I don’t know if you keep the practice of choosing a guiding word each year, but it’s something I’ve done for the past two years, and I have to say, the results have been surprising – and delightful.  

I’m not saying that it’s a magic word, but I think it affirms the power of intentionality.  Has everything that’s happened this year been caused by or been related to my guiding word?  No.  Has my guiding word been a helpful reminder to keep me focused on what I deeply desired this year?  Absolutely.

My word

After a challenging process (correction:  “after a process that I made more challenging than it needed to be”), I chose the word “enjoy”  to guide me throughout 2024.  

You can read more about why and what it meant for me, but this quote from last January’s blog is a good summary: “As I thought about the last few months of 2023, I realized that my sense of enjoyment had been dwindling slowly for a few months.  Instead, worry, fear, and a scarcity mindset were becoming more frequent companions.”

I knew that while I had the power to choose a different mindset, I needed a shift “that I could embrace with a genuine smile instead of with gritted teeth, one that would beckon me, not bear down on me.” 

“Enjoy” has invited me – it hasn’t demanded anything from me.  It has reminded me of the different choices available to me, but not scolded me for the times I’ve forgotten.  I have felt the invitation of “enjoy” deep down in the core of my being, and it’s been a trusty companion for my personal, spiritual, and professional life this year.  

A Guided Reflection

As I reflect on 2024, I thought I’d share a short process with you – it’s just a few questions, in case you’d like to do your own reflection on your year.  Whether you’ve chosen a guiding word or not, most of these questions can still be used to help you look back and notice the shifts and changes you’ve experienced this year.

How did your guiding word show up? 

If you’ve chosen a word-of-the-year, I invite you to reflect on the ways it’s guided you.  How have you been reminded of your intention?  How has that intention shaped your choices and actions?

One small way that “enjoy” showed up for me this year has been on my daily early morning dog walks.  In the winter months, those walks are dark.  And cold.  Often against biting winds.  Sometimes there is rain.  Sometimes we encounter other dogs and then I have to wrangle my reactive dog and not get pulled down in the process.  And yet…

I’ve made a practice of noticing at least one thing that I can truly enjoy.  I savor the moment and allow myself to enjoy it.  Whether it’s a stunning sunrise, ice on a tree branch, the scent of spring, the companionship of my hubby walking alongside, or the way my pup’s ears bounce as he walks… every day I’ve found at least one thing to enjoy.

My word has showed up in bigger ways, too.  I’ve taken on some big projects this year, and this word has helped me to enjoy the process and not be consumed only by the hoped-for results.  In fact, one of those projects could have been considered a “failure” in tangible results, yet I was able to easily recognize all the ways I’d enjoyed intangible growth along the way.

The word “enjoy” has even literally “shown up” for me.  This year, for the first time, I created a vision board.  I opted to create mine digitally (thank you, Canva templates…) and save it as the wallpaper for my computer desktop.  Each day, several times a day, I see the word “enjoy” smiling back at me, and I’m reminded how much I truly enjoy the work I get to do and the ways I get to serve others and witness their growth and transformation.

I could say more about the ways that “enjoy” has shown up for me, but this is a blog, after all, not a book, and I think you get the idea.  The more important take-away here is for you to ask yourself the question of how your word showed up for you.

What did you learn?

I learned that the experiences I enjoyed the most were times when I was most fully living my authentic self:  my needs were being met, I was living out my core values, and I was using my strengths to fulfill my purpose.  

I recognized that the work I’ve been doing in my own life over the past few years is paying dividends.  Having clarity about my needs, values, strengths, and purpose is like having a powerful compass to know my “true north” and a strong rudder to make choices in that direction.

I learned that God delights when I fully enjoy my life, my work, and the gifts, talents, and opportunities that he’s given me.

I learned that it is almost always possible to find something to enjoy, even in stressful or difficult situations.

How about you?  What did you learn in 2024?

What growth did you experience?  

The word “enjoy” helped me grow in my appreciation for and ability to be in the present moment.  As I’d hoped, it beckoned me to catch my breath more often and re-center myself frequently so that I could enjoy moments to pause and be grateful.  

I also grew in my sense of discovery and adventure as “enjoy” reminded me to appreciate uncertainty as a doorway to possible goodness and delight.  I grew in my ability to give equal time to pondering “what if this goes right?” instead of solely focusing on the possible problems and obstacles.

I’ve grown in understanding the kind of business I want to have and the kinds of work I want to do.  And, guided by “enjoy,” I’ve grown in feeling more positive, more settled, and more trusting.  Worry, fear, and a scarcity mindset still show up from time to time, but I’m better at neutralizing their life-draining, energy-sucking impact.

What growth is still needed?

“Enjoy” helped me grow in my ability to be in the present moment, but there’s still a long way to go.

Case in point:  My husband recently commented about how many times I’ve forgotten things that he’s told me.  I realized that I’m not forgetting.  I’ve frequently not even heard them in the first place because I’ve been so distracted by other thoughts.  Sometimes, I’m so lost in my own thoughts that it’s hard to set them aside and be truly present.  It’s an area of growth for me.

And I can certainly still grow in my ability to set work aside and allow myself to enjoy healthy self-care that keeps me whole.  I hope the whispers of “enjoy” continue to echo in my mind and heart in 2025 and beyond so that I expand my practices of rest and renewal.

What about you?  What growth are you longing for?

What’s next?

As I look ahead to 2025, I can’t help but wonder: What word might guide me next year?  The beauty of choosing a guiding word is that it’s both simple and profound. It’s not about perfection or pressure—it’s about direction and intention. And as I’ve experienced with “enjoy,” the right word can have a gentle yet powerful impact.

What about you? Could a guiding word, a fresh perspective, or a deeper intention help you embrace the new year?

If you're feeling the nudge to start 2025 with greater clarity and purpose, I’d love to support you.  Remember what I said earlier about the power I’ve found in clarifying my “true north?”  I can help you find yours, too.  Coaching offers a space to uncover your needs, clarify your values, and set a meaningful course for growth in the year ahead. Together, we can explore what’s next for you and how to align your life and work with what matters most.

Why not make early 2025 the time to focus on your growth? It could be the start of something truly transformational. And if you’ve never chosen a guiding word, maybe 2025 is the year to try. Who knows where it might lead you?

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