Sherry Martin is a senior human resources leader with expertise in delivering strategic solutions that solve organizational challenges.
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At the start of 2024, I saw posts on social media about choosing your "word for the year," and there are many reasons for doing it. For example, letting one word guide your year can help you with your New Year’s resolutions or provide clarity and focus on the person you want to become and what you want to accomplish. It can even just be a motto to live by.
But can one word really offer the guidance you're seeking for your personal aspirations and intentions?
I decided that instead of declaring a bunch of resolutions that rarely come to fruition, I'd choose a one-word theme to help keep me centered throughout 2024. Here are the three steps I took for choosing and committing to my word.
Step 1: Reflection
There are different strategies to help you with self-reflection. A good place to start is by asking yourself open-ended questions and reflecting on them through journaling, connecting with nature or envisioning where you want to be or what you want to achieve in the short and long term. From there, think about words that speak to your experiences and align with your values and intentions. Consider checking out the website The Goal Chaser; I like it because it has a list of 300-plus words and their meanings.
I reflected on what needed to be different in my life compared to last year and what I wanted to accomplish in the coming year. I knew it was important for me to be more intentional with my mind, body and spirit to align with my values and strive to be a better version of myself. But a global tragedy also impacted my reflection.
As an American Jew, the events of October 7, 2023, left me feeling overwhelmed, anxious, alone and fearful with the rise of antisemitism and hate that I never imagined I would be experiencing in my lifetime. But because the three key morals of Judaism are justice, healing the world, and charity and kindness to others, I was compelled to return to my faith and find community. I found renewed importance in celebrating life milestones, observing and celebrating holidays, reading, learning and sharing my perspective on a deeply rooted complex history. This feeling greatly informed my word selection.
Step 2: Selection
The next step was to choose a word that aligns with my current values and goals. I needed to choose a word that could support me in becoming who I strive to be. Based on my reflections, faith and who I am as a person, I determined that "grounded" is the right word to guide me toward being more intentional with my mind, body and spirit in 2024.
When making your selection, look for themes in words that have meaning to you and are positive and actionable. While one word works for me, you may find it helpful to have two or three words serve as your North Star(s) and guide you in your efforts.
Step 3: Commitment
The final step is finding ways to commit to the word in your personal and professional lives. It's important to lean into and experience how your word of the year helps you focus on what you want to accomplish in 2024. You may want to keep a journal, find an inspirational quote, create a vision board or share a social media post to help with your commitment. I plan to journal and write down monthly how I am incorporating "grounded" into my life.
For example, in my professional life, I can stay grounded by remembering that I'm intelligent, curious and kind, and I know how to get things done. These qualities have supported me in being an empathetic leader who's a continual learner and open to different perspectives.
In my personal life, I've found exercise keeps me grounded and committed to my overall health goals, and I'm working with a therapist to develop more strategies to stay grounded. Of course, I'll also be leaning on the people who keep me anchored: my family. In fact, we have a yearly tradition of filling a "happy jar" with notes of gratitude, proud accomplishments and feelings of awe—anything that made us happy throughout the year. On New Year’s Eve, we read all the notes to remind us of all the good that happened in the year. This tradition keeps me grounded because it has built a healthier family relationship and helps me look for both the big and small moments of joy.
Commit to a continual reflection on how your word of the year is helping with your intentions and goals. It's helpful to at least check in at mid-year. Remember to be flexible with yourself. If you find that your original selection isn't working for you, then repeat these steps until you land on the word or words that will better support you in 2024.
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