One Little Word® 2014

AE_THRIVE_Web
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.


AE_Thrive

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.

Related Posts

Sign in or sign up to comment.

938 thoughts

  1. Mary M. says…
    12/31/2013

    I was sifting through the comments here and thinking again about my word for next year, and FREE just popped into my head. It feels really good, so I think I'm going to go with it! This will be my my first time trying OLW and I'm really excited. Here's to a fantastically freeing 2014! =)

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Debbie says…
    12/31/2013

    Yay! Finally time to play in 2014. I trUSt that time will allow it all to happen. Double 'T', US, trust in HIM, last name ST...so many letters working to fit this word into my life.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Beth says…
    12/31/2013

    I've been mulling over a lot of words for my 2014 word (I have been doing OLW for the past 5 years) and wasn't quite sure, but as usual, a word found its way to me that feels just right . . .
    *EMBRACE*

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. gina says…
    12/31/2013

    Fierce

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Michelle Collazo says…
    12/31/2013

    My word for 2014 is LIGHT.

    I have no doubt this will seep into every single corner of my life that I try to compartmentalize. Moving forward from a an especially stressful year, I realized now that I allowed myself to sort move into the darkness and just settle there...sober, quiet, serious, and let's not forget, anxious.

    But God is good, and his light is steady and true. And here I am, seeking out light with him and who he made me to be, and now allowing my shoulders and my hands and my thoughts and that tight space between my eyebrows to simply relax into light...bask in it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Wendy O. says…
    12/31/2013

    For the past two years, my word has been "nourish", before that "patience". This year "emerge" gas choices see end me.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Carson says…
    12/31/2013

    My word is PATIENCE. I'm hoping this word will keep me focused when waiting for so many things this coming year. My newborn to sleep through the night, while disciplining my 3 year old, for my body to come back, for readership on my blog to increase and a host of other things. I'm looking forward to this adventure.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Stephanie Hackney says…
    12/31/2013

    Ali,

    Love, love, love the concept of One Little Word.

    For me, it has made such a difference in my approach to life and business and relationships this year, and to actually accomplishing what I set out to accomplish.

    My word for 2013 is CREATE and boy did I do a lot of that!

    My word for 2014 is FOCUS.

    I have many opportunities and with mild ADD tendencies, I know that I have to stay focused on the goals and not let myself get easily distracted by others and/or by opportunities that are not in alignment with where I want to go and what I want to accomplish this year.

    I am taking your class and I look forward to documenting how my new word affects my life.

    See you soon!

    Steph

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Stacy says…
    12/31/2013

    My word for 2014 is ORGANIZE. This focus makes the new year so much more exciting!

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

      I have picked organize as well, my first year! I just can't get it out of my head and it will be interesting to see where the word takes me throughout the year :)

  10. ZoeZuDesign says…
    12/31/2013

    Calm.

    I love that just the thought of the word, helps me to feel calm. Really looking forward to my first year of OLW.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Birgit says…
      12/31/2013

      Me, too. When I looked at synonyms it really hit me, because it stands for so many things that I am looking to find in 2014: balance, patience, quiet, still, space, in order, breathe, cool, soothing, slow, tranquil, harmonious, relax, steady, easy, even, kind, light, enough. So after less, focus, simplify and choose CALM will be with me in 2014.

  11. *Dream Weaver* says…
    12/31/2013

    my word is JOY.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Helena C says…
    12/31/2013

    ENTHUSE
    In the past few years I've worked on being flexible and adapting to me new life - in a different country with a new job. Now I want to move from coping to being proactive and injecting enthusiasm and excitement into my life

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Lisa Barton @ vintage celebrations says…
    12/31/2013

    My choice of word is TODAY. With 4 young daughters I am always thinking ahead by neccessity but in the interim am forgetting to concentrate on what is happening now. Taking time to revel in what the day brings and noticing the small stuff that makes our world turn. Today also enables me to complete my project life one day/small step at a time. I'm also always anxious of what the future may or may not bring so I need to relax back into the present and be grateful for what I have in my life now - tomorrow will take care of itself :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Miranda says…
    12/31/2013

    I didn't start thinking about my word for 2014 until I saw your photo on instagram. Almost immediately it came to me while other years I need to look deep and ponder it over some days.
    CREATE is my word for 2014.
    I want to get more creative.
    And that means so much. Creative in making things, creative with my time, creative to work on happy balanced life. Creative to deal with the challenges I have to face.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Pauline says…
    12/31/2013

    I think mine is going to be nurture.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. J3SS1C4 says…
    12/31/2013

    I'm excited to start the New Year with my word Balance. I've spent some time today finishing up my album for this year, and I am still so amazed at what this year has brought, so I can't wait for the year ahead! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Christine says…
    12/31/2013

    I've chosen a word for years now. I think it's such a great practice. My past words have included "balance" and "harmony," the year I was pregnant my word was "temple," and the next year as I entered motherhood my word was "nurture."

    I always sit in stillness and let my word come to me. This year, my word will be CLEAN.

    This has several meanings for me: clean house, clean mind, clean words coming out of my mouth (especially since I have a toddler who repeats everything), ....but mostly clean eating. I turn 40 this year and I want to be thinner/lighter and feel less cluttered when I do!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Amy K says…
    12/31/2013

    This is my 5th year of OLW.

    TEND is speaking to me for 2014. I have several things in my life that I need to TEND to.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. joeynumber41 says…
    12/31/2013

    Magic.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Kimberly Gruber says…
    12/31/2013

    "Present"

    When I let go of all expectations and worries and just simply celebrate the moment I am living...and in those precious moments I am truly PRESENT and listening to grace...

    I received a beautiful painting done by Kelly Rae Roberts entitled: "Be Present." It truly spoke to my heart. I claim this powerful word for 2014.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Kimberly Gruber says…
    12/31/2013

    Sorry!! didn't mean to post twice..ALL this blogging stuff is very new to me. I am a 'newbie.'

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Michelle says…
    12/31/2013

    This is my sixth year picking a word. My word this year is RISK. I've blogged about it here. http://1gratefulteacher.blogspot.com/2013/12/from-still-to-risk.html I'd love feedback. Thanks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Kathy says…
    12/31/2013

    I've encouraged my 10 year old and 7.5 year old to pick a word and James chose "organized" as he wants to be more organized this year and Sienna chose "care". I've told them my word which is Healthy and we are all going to focus on these words. Nothing like starting them young for a positive word to be part of their life. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Anne B says…
    12/31/2013

    I think to participate to OLW since few years but today I really need to focus on something important for me, for my life, for my family and my word is PATIENCE . I really need to find patience with my kids (2 boys 3 and 5 years) because I become crazy and I shout to much for me and for the harmony of the family. I have to be more patience also in my my work and my hobby because I need time to progress before give up my goals. (I'm french I hope my english is not so bad)

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Janne says…
    12/31/2013

    Gennemfør (complete)

    Too many projects undone / to many thoughts not made into action / too many wishes just hanging in the air ..... I aim to complete more in 2014 than in 2013

    Reply 0 Replies

Sign in or sign up to comment.