What if planning for 2016 felt thrilling? Exciting? Fun and invigorating?

I don’t know about you, but when I was in the habit of making yearly resolutions, they most certainly did not feel like that. For me, coming up with my New Year’s promises to myself was more like an exercise in shame and disappointment; it seemed to highlight all the ways my previous year hadn’t quite measured up. Add to that the stress of planning goals and changes for the next year, and it became a recipe for disaster!

But at the end of 2013, I changed the way I thought about my coming year and instantly, everything felt lighter, easier, and more loving.

What did I do? I chose a word of the year. 

In 2015, I picked the word trust. In 2014, my word was simplify.

My “word of the year” anchors my daily life. It helps me focus. It guides the work I do, the choices I make, and the way I navigate my everyday. When I feel adrift, I remember my word of the year and come back to myself & my goals for 2016.

My word for 2016? Spaciousness.

Sounds nice & relaxing, doesn’t it? 

This means making space in my day for a spontaneous game of fetch with my dogs or a leisurely stroll through the farmers’ market. It means finally making space for the book I’ve always wanted to write. It means prepping food on Sunday in a non-stressful manner... and then having space to kick back and enjoy my evenings without worrying about what’s for dinner during the week.

It’s resisting the desire to schedule, map out, and micro-manage every single last detail.

It’s saying “no” comfortably to make room to say "YES!"

Really, it’s greeting life and opportunities with arms wide open.

But the word that works for me is not necessarily the word that works for you. Maybe you’d like 2016 to feel focused or connected or inspired. Or perhaps you want ease or to be more playful.

Choosing a word of the year has grounded me and changed the course of my next trip around the sun—and I want that for you, too! Here are three steps that will get you started.

1. Think about how you want your life to look + feel
In order to keep traditional resolutions, we usually end up counting calories, dollars, or social media followers. We track numbers and assess our success based on said numbers.

But when you navigate your new year with a single word as your beacon, 2016 slowly shifts into something easier and sweeter. A “successful” year is a year that looks and feels the way we want it to look and feel.

Peer through the window of your Future Dream Life and really imagine the specifics. Would it look like Fridays off, getting a manicure with your best friend? Would it look like more quality time with your kids? How would you spend that time with them? What would you talk about? Would your Future Dream Life look like a night out in the city? Who would you be with? What would you be wearing?

And how do you want it to feel? Do you want to feel free? Supported? Seen? Imagine the way you want your heart and mind to feel every day and then choose a word accordingly.

2. Trust your intuition
Choosing your word of the year is a lot easier than you’d expect. You don’t necessarily have to labor over this decision; you likely don’t need to turn this over in your mind a thousand times.

Really think about 2015. What worked? What didn’t? If you’re honest with yourself, you probably already know how you’d like 2016 to be different. If a word immediately springs to mind and it feels right in your gut, you’ve found your word. Congratulations!

3. Now consider how you can apply this word to your whole life
“Supported”’ at home means something different than “supported” in your professional life. And “connected” to your body is different than being “connected” to your partner.

How does your word apply in the context of work? At home? Does it affect the way you move your body or the choices you make around food? Will it change the way you use technology?

When you take the time to imagine the way your word applies to all the areas of your life, you’re ready to make that word happen—everywhere.

Now it’s your turn: To encourage you to find your word for 2016, I’m giving away a copy of the just released (gorgeous!) cookbook, The Plantiful Table.  It will help you start the year off on a nutritious & delicious note. All you need to do is share your word of the year in the comments, and I’ll pick a winner at random on Monday evening, December 21. Good luck!

Wishing you a year filled with health & happiness...and finding just the right word.

***Update: The giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all of you who shared your word of the year! Congratulations to Cheryl Kindred.

Photo credit Robert Sturman and Rosa Loves DC.