Discovering is my chosen word for 2022. Choosing a word of the year can be an empowering practice—it is like a personal guiding light to guide you throughout the year. It brings focus and provides an intentional map to guide your actions and life.

A single word that embodies the vision you have for yourself for 2022. And it can be any word you would like. I first stumbled on the concept when I read “One Word that will Change your Life” By Jon Gordon.

The Word

The idea was intriguing, so I decided to try it, and it was my most focused and exciting year in a very long time. 

Choosing a word of the year is decisive and powerful. As the early days of the New Year fade into weeks and months, it sometimes becomes challenging to remember the list of goals we’ve created. But having ONE word with meaning and intent provides an instant reminder of what we decided we wanted our year to be. 

My word for 2022 is Discovering—I cheated here a bit because I chose my word in July of 2021. I had lost my dad a few months before, and my life fell apart. Everyone and everything I thought I knew, I didn’t, and that included myself. 

It was a difficult time for me. It was filled with pain and hurt—I felt so lost and alone. 

I remembered that day in July when I finally got out of bed after days of being under my covers—I sat by my bedroom window and wrote in my Journal:

I wrote in my Journal…

“It is time for a new start. Although I don’t know where to go, the possibilities somehow feel endless. So much has happened, and so much has come to light that I can no longer choose to ignore.”

“Life is so short, too short—we will all die at some time. But, like everyone, I hope to die much later rather than sooner. I want to make the most of each moment, but most importantly, I want to be in the absolute present. To face whatever is happening, explore and use it to be brave and not be afraid. Like now when I am so afraid, and it is so harrowing.”

“It is much easier to clench my teeth and keep shutting the world out. Clenching my teeth and disappearing might be easy, but it will not allow me to grow or allow life to flow. It is almost impossible to see beyond the hurt I’ve experienced over the last few months and the pain I feel deep within. It feels impossible to move beyond where I am right now. But it is with all the courage I can muster today I look forward to letting myself live.”

I decided…

Everything I thought I knew—everything I was sure of- I now realize I knew nothing and was wrong about so many things in my life. So the journey I started today is about me! It is to discover myself, my life, and life in general.”

My life fell apart, and I began a journey of discovering, and it is a journey I chose to continue in 2022. And that is how I decided on my word for this year.

Since starting this journey of discovering, I have found so much about myself, and I am discovering daily about myself and the world and those around me.

If this is a concept you would like to explore—here are five tips to help you choose YOUR word.

    (1) Find a quiet place to reflect.

You will need a notebook, a few sheets of paper, and a pen. Here are a few questions to ponder:

• Think about the person you would like to become.
• What kind of year would you like to have?
• What did you love about your life from the past year?
• Are there areas in your life you would like to replicate or improve?
• What can you use more of in your life?
• What can you use less of in your life?
• How do you want to feel?

Don’t censor yourself; write anything that comes to your mind. For example, You might write something like “Financial Abundance. Beauty. Embrace. Successful. Focus. Health. Learn.”

     (2) Look at the list you made. Does any of those words excite you? Circle or highlight two or three words. 

Try on the words how do they make you feel: empowered? Peaceful? Afraid? Don’t overanalyze it. Try them on. Remember, the word you choose should excite you because it represents something good you would like to bring into your life.

     (3) Don’t feel you must come up with your word this minute. If you’re struggling to choose, narrow it down to one word and spend a few days with it.

     (4) Once you find your word, put it somewhere you can see it for the next few days.

     (5) Now that you have lived with your word for a few days. Answer this question: Are you interested in the word, or are you committed to your chosen word?

You have officially got your word if you’re committed to your chosen word. By being committed, you will do whatever you can to implement your word into your life.

Make a plan for how you’ll live out your word throughout the year, and let your word be your guide.

Comment below: what is your word for 2022?