What if planning for 2026 felt thrilling? Exciting? Fun and invigorating?!

(Pssst… If you’ve been around here for a while, you know what’s coming next!)

With the new year just a champagne toast away, most of us are busy thinking about our resolutions and intentions: get healthy, eat more protein, lift weights, eliminate sugar, cut down on carbs (for good!) …

For me, New Year’s promises became an exercise in shame and disappointment, rather than hope and excitement. They highlighted all the ways that my previous year didn’t quite measure up, instead of filling me up with visions of the future.

But at the end of 2013, I shifted the way I thought about my coming year, and instantly, everything felt different: lighter, easier, and sustainable.

What did I do? I chose a word of the year. (My favorite annual ritual, and I LOVE when you join in too!)

Over the years, I’ve chosen spaciousness, magic, reconnect, elevate, bold, believe, evolve, trust, ease, simplify, and savor kicked the whole tradition off!

My word of the year anchors my daily life, shapes my decisions, guides my actions, and reminds me of my true North when things feel uncertain.

My word for 2026? LUMINOUS (Sounds intriguing doesn't it?)

Luminous isn’t about ignoring what’s hard or pretending everything is bright. It’s about how I move through my days – seeking lightness in my body, clarity in my mind, warmth in my connections, and alignment in the choices I make. 

Embodying a more luminous life means releasing what weighs me down and doing more of what brings energy, joy, and a sense of aliveness. It’s choosing foods, habits, and relationships that support how I want to live day-to-day. 

Luminous also guides how I show up for others, extending that light into my conversations, my work, and the way I connect with all of you.

It’s my reminder that even in darker times, we can choose to be a source of light for ourselves and for each other.

Now, it’s your turn: What would you like to invite in for 2026?

Maybe you’re yearning for calm, creativity, or connection. Perhaps you seek simplicity, or to feel a much-needed recharge. 

This isn't about finding the most profound or Instagram-worthy word. It's about choosing a word that resonates and sparks something inside of you.

Here's my three step method to get you started:

Think about how you want to feel.
Instead of tracking numbers and measuring success externally, imagine the feelings you want to embrace. How do you want your life to feel? Free? Supported? Confident? Picture your heart and mind feeling that way, every single day, then choose your word accordingly.

Trust your intuition.
Choosing your word of the year is a lot easier than you might expect. You don’t have to labor over this decision; just reflect. In 2025, what worked? What didn’t? You probably already know how you’d like next year to be different. When a word springs to mind and feels right in your gut, you’ve got it!

Apply your word to your whole life.
How does your word show up at work? At home? In your thoughts? Apply your word to all areas of your life – body, relationships, career, and mindset – and start living it every day.

Once you find your word, let it become an integral part of how you show up in your next chapter.

Happy 2026!

Cheers to a year filled with health, joy, light… and just the right word,

P.S. Feel free to join the fun and share your word here.