Unlocking Success: The Impact of Choosing a Word of the Year

In this episode:

• We explore the idea of setting intentions for the year
• The studies that support picking a word of the year
• The transformative power of choosing a word of the year
• My last two words - and my personal word for 2024
• How you can choose your word of the year if nothing is resonating

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Transcript

0:00

You've heard of new year's resolutions, but have you ever considered choosing a word of the year? It is like setting this powerful intention that can guide your actions, decisions, and mindset all throughout the year. And with 2024, right around the corner, I wanted to talk about the importance of setting a word of the year and how it can truly change your life. This is an exercise that I first learned probably about three years ago. And it sounds great, right? Word of the year. But I want you to know that there is power behind choosing a word of the year. Now, since I've only been doing it for three years, I only have two prior words that I can share with you, but I know already what my 2024 word is going to be. And I cannot wait to share it with you and hopefully inspire you to pick a word for yourself and share it back with me. You are listening to the podcast from now to next, the podcast that empowers women to get seen, get heard and get promoted. I'm your host, Erica Rooney, and I've made it my mission to help you break free from the sticky floors, those limiting beliefs and toxic behaviors to bust through the glass ceiling. I'm obsessed with all things, growth and abundance. And I'm here to talk you through the tried and true secrets to get you to level up your career and your life. We talk about the hard stuff here. Imposter syndrome, perfectionism, fear and burnout. So pull up a seat, pop in an ear, bud. And let's dive in. Today we are jumping straight into a topic that is all about setting the tone for eight fantastic year. The power of choosing the word of the year. Now this one word is setting a powerful intention that is going to carry you through the entire 20, 24, but here's the deal. It isn't just fluff study show that people who choose a word of the year are more likely to stay focused on their goals and experience a sense of purpose. And you'll, that's what we're all here for. Now, when I first heard about this exercise, my first word was abundance. I love it. I still love that word. I was heading into this year where I wanted more of everything and not like in a greedy way, but I wanted my cup to be running over with love, to be running over with laughter with friendships. I wanted abundance in relationships in my career and in every cornerstone of my life. I wanted to be very intentional in creating that abundance. And I honestly fell in love with this word shoot. I'm still in love with this word, but it felt powerful and it felt really grounding at the same time, too. Now a guided my actions and my decisions for the entire year. I wasn't sure about something. All I had to do was ask myself, is this going to bring me more abundance? And if the answer was no. Then it was a hell no. Now, here's what I love research conducted by the psychologist, Dr. Angela Duckworth highlights the importance of having this unifying theme to drive your efforts. Now she's a professor of psychology at the university of Pennsylvania and she studies non IQ competencies like self control and grit. And her research shows that when we have this unifying theme, this word of the year, you have that constant reminder of what matters most to you, and that will help align your actions with your values. And my second word of the year, this takes some explaining y'all I struggled. I do not know why, but no word felt right to me. I threw out all kinds of words and yes, they sounded great things like family and love, but I honestly just, I had to give up on it for a while and I buy this planner every single year. It's from a shop called cultivate. What matters. It is a fabulous local shop with these gorgeous planners. And when you buy their planner last year, it came with a card to write your word of the year on in mine. Sat blank for like six months, six months. It wasn't until maybe June or July, that all of the sudden I was hit with what was the word of the year for me? And it was this realization, this knowing just deep in my bones, what my word was, and that word was becoming. Now 2023 for me was all about stepping into this new level of me, a higher level of me. It was about owning that space and really taking on. Higher levels of speaking gigs becoming more refined at this whole podcasting and really just becoming a better me. I share this with you, because I don't want you to feel like you have to force a word or just pick a word, just to pick a word. I don't want you to pick up because it sounds good. I want you to pick a word that has meaning and if it doesn't come right away, if it takes six months, like it did for me. That's okay. Shoot. You know, mine didn't come for half a year and I really had to give up that maybe I just, wasn't going to have one. But now here's, what's wild. At least for me. 2023. It ain't even over yet. And this year, well, I guess I just didn't say next year, I already know what my 2024 word is. So. I'm Italia and I'm so