Just saying "2021" out loud sounds... promising, even hopeful and invigorating! While we're still in the midst of navigating these strange and challenging times, I'm going ahead and carrying on with one of my favorite traditions to bring excitement and enthusiasm into planning for 2021. (Pssst… If you’ve been around here for a while, you know what’s coming next!)

With the new year (and end of 2020!) just a champagne toast away, most of us are busy thinking about our resolutions: get healthy, exercise more, eliminate sugar, quit carbs (for good!) But trying to make big changes all at once can be daunting. Not surprising, this rarely works. We burn out – or pull a muscle, or unhappily binge-eat a batch of chocolate chip cookies over the sink.

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!)

In 2020, I picked the word believe. With everything that has been happening around us and all the uncertainty over the last 10 months, I could have chosen to live in fear but instead I chose to tap into my word of the year to trust and believe. Having online connections and this community (that's YOU) absolutely helped me get through this challenging time, too! (And to show my gratitude, I have an AWESOME giveaway. Keep reading!!)

Through the years, I’ve chosen, evolve, trust, simplify, ease, spaciousness, simplify, and savor kicked the whole tradition off!

My “word of the year” anchors my daily life. It guides the work that I do, the choices that I make, and the way that I navigate my days. When I feel adrift, I remember my word of the year and come back to myself – and my goals for coming months.

My word for 2021? Bold. (Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it?)

Bold means showing an ability to take risks and not shying away from what's in my heart. As a people pleaser, I admittedly play it safe. But now it is time to go all in in a deeper, raw, and authentic way. Writing my book cracked me open, and I can't wait to boldly share some of the lessons and stories that unfolded... and to support all of you.

Choosing to be bold is about having confidence in this very moment and courageously staying present, rather than being fearful of an imagined, uncertain future.

To really be bold, I’ll ditch self-doubt and get louder with my food story message so that I can help you release all the stress around food and lead you to a more joyful (and relaxed) way to eat, think, and live, too.

But my word of 2021 may not be your word. Perhaps you’d like the next year to feel calm or connected or creative. Maybe you seek simplicity, or to feel like it's your time to recharge.

Choosing a word of the year has grounded me and changed the course of my next trip around the sun –and I know it can do the same for you!

Here are three steps to get you started:

Think … about how you want to feel. In order to keep traditional resolutions, we track numbers: calories, dollars, social media followers. But with a single word as your beacon, 2021 becomes easier and sweeter. A “successful” year becomes a year that feels the way you want it to feel.

Dig deep. Peer through the window of your Future Dream Life. Really imagine the specifics: how do you want your life to feel? Free? Supported? Confident? Imagine 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 necessarily have to labor over this decision; just reflect. In 2020, what worked? What didn’t? If you’re honest with yourself, you probably already know how you’d like next year to be different, even though we are still in the midst of a pandemic. When a word springs to mind and feels right in your gut, you’ve got it!

Apply … your 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 or your friends and family who you may not be able to see right now.

How does your word apply at work? At home? In your thoughts? Does it affect the way you move your body, or the food choices you make? Will it change the way you use technology, or the ideas that fill your mind? When you apply your word to all the areas of your life, you’re ready to make it happen everywhere.

Now it’s your turn: To encourage you to find your word for 2021, I’ve partnered with Joya, one of my absolute favorite brands that brings health and joy into my life every single day. To show appreciation, we’re giving away an Elixir All Day Starter Bundle filled with a jar each of Focus, Bliss, and Glow adaptogenic elixirs plus a frother to one VERY lucky person!

It will help you start the year with healthy and fun new rituals – and will remind you to plan special moments in your day to take care of yourself, too! To enter, share your word of 2021 in the comments, and I’ll pick a random winner on December 31st. Good luck!

Cheers to a year filled with health, happiness, and just the right word!