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. Ilana says…
    01/02/2016

    This year, my word is FREEDOM. I shared my reasons in a blog post. This is a great exercise and it was inspired by you, Ali! Have a wonderful year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Dawnk104 says…
    01/02/2016

    Strong. Strong advocate for my son, strong for myself in a weight loss journey.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. ScrappinMyHeartOut says…
      01/02/2016

      I love your reason for picking this word. I too advocate for my daughter, and often with opposing opinions from family and friends who don't understand invisible illnesses. Hope your word will guide you through thick and thin!

  3. ashsever says…
    01/02/2016

    CELEBRATE

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Liljune says…
    01/02/2016

    I'm considering JOY this year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. sarahzayas says…
    01/02/2016

    Mindful.

    I tried on a few different words in December, but it wasn't until last night when I was doing yoga that the word mindful kept coming up. It just felt right. This year I'd like to be more mindful in what I'm eating, how I choose to spend my time, how I approach everyday things, amongst other things. I can't wait to explore this word throughout the year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Lisacohen says…
    01/02/2016

    What a wonderful word, Ali. I wish you a year of wholeness. Becoming whole again, feeling whole, eating whole foods.

    I did a 30 day yoga challenge last year after recovering from some emergency surgery (once I was given the medical okay) and it was life changing. I documented it on my blog but just wanted to say that making time for stillness works wonders and makes things feel expansive. I wish you luck on your home or studio yoga practice. I am a 200hr RYT and highly recommend http://www.yogadownload.com (Jackie Casal Mahrou is my favorite instructor from there but there are many others from which to choose and it's more affordable than a studio and easier to make the time since there's no commute).

    My word is CREATE. I don't know how I haven't already picked this word and although maybe a bit trite, I hope to CREATE more and consume less in this upcoming year. Painting will be a big part of it so CREATE just picked me this year. Other years have been more of a struggle but this year I didn't even need to dwell for long.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Elizabeth_Gardner says…
    01/02/2016

    I have a strong pull from the words "self love".. does anyone know of one word that means the same thing?

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. WhitneyMcDaniel says…
    01/03/2016

    Hey Ali! I love this concept. I put a link to your page in my blog today when sharing about my own "One Little Word" for 2016: grow. I am a counselor and opened my own practice in February of 2015 under some crazy circumstances. 2015 felt like the year of "survive" or "get by" and now I'm determined to GROW in my business, grow spirituality/relationship with God, grow stronger relationships, and a whole host of other ways. Here is a link to my blog: http://www.mosaicwellnessllc.com/blog/ Thanks, and Happy New Year!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. rosiechristine says…
    01/03/2016

    Excited to try this in 2016! Thanks for sharing your journeys and processes with us, Ali :)
    I'm going to take the word ACCEPTANCE along with me for the year.
    "Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery." Dumbledore (J.K. Rowling)

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. theglor01 says…
    01/03/2016

    My word chose me this time. Honest is my word. I just feel like I need to be really honest with myself this year so I can make real changes that will stick with me . There I people I need to let go and I want to let go of crap I carry with me but unless I am honest with myself I won't so HONEST it is. Thank you GLORIA

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. tamcan says…
    01/03/2016

    my word is FOCUS. in every area of my current life I need to stop fluttering and focus.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. crestajune says…
    01/03/2016

    Explore.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. jennyb says…
    01/03/2016

    My word for 2016 is free. Free to grow. Free to let go of fear and anxiety and free to embrace hope, peace and joy. I hope to learn how to live free from everything that keeps me from living the abundant life that I believe God has for me, especially from the limits that I impose on myself.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. kimkbolyard says…
    01/03/2016

    Thank you for always inspiring me ❤️ my one little word for 2016 is "simplify" it comes from my need to slow down and embrace the simple thingsinto stop making my life so difficult. I also want to work on having less things in my life only hold on to the important ones

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. AliEdwards says…
    01/03/2016

    Words collected up to this point.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. DaniellePiere says…
    01/03/2016

    My word in 2016 is breathe.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. justjane says…
    01/03/2016

    In 2016 my One Little Word to try and live by is "Renew". Time to refresh my life – both physically and mentally.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Shauna says…
    01/03/2016

    Solace

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Michellejeanne says…
      01/04/2016

      Beautiful word Shauna. I used it many times a few years ago, after a difficult year, when describing some of the things that kept me afloat. Solace has sunk into my heart as much as my favorite word of the year, Hope. Blessings to you in 2016.

  19. themorningdew1 says…
    01/03/2016

    Achieve

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. JodiAnneDosier says…
    01/03/2016

    Better. This year I chose to be better: a better mom, wife, friend, teacher, person... a better me.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. kimhacking says…
    01/03/2016

    WOW

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Cutestains says…
    01/03/2016

    My word is anchor.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. kearaflynn says…
    01/03/2016

    My word this year is PRESENT -- as in, I want to live in the present moment and also focus on how to present myself to better represent my true self. Can't wait!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Pattyh says…
    01/03/2016

    I'm still trying on words. I have written several down and scratched most of them out. I was debating between, compassionate, mindful, joy and choose. However it has just occurred to me that CHOOSE is the word. That way I can choose to be mindful, I can choose to be more compassionate, I can choose joy patience etc. so.... My word is choose!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. ciahansen says…
    01/03/2016

    My word is trust!

    Reply 0 Replies

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