One Little Word® 2016 | Whole

For 2016 I'm going with "whole" as my One Little Word®

Since 2007 I've been choosing (or letting a word choose me) a word to focus on over the course of a year. I love the process of walking with a word for 12-months and seeing how it works in my life. Some years it's been super visible and other years it's been a slow burn below the surface. I tend to choose words that have layers of meanings and can be applied to my life in various ways: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I love learning more about the word throughout the year and taking the opportunity to reflect each month via the process of working on the prompts from the workshop and via taking action on the things I'm inviting into my life. 

If you are interested in hearing me talk more about One Little Word® and my choice of word this year, check out my friend Elise's Get Crafty podcast where we both share our words for 2016 and talk about our experiences living with a word. She also includes a link in the show notes to a past episode where we talked about the process as well.  

A lot of times I begin my year with a question or two related to my word. This year my questions to myself are this: 

What does it mean to be whole? What does that look like and feel like? 

I'm interested in investigating "the pieces of the whole." What are the pieces of my own life that work together to create the "whole" and in what areas do I need to be letting go and in what areas do I need to hang on tighter to create a more "whole" life for myself? And where does acceptance fit into this? Lots of great questions for me to explore and wrestle with and ponder and learn from. 

I'm also interested in investigating more emphasis on whole foods - maybe try Whole 30. And I want to continue making yoga a priority as I work on the "whole" of myself - the physical, the mental & emotional, etc. 

Two specific quotes that are resonating with me related to "whole": 

“I am a broken person. And I know exactly where my cracks are and how deep they run. I don't pretend to not be a broken person and therein lies the big difference. Because the truth is, we are all broken in places, but it is those who know exactly where and how they are broken, who also know exactly where and how they are whole! And we may not be whole in all places and in all ways, but we take whatever wholeness that we do have, and we make good of it. And we try hard to work on the broken parts, and we ask for help when we need it.” - C. JoyBell C.

“I want to die living. And I want to be remembered as one who lived with purpose, joy and feeling. I want to spend my time learning what goes into a whole and happy life, then building that life the best I can.” - Steve Goodier

Some years I'm super clear at the start what I want to invite my life and what I want to work on throughout the year. This year is less concrete but feels "just right" for 2016. Remember, there is really never a perfect word - there are any number of words that can work for any one of us in our lives at a given time - don't get hung up on choosing something perfect. 

I have no idea what will happen in my life in 2016. I know, because I've been around the block a time or two, that it will likely be a mixture of awesome and tough - those beautiful highs and lows that we all experience throughout the course of a year. My hope is that this word will play a role in my continuing quest to fully live the length and width of my life. 

Let's do this. 

PS | The lovely "whole" heart talisman featured in the photo above is from my friend Liz Lamoreux's Soul Mantra shop. She'll make one for you too - order a custom bracelet, necklace, or talisman here.  

SHARE YOUR WORD THE COMMENTS

I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2016. In the comments feel free to simply leave your word as your comment or write a bit about why you are choosing this word. Next week I’ll combine all the words into a single post – it's become tradition and 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, 20132014, and 2015.

JOIN ME IN MAKING OUR WORDS VISIBLE

To help keep your One Little Word® more visible throughout the year I offer a year-long workshop featuring one creative prompt per month. Read all the details and sign up here. Registration is $5 off until December 31, 2015. I've also created a selection of products to help you document your journey with your word - check those out here. During the One Little Word® 2016 Kick-Off ordering period (between now and 1/31/16), items featured on this One Little Word® 2016 page are eligible for free shipping domestic and $5 international. If you add any other items from the shop to your cart, normal shipping rates will apply to those additional items.

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387 thoughts

  1. tammyeberhard says…
    12/30/2015

    Bright

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. scrappinjam says…
    12/30/2015

    Change

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. CaroleJulius says…
    12/30/2015

    I think whole is a great choice for you, Ali. My word for 2016 is shine.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. MommaBean says…
    12/30/2015

    Nourish

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. dawnnikol says…
    12/30/2015

    Patience

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. amorton63 says…
    12/30/2015

    My first time choosing a word. "Brave" - I'm not sure how I will incorporate this into my daily living yet but I want to be brave to face fears, new experiences, become the person I want to be instead of what others think I should be. i signed up for your class and am very interested how this will evolve throughout the year. Thank you as usual Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. rhondapogo says…
    12/30/2015

    Just wondering if you will be restocking the gray OLW album?? Thank you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. sim1 says…
    12/30/2015

    Joy

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. joeynumber41 says…
    12/30/2015

    Love.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. jemi says…
    12/30/2015

    Compose. Gentler than choose. Gentler than "living with intention". Inspiration for the Word: Mary Catherine Bateson's Composing a Life.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. iScrap says…
      12/30/2015

      That's a lovely word!

  11. mtercha says…
    12/30/2015

    I still don't know. Nothing has come to me like last year, was kinda hoping I'd have been hit over the head with it by now. Love your word, and looking forward to seeing where it takes you. Best wishes, and think it's just about perfect for you. Michelle t

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Trulymegs says…
    12/30/2015

    Grow

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. eleanormharte says…
    12/30/2015

    My word this year is bold.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. mdnolton2 says…
    12/30/2015

    My 2016 word is Happiness. (finally)

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. CristinaC says…
    12/30/2015

    My word for 2016 is peace - I really need to work on finding peace in myself and not let everything stress me out so much

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. bouquetsnw says…
    12/30/2015

    My word for 2016 is Moment!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. SusanBowers says…
    12/30/2015

    Give. It's a really good heart check.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. alicec says…
    12/30/2015

    Less

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. LynneGillis says…
    12/30/2015

    Release.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. hholycross says…
      12/31/2015

      This was my word for 2015, and it really allowed me to explore unhealthy patterns in my life and let them go. I hope it gives you release, too.

  20. iScrap says…
    12/30/2015

    Mine is LIGHT. It's been a long few years of just getting through and getting by and I really want to find a way to lighten things up in 2016 (literally with purging my possessions and redecorating my house and figuratively with trying to be lighten my spiritual/mental outlook as well). I want to be light of heart and spirit and walk away from the path to grumpy and bitterness that I've been on.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. SuseFish says…
    12/30/2015

    Dwell: in the year we leave our home for rentals, I want to concentrate on finding my sense of belonging in Heavenly arms - I'd also like to focus on relaxing enough to just be there and stop all the striving.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Ekaterine says…
    12/30/2015

    LIGHT.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. nerdgirl says…
    12/30/2015

    Renew

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. spagirl says…
    12/30/2015

    Love your word Ali!! I'm going with -heart. Sometimes I find myself half-hearted with some things, or guarding my heart (maybe too much) and then there's some scripture that speaks to me surrounding "heart." So... hope I get through the year this time!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. JON7466 says…
    12/30/2015

    Nurture .... I'm pregnant with twins and due in July 2016 - so this year is all about nurturing .... myself so that I can have healthy babies and our growing family. Remembering to take the time to enjoy every single moment along the way without becoming overwhelmed.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. kathyb says…
      12/30/2015

      Nurture was my word for 2015.

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