What's Everyone Talking about for 2025?
What's this "Word " all about? (Free step-by-step handout attached)
In short, this “word” thing is a practice of selecting a Word of the Year (WOTY). It’s a theme to focus on that could help you grow personally and spiritually .
One of the great things about a Word of the Year is that it isn’t about goal setting, todo’s, or achieving. It doesn’t require measurement, performance, or comparison – all it needs is our awareness of what is going on around us, in us, and through us.
Perhaps it is more of an aspiration or hope in how we’ll grow into better versions of ourselves – our original design – and is something that keeps us inspired and focused on long-term personal and spiritual transformation throughout the year.
I like the idea of a Word of the Year because I can’t fail at it like I might if I were to set a new year’s resolution (let me tell you I’ve broken many over the years) or a goal like daily exercise, or dieting, etc. because life and busyness can get in the way with resolutions not to mention, there is always a party to go to and goodies to eat!
I’ve been using a theme word or a Word of the Year as a focus since the early 2000’s. In the beginning the word seemed to pick me and I only noticed themes after they happened few years in a row. What I noticed was an awareness growing in me that had the same theme coming up month after month and how it impacted how I thought, felt, and behaved. As I look back over the years, I experienced themes like forgiveness, peace, harmony, etc. I also can see how they were characteristics of relational, personal, and spiritual things that influenced my own character growth and transformation. The kinds of things that God would grow in me.
Best of all I was growing in good ways.
Each year they were all good characteristics – all the good things I value and want to see in myself. There were times I didn’t display them, but slowly, over time, my awareness grew, and then I became more intentional, thoughtful, and prayerful about my responses.
Because I’m imperfectly human, I need to continue to cooperate with this growth and transformation because I have much more to learn.
The more I do learn, the more I realize I need to continue to learn and grow.
My Word of the Year for Last Year (2024)
Last year I chose “RESTORATION” for my word of the year for 2024.
Who knew that much of my year would be filled with so many ups and terribly painful downs requiring restoration of body, mind, and spirit.
Gifts of restoration spread gently through the year affecting my commitments, goals, and schedules, as my body, soul, and spirit found restoration through journey with a degenerative autoimmune disease that has a mind of its own.
It wasn’t long after my cancer surgery and treatments ended almost 4 short years ago when I began to experience a season of health challenges ranging from: Horner’s syndrome, Raynaud’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease - Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, skin cancer (pre-melanoma), and neuropathy the side effects (like exhaustion, crippling pain, and loss of mobility).
Just living with an autoimmune disease means I’ve had to develop a new type of relationship with my impressions around health and wholeness, activity, exercise, pain, rest and the idea of balance.
Having a focus on RESTORATION through the year has brought much insight to my journey. It has kept me focused on living my life in the best way possible that brings joy and hope to my body, soul, and spirit – even on the days that bring difficulties and limitations.
Who knew that, even on the days I forgot to contemplate and focus on my theme word allowing joint pain, canes, braces, and limited mobility to push out hope and joy, God was still faithful in restoring me in many unexpected ways.
But I only noticed this theme when I looked back and reflected.
It is in the hindsight and reflection of the year where I can see those divine touches of God’s grace.
The simple word – RESTORATION – has brought many unexpected gifts into my life helping me find new ways to release what hinders me and embrace what brings hope.
Gifts of quiet, simplicity and rest.
The gift of the new awareness of human fragility.
The gift of accepting what is and still finding joy in choosing alternatives.
The gift of being vulnerable and sharing impacts of health with others and the challenges it brings.
The gift of patience when others ask if my health (which is a lifelong, deteriorating disease, keyword “deteriorating”) is better as though it will magically clear up and go away like a head cold.
The gift of compassion as I listen to other’s stories about dealing with cancer, autoimmune, or chronic diseases.
The gift of self-compassion when I have to cancel a commitment because I can’t walk on that day or am too exhausted.
The gift of tolerance with well-meaning, unhelpful inquiries about my health.
The gift of gratitude for what I have and can do instead of chronically complaining about what I can’t.
The gift of acknowledgment of grief that allows me to express my laments and helps me to feel seen and heard by God and safe others.
The gift of embracing limitations that help me choose what I love to do most while releasing the rest.
The gift of being a cheerleader, from the sidelines, for others and joining in their joy, activities, and accomplishments.
The gift of attending to my needs when pain sends messages to me to stop, rest, rethink my day.
As I look forward to this next year of 2025, I’ve been reflecting on 2024, and have not just been praying for a word throughout this month but also a verse and a song that will be an encouragement to my body, soul, and spirit transforming me in ways that will bring encouragement to others along the way.
Yesterday it came to me:
My Word: PEACE
My Verse: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14: 27 (NIV)
My Song: “PEACE” by Bethel Music
If you have done this kind of practice, I’d love to hear about your word and experiences, and also learn how you reflect on it through the year.
If this is a new concept for you… please come join me and try it out this year. I don’t think you’ll regret it!
Will you Join me?
Each year I share the process and some reflection question I use for choosing a Word of the Year (WOTY). It is filled with tips and ideas, reflection question, etc. I’ve made it available for FREE here on my blog post (available for the month of January 2025).
If you’d like to join in – let me know and I’ll pray for you throughout the year. Be sure to also let me what your focus word is!
One Important Tip!
Have you considered finding an accountability partner, friend, or group to adopt this practice together in community?
It’s a great way to check in with each other through the year to pray for one other, share stories, and grow, encourage, and spur each other on. I’ve found that the more I talk about my WOTY the more aware and encouraged I become.
Where to get your copy of the “Choosing a Word of the Year”
Just scroll down to the bottom of this post, just below my name, and you’ll see the the attached .pdf file.
Just click on “DOWNLOAD” to get your FREE .pdf copy of “Choosing a Word of the Year (WOTY)”. It is available for FREE for the month of January 2025.
May you be blessed.
FREE COPY OF “Discovering Your Word of the Year - Limited time available - for January 2025 only!
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Restoration is such a beautiful visual. Love this word! ❤️
« Peace » was my word last year. The Lord knew how much I needed to remember that.