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. Scarlett says…
    12/30/2013

    This is my first time jumping in with OLW, thanks to my friend Dawn, and I couldn't be more delighted. My word found me long before I'd even pondered becoming a part of this class and as much as I thought and prayed on other words I kept coming back to the same one or versions of it.

    My word for 2014 is stillness. This year I desire to take a step back from the hustle, bustle that has become my life and experience stillness. This encompasses so many things that have already been set in motion and I'm thrilled to be on this journey!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Lisa says…
    12/30/2013

    Hi, Ali. I'm on my 6th year of the OLW journey with you. I love it. This practice has literally changed my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

    This year my word is:

    CENTER

    Thrive on, Ali. Thrive indeed!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Brianna says…
    12/30/2013

    I'm going with patience this year.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Devon says…
    12/30/2013

    This year, I'm choosing spark because I want to both be inspiring and also be inspired. I like the idea of spark because it contains a bit of surprise, magic, and also could be something small that grows into something larger, which is how I often think of inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Margaret says…
    12/30/2013

    Joy. Focusing on trying to be joyful more often and to choose joy verses a negative emotion in hard situations.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Sonja says…
    12/30/2013

    *My heart is my compass* - that's it! I haven't searched therfor, it comes to me...
    http://sos-scrap-und-so.blogspot.de/2013/12/my-heart-is-my-compass.html

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Nita K. says…
    12/30/2013

    CHOOSE. For so many reasons, but the main being that I have the power to choose who and what I allow into my life. I can choose to move my reality closer to my vision. There's a lot of power in this word for me.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Andrea says…
    12/30/2013

    My word this year is BRAVE. Last year my word was ADVENTURE and it made me very bold and took me to many places in the world and in myself, but I also found myself saying no to some adventures, because I was not BRAVE enough to go through with them, then face the possible consequences. This year I want to let BRAVE come in and fan the flames lit by adventure. I want to be brave enough to stand up for myself, brave enough to deal with consequences of my actions, and I want to be brave enough to to just be myself without caring what my husband, or my parents, or my children, or my friends think. I just want to be brave enough to be the person I know I am.

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

    Lighten

    First time doing OLW...I've wanted to for a few years now...I'm excited and committing to it! :-)

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Pam says…
      12/30/2013

      After signing up for Ali's class, I spent a few days of thinking and feeling about what my word would be. I decided on "lighten" about two weeks ago and it has really been present with me in making a few small but meaningful decisions and actions. Two huge changes were accomplished today...I've spent the past three days totally cleaning and clearing out my attic and my scrapbooking room. You should see all the bags/boxes ready for the thrift shop or for garbage night pickup! A herculean task! Now that's how to "lighten"! My OLW feels "oh so good"! :-)

  10. Stacy says…
    12/30/2013

    My word for 2014 is GO.

    I want to GO faster and stronger in my running.
    I want to GO on more adventures with my children, now that they are older (18 and 14).
    I want to GO visit my friends far and wide.
    I want to GO on adventures by myself and become comfortable with my own company.
    I want to overcome my introverted nature and just GO instead of overthinking every single last thing.

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

    second year! 2014 = FOSTER

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Tammy W. says…
      12/30/2013

      Excellent choice Karen. This was almost my word for the next year as we just became licensed as foster care parents, but a stronger word presented itself recently. Good luck with fostering you!

  12. Brenda says…
    12/30/2013

    connect. Thanks for your continual inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Mateja says…
    12/30/2013

    My word for 2014 is COURAGE.

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

    Hi Ali,
    I don't have much money, would it be possible to have a sneak of the class content please?

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. J Allen says…
    12/30/2013

    Goodness! I jumped when I opened your blog and saw the word thrive….this is my word for 2014 too! One of my questions for the past few months has been "how do I thrive in this life"! I don't want to live a life of just getting by or surviving….I want to thrive!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Kim says…
    12/30/2013

    My word for 2014 is simplify.

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

    Cultivate

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Jill B says…
    12/30/2013

    My word is SERVE. It is about figuring out more ways to serve in my career and give to those I love. It is also about self-service-cultivating what does serve me and letting go of what doesn't.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Amy says…
    12/30/2013

    GROW

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Chrissy says…
    12/30/2013

    I have been participating in OLW for the past 2 years and looking back my previous two words fit perfectly for each year. This year my word chose me again, STRENGTH, because I will need a lot of strength shaping our new life overseas back in the US after being in Germany for over 2 years waiting to finally being able to return. Thank you Ali for this wonderful idea and thank you Elise xxx

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Tina Mayo says…
    12/30/2013

    Love .... I need to love more,i feel like i beed to concentrate on the love more and i will stress less

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Amy says…
    12/30/2013

    Open

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

    my one little word is focus.

    after reading about one little word on elise's blog this past year, this is my first time actually participating. "focus" found me in the end of november and it hasn't let me forget it. i don't want to be distracted and rushed and overcommitted. i want to be focused and relaxed and free. i want to simplify, be all in, and focus on the things that matter most.

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

    ENOUGH!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Julie-Ann says…
    12/30/2013

    NOURISH, for many of the same reasons your have chosen Thrive, Ali... it's about optimal living for me too. So excited to be part of OLW for the first time!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Natalie says…
      12/30/2013

      My word is also Nourish!!! So many meanings. I hope we both find much this year with our word :)

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