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. Emily says…
    12/30/2013

    Mine is CARE. I'm going to take a bit more time & effort to care & nurture the things around me, especially the people in my life.

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

    Present: recognizing the gift that is each day, and being present for it (receiving it, opening it, appreciating it, and being in it)

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

    simplify.

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

    FREE.

    This past year, I have realized how much of my life is spent sitting in or dealing with my fear, anxiety, guilt! (That sounds SO dramatic, and I don't mean it to.) I am in stuck in my desire for perfection and approval. The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians that "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free." I want to know what that means!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Lauren Hershey says…
      12/30/2013

      I'm with ya, girl! that's my word, too! I need to FREE myself from so many negative things in my life. Good luck, and you go!

  5. Sarah Swann says…
    12/30/2013

    Finish

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

    God has really been pressing SEEK on my heart for the past week. I didn't do well this past year with my one word but somehow I think this year is going to be different. So we are on an adventure.

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

    My 2014 word is HEART. I want to journey through 2014 with a true heart, a kind heart, a humble heart, a strong heart (a 6 month illness left me weak and I need to get the aerobic activity going again!), a gentle heart, an open heart, and on and on the possibilities go!

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

    This year I am choosing FREE!

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

    My little word is "take care".

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

    Seek -because I need find me!

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

    Grow
    I want to grow in so many ways this year - personally, professionally and financially.

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

    Hi Ali,

    this is my fourth year with olw.

    For 2014 my word is "letting go".

    Best wishes for you and your family.

    Christina

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

    my 2014 word is CHOOSE (joining previous words FOCUS, SHINE and GRACE). I want to live intentionally and acknowledge the many choices I have...and the actions I take when I make those choices.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Shannon D says…
    12/30/2013

    Explore is my word. We are off on our first ever overseas trip o Paris and Italy. I have also incorporated experience in there as there will be lots of those. But I want to explore in many ways not just the obvious, explore my choices my decisions and the different ways of doing things. In another word be open to explore everything that comes my way.

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

    My word for 2014 is DARE.

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

    Well you already know as we discussed it in the FB group already but mine and yours are the same. THRIVE http://www.workoutwithdi.com/one-little-word-2014/ I want to thank you for helping me finalize my word a few weeks ago when I signed up for the class. It's perfect for me and for 2014.
    I feel like the last year I've just been surviving and getting through things, now I'm ready to chase dreams and move forward. Not just surviving but thriving!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Jodie Ostrowski says…
    12/30/2013

    My word is "Focus" it leads me in the direction I need to go in order to accomplish other goals I have for myself.

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

    Persue

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Nandini b says…
    12/30/2013

    Clarity

    I'm at a junction in life at the moment and I need to clarify for me my wants and needs as this new year moves forward. I'd like my head to listen to my heart but first my heart needs at see clearly it's purpose.

    :)

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

    My word is POWER

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Lauren Hershey says…
    12/30/2013

    After some thought, and a couple of tough years, I think my word needs to be FREE. I need to free myself up from many things - negativity, emotional pain, anxiety and fear, caring too much what others think, not trusting myself, faulty thinking, resentment...If I can FREE myself from all these negative forces in my life, then I will be FREE to pursue, create, and become whom I'm meant to be. The best me.

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

    A few years ago, my OLW was "connect." As I've been thinking about my OLW for 2014, I can't get that word out of my head. So even though it's not what I thought I'd choose, my one little word this year is CONNECT... again. :)

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

    I've been doing a form of "One Little Word" for the past 3 years. Each year, I come up with a mission statement to guide my life in the year to come.

    This year, my mission statement was inspired by a homeless man I saw a couple of blocks from my office. He was holding a sign that said:

    "Everything is a Blessing."

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. {vicki} says…
      12/30/2013

      This is great Amy!

  24. Kara says…
    12/30/2013

    My one little word is also Thrive. I have faced a lot of challenges over the last three years. That said I feel like this year I am starting off from a position where I can THRIVE and not just survive. I am looking forward to all the places my one little word will take me this year. Thanks Ali!

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

    This is my fifth year to choose a OLW. For some reason,I am having a hard time selecting a word. I know from past words that I do better with concrete action verbs than I do with abstract, concept words (did better with choose and accept than I did with patience and joy). This year I want a word that means do what I know I need to do (such as, move more, eat less chocolate, be an active listener, etc.). I am not sure what word really conveys this. I thought about "do" but i am not sure that is it. i know what i need to do, I just don't always do what I need to. Does this even make sense? Any ideas anyone?

    Reply 3 Replies
    1. Laurie says…
      12/31/2013

      Hmmm, will might work. Thanks.

    2. CaroleenD says…
      12/31/2013

      Hello Laurie,

      What about WILL ?

    3. Birgit says…
      12/31/2013

      Hello Laurie,

      in 2011 I had the same goals and chose the word FOCUS, it was amazing: I focused on exercising more, cooking healthier meals,being more present for my family and taking time for friends.

      Good luck with your OLW for 2014. Birgit

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