to the top of possibilities, I was certain it was the right One Word for this year.

Listen.

 That’s my One Word for 2020: Listen.

“Everyone should be quick to listen …” James 1:19 NIV

 But too often we’re too ready to talk – to talk over someone else, to talk before someone else is finished speaking, to talk before we’ve even figured out what we want to say.

And yes, I’m already collecting quotes about listening.

“You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.”

M. Scott Peck (1936-2005), psychiatrist & author

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”

Stephen R. Covey (1932-2012), author & speaker

 

Do you pick One Word for the New Year? I’d love to know!

 

Choose One Word to Change You in the New Year http://bit.ly/2ZL6Ldx #OneWord #2020 Click To Tweet 'No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.' Quote by John Keating http://bit.ly/2ZL6Ldx #2020 #change #DeadPoetsSociety Click To Tweet

Comments 10

  1. I have a word for twenty-twenty,
    not one which you might have heard
    from all of those that may seek plenty,
    for ADEQUATE, well, that’s my word.
    The push to greatness really palls
    and steals the joy from just OK
    which, rejected, sadly falls
    as sacrifice to Perfect Day.
    It’s up to me to buck the trend,
    and break away from all the rest;
    put down the mirror, and not pretend
    that I have to be the best.
    The world may strive for Number One,
    but I’ll be out there, having fun.

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  2. (I’ve already told you this story, but I’ll share it here, too, if you know mind.) My One Word is “beauty” this year. In October, I was sure my One Word was “in spite of” or “perseverance,” because I didn’t meet my goals last year. But then I remembered I had focused on those for other years with the same (bad) results.

    Then I read chapter 5 in Voskamp’s, “One Thousand Gifts.” Her descriptions of everyday things touched my heart and I realized that I need to find beauty in commonplace things, too. As a very visual person, I hope that if I learn to seek out God’s design in everything, that I’ll be motivated to keep going.

    Clear as mud? 😉

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  3. My word for last year was intentional, but I wasn’t, not with everything. I’m going back and forth with that and freedom, or just free to live free in Christ.

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      Mona: “Freedom” reminds me of the first Bible verse I ever memorized — Galatians 5:1. Focusing on this word for a year could be life-changing — no doubt!

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  4. My One Word for 2019 was Treasured, and it definitely affected how I viewed myself and others throughout the year.

    For 2020, my One Word is Vision, specifically God’s vision for my life.

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