excited. My 20, 24. Word is community. Now I have spent so much of my time in 2023 joining communities and being a part of communities and really cultivating the community around me. I'm in chief, which is a group for executive women. Shout out to all my chief sisters who have always had my back. You know, I'm in this new core group inside of chief, and I really want to pour myself into that group and really show up and be present for all of our meetings. Now I'm in a keynote speaking group called impact 11. I want to work on cultivating my relationships further with my fellow speakers and showing up to our zooms, figuring out how I can collaborate and help each other. And I'm in a group called the society, which is for ambitious women, really entrepreneurs. And I want to focus on that group and get the most out of it that I can. Now what is really great about community? And this whole concept is it doesn't have to be these big, massive things like chief or impact 11. You know, it's also about meeting one-on-one with my friend, Judy, who keeps me accountable for all of my digital coursework that I do. We only meet one hour a week. But we hold each other accountable. And I have so many wonderful neighbors and girlfriends and just people in my life that as a busy working mom, I don't get to spend enough time with, I have the community around me. Now it's time to pour into that community. Now this word is so important to me because in a world that sometimes feels disconnected. Fostering. This sense of community is more crucial than ever. It's not just a buzzword. It is going to be my guiding principle that I hope will transform my relationships and my life in 2024. And really, I know I trust deep down that when I do this, it's going to improve my life. And I hope the lives of all of the other people around me. So if you're ready for a game changing year, I want you to start by identifying your own word of the year. What resonates with you on a deep level? Let that guide your choices and your actions. Once you have it. And then I want you to take that word and I want you to put it on. As many sticky notes, as you have tape it to your fridge, your bathroom mirror. You know, in your car, make it a computer desktop or your phone lock screen, get it everywhere so that you see it and you can remind yourself of where you are going and what is important. Now if you're like me in 2023 and you do not yet have a word of the year and you're just kind of new. About them all. Here's how you can go deeper. Make a list and write down any word that resonates with you. As you kind of plan and think about your goals for the future. And I want you to keep this list for about a week and just any word that comes to your mind, pull it out, jot it down. Don't get too serious about it. Just write anything down that comes into your brain, do it on the notes app in your phone. If you prefer digital, whatever works for you. So far. What word keeps coming into your mind? Has one kind of keep bubbling up. If others haven't crossed them off as you go. If you're not passionate about an X and out. Next. I want you to take that pared down list. For each word that you're considering, and I want you to grab your good old Webster dictionary. Okay. I lied. No one really has a dictionary in their house. Okay. Maybe some of you do. I don't know. I don't have a dictionary head to the Google, but I want you to go in and I want you to look up the definition of the word, and I want you to look up the synonyms and antonyms, and I just want to see what that stirs up for you in your heart and in your mind. And then if you can pick a word. But seriously don't force it. Let it come to you. You will know what word is, right. And guess what? This is all about you really? So if you want one word, two word, three words. You do you go for it? This is an exercise about what you want to keep in the forefront and there's no right or wrong answer. No one is going to judge you. Now my hope is that this simple exercise inspires you to get your ass ready for 2024. I just feel it in my bones, that this is going to be just a super exciting and amazing year with lots of big things. And I want you to know that of 20, 23 was a dud of a year for you guess what? Tomorrow is a new day in 2024. It's right around the corner. It is the biggest fresh start of all time. And I want you to know that what you are doing is important. Even if you are just taking rest. That is important. The work that you are doing, it makes a difference. And as my beautiful planner says that I have right here next to me, we can't do it all and do it all well. But we can choose to cultivate what matters. So friends, if you were listening, You are a part of my community. And some of you've been here for years. We are heading into year three of this podcast, which is just crazy to believe, but thank you for being on this journey with me. Truly. Thank you. I would love, love, love to hear what your word of the year is. So drop it to me on Instagram. Tag me. I want to know, I am so excited and here to help you stay focused on all of those 20, 24 goals and that 20, 24 word of the year. So if you liked this episode helped me. build this community by rating reviewing and subscribing to the podcast, as it truly helps it land in the hands of the woman who needs to hear it the most.