One Little Word® 2014

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Make your word visible: Order your own word from recycled matericals created by artist Colleen Attara here

My One Little Word for 2014 is thrive.

This year, more than any other I can remember, I'm starting off the year with questions. What does it mean for me to thrive? What does it look like? What does it fee like? Are there areas in which I'm already thriving? What's realistic vs. visions of what I have in my head of what it means to thrive?

Open was an awesome word for me last year. It was a touchstone as I navigated my way through growing pains and man oh man did it work in a million different ways I could not have imagined when I started 2013. More often than not when faced with a decision, I chose to open more rather than closing off which was my number one intention last year. That said, I feel like I've been spinning in circles a lot this past year. I've been reacting vs. being proactive and have been dealing with a variety of issues related to stress and growth (totally all part of my own life journey).

To me thriving is optimal living. It's being present and awake and stepping up to be my best self physically, emotionally, spiritually, creatively and within my relationships.

It's not a quest for perfection. It's an opportunity to continue choosing to let go of things outside of my control and to figure out who that best-me-right-now really is.

It will be a whole new journey and I'm here to tell you I welcome it wholeheartedly.

Bring on 2014.

This year I invited my friend Elise Blaha Cripe to film a little video about her experience with One Little Word. One of the reasons I admire Elise is that she is awesome at follow-through and documentation. I've loved reading about her experience with her words over the last few years on her blog and she inspires me consistently with her projects and her real-life reflections.

Here's Elise in her own words:

Thank you Elise for sharing about your own journey here.


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Are you considering selecting a word for yourself (or letting one find you)? There's no right or wrong. The main thing to remember is that this is your word. It's not for your child, parent, partner, spouse, sister, etc.

And what do you do with this one little word?

You live with it. You invite it into you life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities.

SHARE YOUR WORD THE COMMENTS | I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2014. In the comments feel free to simply leave your word as your comment or write a bit about why you are choosing this word. In a couple days I’ll combine all the words into a single post – super inspiring to see all the words in one place.

If you’re new to the concept of One Little Word, you can read some of my previous posts here: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.


ONE LITTLE WORD® 2014 | To help keep your One Little Word® more visible throughout the year I offer a year-long workshop featuring one prompt per month. Read all the details and sign up here. Registration is $5 off until December 31.

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938 thoughts

  1. Amy M. says…
    12/30/2013

    Enough.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Donna M says…
    12/30/2013

    MOMENT found me, mainly because I want to be more aware of trying to live in the moment, but also capture the moment, seize the moment, spur of the moment, etc. Trying to let go of yesterday and not stress about tomorrow.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Donna M says…
      12/30/2013

      And forgot to add that Elise's video was great. I love that these words stick with you and continue to work alongside your new word:)

  3. Tricia says…
    12/30/2013

    My word for 2014 is Create and I'm so excited! At first I though it was just an encouragement towards the artistic - Create a poem, a painting, a song, a story, but now I think it extends to much more - Create moments, moods, possibilities, opportunities! 2014 is looking pretty amazing right now!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Lisa says…
      01/02/2014

      This is my first year of doing this and the more I think about it and after all the suggestions I've read it feels like create is the top runner for me also. For me I want to be more creative but also need to create the life I want. Create moods that affect those around me positively, create the body acceptance I want and create an environment I want to live in.

  4. Tonya says…
    12/30/2013

    Connections

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Amy D says…
    12/30/2013

    Bold

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Terri Lynn Startari says…
    12/30/2013

    PREVAIL!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Kathy says…
    12/30/2013

    My word for 2014 is HEALTHY.... Healthy life, body, mind, thoughts, family, food, activities, household (green cleaners and wholesome real food). I have a very difficult controlling ex which takes it's toll on my energy and thiughts and I really need to focus on healthy thoughts so that I don't let his actions affect my life more than it has to. Difficult considering the person he is. I am hoping to focus on our healthy life in all aspects in 2014 for myself and my 10 and nearly 8 year old. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. What I’m Reading | a glass of milk says…
    12/30/2013

    […] you know about One Little Word?  Ali Edwards started this little thing that grew into a big thing.  Elise is way into it too.  […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Lindsey says…
    12/30/2013

    I chose VISIBLE for 2014. I want my faith to be visible and apparent to everyone I meet. I also want my passion for my work, love for friends and family and need for others to be visible to the world. Which I think piggy backs nicely off my word OPEN for 2013. Thanks for such a great challenge/project!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. kybarb says…
    12/30/2013

