What’s Your Word for 2023?
The one guiding idea you want to carry with you.
Happy New Year! As 2023 begins, I keep coming back to something Meghan shared in the last episode of the Netflix docu-series. The Duchess of Sussex told the story of a friend who hosted a dinner party and asked everyone at the table to pick one guiding word for the year ahead. “Not a resolution. What is your word?” Meghan recalled. “And I thought, ‘My word is peace. Peace. Peace. It’s got to be peace. All I want is peace.’”
Since hearing about this idea from Meghan, I’ve seen the sentiment echoed elsewhere. Tara Parker-Pope, writing in the Washington Post, called it “the anti-resolution resolution” and a way to “reflect on your values, intentions and hopes for the new year.” Parker-Pope cautioned against choosing something broad, specific, or goal-oriented; this is about “how you want to live in 2023.”
The simplicity of it speaks to me on so many levels. Just one word! A few — seemingly competing — contenders sprung to mind. My first thought was “joy” followed by “boundaries.” But then I wondered: Are they competing? Isn’t there a lot of joy that comes from setting boundaries? As someone who likes to think things through, I am going to mull over my choice for a few more days. (And as someone who also needs a deadline, LOL, I have decided I’ll pick my word by my birthday this weekend.)
Feeling a bit anxious about finding the perfect word? I am taking comfort in Meghan’s journey around her choice. Although “peace” was the first idea that came to mind, she opted for “truth” instead. “I can’t have peace without truth,” she reasoned. Fast forward a year, however, and “truth” hadn’t achieved what she had hoped it would. “It hasn’t given us peace,” she said. “My word has to be peace.” May we all show ourselves the same grace amid reflection.
What word are you carrying into the new year? Are you trying to decide between a few choices? Please share your thoughts, and/or thought process, in the comments.
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PS: Need a little help finding a word? Morgan Harper Nichols has the most beautiful Reel for you.
Start. As a perfectionist I tend to procrastinate in fear that I won’t do things perfectly. This year my only goal is to start.
My word is "ease." Last year was a banner one for my career, and a not-so-banner one for my health. Ease for me means applying a filter of "does this feel good?" AND "is this good for me?" on the little things as well as the big to free up my head and heart to settle into the next chapter - whatever it may be!