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.


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.

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938 thoughts

  1. Debbie says…
    01/02/2014

    Action

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Roxanne says…
    01/02/2014

    Hi Ali!
    On New Year's Eve, somehow I ended up on your blog...I'm not sure
    why I don't have it in my regular reading--but I didn't (I have changed that!! :)

    I read your blog leading up to, about and following the "one little word", and started thinking about what word would I choose...the last 3 years of my life have been simply hell. I'm still left broken and asking why??? Which has lead me to the word I am choosing for 2014-- BE.

    BE forgiving.
    BE accountable.
    BE strong.
    BE courageous.
    BE selective. That is a huge one, as selective is removing the negative people from my life. I can still love them, but they cannot continue to be allowed to hurt me anymore. This is so painful, because its my daughter, my beloved, precious child, that has turned from a best friend to someone that I don't even recognize.
    BE Christ like. Have Christ's spirit in me.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Ginny says…
    01/02/2014

    My word...acceptance.
    I need to learn to accept things for what they are and realize there are many things I can not change!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Wendy T. says…
    01/02/2014

    My word this year is MAKE. As in make things happen, make beautiful things, makeover, make it a good day, make yourself a priority, make good food, make with intention. I kind of love it. And am really looking forward to making 2014 a great year.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Jessi says…
    01/02/2014

    moxie!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Susana says…
    01/02/2014

    This year my word is FITNESS - Physically, Emotionally and Financially!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Zoe says…
    01/02/2014

    This is my first time here,and I find this interesting. My word: CHANGE

    Because that is what I need. To change. To evolve.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Feelings for 2014 | says…
    01/02/2014

    […] Curvy Yoga wrote a great post titled How I Want to Feel in 2014, and it made me think about what my One Little Word (Ali Edwards) will be for 2014. In years before, my word has just come to me. This year I waited […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Molly says…
    01/02/2014

    My word is "declutter," in all its various definitions. I'm blogging my process here: http://declutter2014.blogspot.com/

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Beth Fye says…
    01/02/2014

    For 2014, mindfulness chose me.

    A truly considerate person, always mindful of the needs of others; having a sense of being alive, aware, cognizant, conscious, sensible.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Amber says…
    01/02/2014

    Self-Discipline. Something I've always struggled with and I really want to learn to have more of it and not be so "fly by the seat of my pants". To be intentional and disciplined. To live with purpose. http://www.bumbersbumblings.com/2014/01/one-word-for-2014.html

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Diane says…
    01/02/2014

    Grace

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Nita says…
    01/02/2014

    Thuis in dutch, means @home. I need a year to step out my comfortzone but also a year with a place where i love to be, to come back when we leave and a place where friends and family feelgood because of us..

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. 2014 | Słomiana zapałka says…
    01/02/2014

    […] posted yet projects from 2013? – Yes, I do. One of them you’ll see below. What is your one little word for this year? – […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Lea Lawson says…
    01/02/2014

    My word is embrace. We moved at the end of last summer, but it was kind-of chaotic & I didn't really get here until mid October. Since then it has just been a rush of unpacking, holidays, etc... I haven't had the time to really "mourn" leaving my home, nor have I really gotten the chance to fall in love with where we are. That is why I have chosen this word. It is time to embrace this change we've made in our life. Embrace what I do have & what I don't have. Embrace love. Embrace the newness of it all. I just want to embrace everything as it comes this year, & live in those moments.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Dana Winsmann says…
    01/02/2014

    Savor

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Mariah says…
    01/02/2014

    My word is change. We need some change around here.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Victoria says…
    01/02/2014

    Change
    To transform, to change things about my life for the better.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Michelle says…
    01/02/2014

    My word this year is nourish..nourish my body, my soul, my mind, nourish the relationships of those I care about, nourish my creativity. Nourish: to supply with what is necessary for life, health and growth; to cherish, foster, keep alive; to strengthen, build-up or promote. I am ready for year of nourishing my entire being. Thank you, Ali, for always being a source of inspiration! Happy New Year! Can't wait to see how you thrive!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Susanne says…
    01/02/2014

    My word for this year is courage.
    I want to step out of my comfort zone and try out new things. I want to have the courage to say no to things I don't like, but I feel that others expect me to do.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. kaylea says…
    01/02/2014

    I picked laugh, and wrote about it here: http://www.myscrappylife.com/2014/01/happy-new-year.html

    This is the crux of the column -
    Suddenly, the word for 2014 began to emerge — laugh. It was reinforced when a new friend texted me a photo on Christmas eve with an altered sign with "For Lease Navidad," painted on it. (I'll admit that I'm still giggling over the photo several days later.)

    Life gets pretty serious, especially in a newsroom. Sometimes laughter is truly the only medicine to get through the day. So I'm starting the year with a goal to find ways to fill my days with laughter.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. One Little Word 2014: GROW | Elisa Ingram says…
    01/02/2014

    […] this baby! I know this is something i want to do every year to keep me on my toes! This year my One Little Word is “grow”. I plan on continuing to grow in my faith, my relationships, my motherhood […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Cheryl :) says…
    01/02/2014

    OK. The word "RELEASE" just found me.Have been hanging onto too much garbage I have absolutely no control over. It is weighing me down emotionally and physically. Ready to let it go! So looking forward to this journey with all of you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Ashley says…
    01/02/2014

    surrender.
    sweet surrender.

    blogged about what it means to me, here:
    http://thelovelyeveryday.blogspot.com/2014/01/one-little-word-2014.html

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Cathy von Hassel-Davies says…
    01/02/2014

    My first year and after working with Brene Brown in her workshop I am going to use FEARLESS as my word.

    Thanks for this Ali, I am looking forward to it and meeting everyone.

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

      Posted my comment without reading the previous one. Now I see that we have chosen the same word ;)

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