Happy New Year!
If you are reading this, I wish you a healthy, joyful and peaceful 2025! Do you have a word of the year 2025? A word of the year is a theme word that you can draw upon to remind you of where you are and where you want to be throughout the year.
Like holidays of previous years, I took some time this holiday season to reflect on the previous year – and years – thinking about the highlights as well as the challenges I faced personally and professionally. Our family also enjoys talking about Christmases past, sharing stories about past. Reflecting on the past makes for room to a clearer path for the future, understanding unhealthy patterns and lessons learned from mistakes to move forward.
With all of the learning and observations from that year, I like to select a word that can summarize what I’d like the new year to bring and represent. Resolutions are easily broken but a focus or theme word can be easier to recall during times of uncertainty. A theme word can help you focus your intentions more easily, serving as a mantra when you get off track of your goals or lose focus on what your intentions are.
It’s interesting to look back at some of my theme words over the past 10 years:
2014 – flourish
2015 – focus, be, leisure
2016 – nurture
2017 – manifest
2018 – clarify, courage, celebration
2019 – pivot
2020 – open
2021 – grounding
2022 – grounding* though I didn’t write a new word, the word ‘grounding’ trickled into 2022
2023 – cultivate
2024 – healing
How do you choose a theme word of the year?
It can seem daunting to choose a theme word of the year that best summarizes what you aspire to be, do and accomplish in a year. What is one word that captures the overall mood or sentiment you hope to embrace in 2025?
With some reflection, you’ll likely discover one word—or even a few, as I did in 2018. Take a moment to consider your personal and professional aspirations for the year ahead. Think about the emotions and feelings you want to foster. Do any recurring themes or patterns emerge?
Where do you envision yourself in the future?
What experiences do you hope to gain? Are there habits you want to build or break? What core values matter most to you? Your theme word should resonate with these values and represent the person you aspire to be. At the same time, remain flexible and ready to adapt your theme word as the year progresses. Remember, nothing is set in stone, and change is constant. Your priorities or circumstances may evolve, so stay open to shifting your focus if needed.
Now that you’ve chosen your theme word, what’s next?
After selecting your theme word, consider creating a visual reminder like a vision board or a desktop wallpaper featuring the word prominently. A vision board can be most helpful as the process of searching and finding images that best reflect your theme and goals can help solidify them. Often, we may not know what we’re looking for until we see it visually, so this would be a helpful exercise.
Alternatively, you can set a daily reminder on your phone with your word, accompanied by an inspirational or motivational message if it resonates. These small prompts can help reinforce your dedication to your theme word and keep you focused throughout the year..
Word of the Year 2025
After a period of grieving and healing, 2025 is a year to start anew and so much two words are:
Regenerate and Explore
Regenerate means to re-create or revive something anew, bringing into existence again a renewed sense of life and hope. Regeneration can apply to personal development, where one might regenerate their mindset, habits, or lifestyle, or even physical regeneration, like focusing on health and wellness. It’s about embracing the cycle of renewal, where the old is transformed into something vibrant and thriving.
Explore is all about venturing into the unknown, seeking new opportunities, and expanding your horizons. It’s an invitation to push past your current boundaries and dive into new experiences. It’s a word that embodies curiosity and adventure, pushing you to seek out the unknown and discover new passions, opportunities, and destinations. “Explore” reminds you to keep an open mind and actively search for experiences that enrich both your work and life.
What is your word for 2025?
