What's Your Word? How Choosing a Word of the Year Can Solidify Your Focus and Manifest Your Dreams

Do you have your word yet for the new year?!

I started choosing my "word of the year" a few years ago when both my bestie and my dad were doing the same thing. For some reason it took me a bit to come around to the idea. I guess I thought that my focus would shift a lot during the year. It wasn't until my family had just gone through a big international move and I wasn't landing as solidly as I had hoped in our new hometown. That's when I realized I really wanted to focus on one thing that year, 2019, and the word I chose that year was "Flourish". I put it on a sticky note and stuck it on the bottom of my computer screen where I would see it everyday. I changed a lot of my passwords to some variation that included the word "Flourish" in it so I was typing it multiple times a day as well.

I've been a believer in manifesting even before I knew that particular word. Remember when Oprah introduced us to The Secret? I bought that DVD and absolutely soaked it up! I 100% think that what you focus on becomes reality, and this word, "Flourish" really started to sink into my daily life. I would refer to it when I didn't know what to do with myself for the day in my new city. What would I do if I was "Flourishing"? I planned a party and invited all the new acquaintances I could possibly think of to try to "Flourish" in the friendship department. I got involved in different clubs and groups to "Flourish" in my hobbies and dove into some home projects so I could "Flourish" in this space and begin to love where I now lived.

This has been a favorite topic to discuss with my dad and my friend Anissa ever since. Starting in November we begin asking, "Have you thought about your word?" When the time is right we reveal the "word" or "words" we are still debating until we stick with THE word of the year. Sharing your word with a friend or loved one is really impactful too. Calling your shot for the year and having some accountability is powerful.

The above photo shows my word for 2023. I wanted to "Propel" several things forward in my life. Ideas that I had been talking about, but not doing something about for far too long. One of the main ones was Babble! I wanted to quit thinking about it in the back of my mind and just start doing it, even if it crashed and burned. I just wanted to move things forward. "Shit or get off the pot" didn't work for a word, and I loved the whole vibe that "Propel" gave me. The word excited me and motivated me and made me a little nervous.

That year I decided to elevate my sticky note on my computer screen to reflect how much I wanted this word to guide my year. I was about to order a bracelet off Etsy with "Propel" on it when Anissa mentioned that her daughter had just received a bracelet making kit for Christmas. That next night when she had a sleepover, the girls loved making our 2023 Word bracelets for us! I couldn't have loved it more when I received it in the mail. Not only did I feel closer to my friend and her daughter, who had meticulously chosen the design and colors, but it served as such a great physical reminder of my goal for the year.

I wore that bracelet to many a new business meetings as I started two businesses in 2023. They are small, but they are "Propelling" forward some dreams of mine. It wasn't until about August when I was on the phone with my dad telling him about a second venture I was diving into and talking about how busy I was when he said, "sounds like you really are "Propelling" things forward this year!" I don't even think I had realized how powerful that word had become to me. It became my mantra. I like to think of it as the title for the chapter that is that year of my life. In my book of life, the 2023 chapter would definitely be entitled, "Propel".

My friend Anissa's word in 2023 was "Soften" which I found really wonderful. A reminder for her to be "softer" with her children and spouse and also with herself. My Dad's word was "Contentment" as he focused inward on all that he had to be grateful for. I also had a great conversation that took my relationship with a particular business contact from surface level to much deeper after seeing that her "Word of the Year- Empower" was listed just like that on the signature line of her email. How "Empowered" is that?! Just putting it out there for everyone to see!

My 2024 word was "Prioritize". As I mentioned above, I "Propelled" a lot of things forward in 2023. Now was the time to decide where I wanted to focus my time and energy. I realized I needed to put one of my new business ventures on the back burner (because trying to start up two things at once is never a great idea). Tough decisions made for this indecisive girl who just gets excited about a lot of ideas. This was a tough, but necessary word for me.

My 2025 word was "Intuition" getting rid of all of the outside noise and listening to my internal voice telling me all I really needed to know. Somewhere along the way I developed the unfortunate habit of thinking I should ask an expert for their opinion in most areas of my life. Do I like that dining table? I should ask my interior decorating friend if it's good. Need a good recipe for guests? I should ask my friend who's great at entertaining. On one hand this habit has become a great skill needed for creating Babble- that is the premise after all! (I'm a master of none, but love finding the answers and sharing them.). On the other hand that can become a crippling habit in my personal world and I started to stop listening to MY own voice. Another tough year of focus, but so glad I narrowed in on it.

I love how our words are so individual to each of us. I love that each year we get to choose a new one and new area of focus. I love growing myself and sharing it with supportive people close to me. And I can't wait to dive in, manifest and focus on my word for 2026..."Indulge". "Indulge" implies chosen pleasure.

This year I am choosing to "Indulge" in:

• more rest and quieter moments

• more yoga

• being present with my kids

• more nature

• more snuggles and walks with my dog

• going to the movies more (with a Coke heavy and popcorn)

• more laughs with friends

• more time with family

• better undergarments

• and updated workout wardrobe

I will say that this year I was having trouble selecting one word and finding my focus so I turned to ChatGPT for the first time. I gave some examples of my words of the past and then just typed literally everything I wanted for 2026. None of it was packaged pretty, it was just verbal diarrhea and everything I could think of- some work, some family, some personal, you name it. It spit out 10-12 INCREDIBLE words! I actually loved all of them, but felt a physical response when I read the word "Indulge" and the meaning behind it. I knew immediately what my word was. It was almost as if it picked me.

Thanks for riding along with my "Word of the Year" journey with me and please share your "Word of the Year" with us! I'd love to hear! Email me at brooke@babblewithbrooke.com

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Get Started!

Here are some ideas if you don't have a little one in your world to make your "Word of the Year" bracelet. Click on the photo to take you directly to the affiliate link where you can customize and order on Amazon.

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Want To Take Your Word Further?

Take that word and make it a vision! Check out Babble's guide to creating your very own vision board for the new year. There is real power in this stuff. Just like identifying a word and making it your mantra for the year can keep you centered and focused on your intentions, creating a vision board and hanging it where you will see it every day will...not to be dramatic or anything...but it will change your life. Seriously.

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