    Mindfulness. I think it will help me in several areas I'm struggling with!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Felicity says…
    12/30/2013

    My one little word for 2013 was Faith, and I embraced it wholeheartedly across all aspects of my life.
    In 2014 my one little word will be Learn.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. April says…
    12/30/2013

    AWAKE... as in not sleeping, eyes wide open.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Cheryl :) says…
    12/30/2013

    I've chosen "Deeper." It seems like my whole life, I've just been skimming the surface of being. Kinda like my existence has been shallow. Whether it's my projects, books read and even in my relationships with family and friends. I'm not living in depth. I need to embrace the depth of things good or bad in my life and learn to look at all things with a deeper sense of meaning.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. DebZorn says…
    12/30/2013

    Like most OLW people, I've been thinking about my word for 2014.
    When I went to Ali's blog, today, it made me smile I chose the same word she did. So here's to THRIVING in 20104.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Kathy says…
    12/30/2013

    My word is HEALTHY. In 2014 I want every aspect of our lives to be healthy. Thoughts, body, life, activities, food, household (green cleaners and decluttering). Having a very difficult controlling ex my thoughts and our lives get very stressed with pressures he puts on our family and whilst I have no control over what he does (and his actions do affect us) I want to try and think healthy thoughts and not let him affect our lives as much as he does. Easier said than done over the past 6 years but I know I need to have healthier thoughts so that we live our lives the best way we can. A HEALTHY LIFE with all aspects being healthy will be good for us.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Kimberly Gruber says…
    12/30/2013

    "Present"
    "..to let go of all expectations and worries, simply celebrate the very moment that I am living..and in these precious moments I will be truly present and listening to grace."

    I knew this was my word that I needed the past 4 years of my life. I was given a piece of beautiful art done by Kelly Rae Roberts, titled: BE PRESENT. It truly was for me. I am claiming this word for 2014.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Jaque says…
    12/30/2013

    Well-being!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Doreen says…
    12/30/2013

    My word is "give".
    I have always been a very selfish person and during the past 3 years my selfishness has caused a lot of hurt to people I love. I almost destroyed my life (and other's) because of that selfishness and now that things are back on track, partly to some changes I had made and partly because I am lucky enough to have people in my life who truly love me, I want to continue to enjoy a positive present and every day move forward to a positive future.
    Part of what got me on the right track is learning to be less selfish. I would love to continue to be that selfless person I am trying to be and for that reason, "give" is the perfect word for me for 2014!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Michellejeanne says…
      01/02/2014

      Doreen, I just needed to say how difficult that must have been to realize, and how brave to make those changes and admit that about yourself. You go, fly in 2014!

  19. Denise says…
    12/30/2013

    Shine

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Carla Hundley says…
    12/30/2013

    Reduce! Want to reduce my
    weight, clutter, stress.
    Carla from Utah

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Jenny says…
    12/30/2013

    My word is CONFIDENCE.

    I have to be confident in myself. There's a lot of things I'd like to do but somehome my lack in confidence always seems to get in the way. My bpyfriend asked me to move in with him but for me that means moving 350 km away from my parents, giving up my wonderful apartement, starting a new job and more. Therefore I need to be confident that everything will work out and everything will be good in the end. 2014 will sure be full of challenges for me.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. CY365 Podcast Episode 6 | It’s What Keeps Me In The Game | CaptureYour365 says…
    12/30/2013

    […] Ali Edward’s One Little Word […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Artfulscrapbooking says…
    12/30/2013

    Magnifique - I chose a French word, because this year I've been scrapping my pictures from my trip to Paris. To me, it means to to be brave and bold with a sense of fun. I just signed up for the class today and I am looking forward to spending the year with this word. :) Evie

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. jasmine says…
    12/30/2013

    I already shared mine on the Facebook page, but I'd like to share here too. :) My word for 2014 is lark. Since I finalized my decision, I've already realized several other meanings the word has for me. I'm so excited to see what's in store for my 2014!

    My husband has decided to choose a word too (although he won't be participating in the workshop). His is verdure. I love it so much, and I love the way our words and associations are already crossing paths. It's exciting that we'll be on our own personal journeys together. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Liz says…
    12/30/2013

    Pondering either simple or essence. Like essence more, but it's a challenging word to define which might explain why I like it right now :-)

    Reply 0 Replies

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