How do you usually approach the new year?
Maybe you love creating a long list of resolutions or mapping out a detailed plan. Maybe the new year feels chaotic and overwhelming, and you’re not even sure there’s a point in making plans. Or maybe you fall somewhere in between.
Wherever you land, a Word of the Year can be a supportive, grounding way to enter a new season of life.
A word of the year acts like a compass—guiding decisions, habits, and goals across all areas of life. It can help you build something meaningful or simply serve as a reminder you return to again and again in your daily life.
Why a Word of the Year?
This is the 9th year I’ve chosen a word of the year, and every single year it teaches me something new.
Sometimes the word comes easily—before January even begins. Other times, it takes the entire month of January to land on the right one. Both are okay.
What I’ve learned is this:
The word doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to feel true to you.
How to Choose Your Word of the Year
Start by asking yourself:
- How do I want to feel this year?
- What do I want to create?
- What do I want to be different?
Write down every word that comes to mind. Don’t censor yourself. Then notice which word feels the truest—not the most impressive, but what can bring you closer to be more you (not what someone else thinks you should be).
And remember:
- You can change your word.
- You can choose a different word each season or month.
- Your word is not set in stone.
A Word of the Year Is Not:
- What you think you should focus on
- A one-dimensional goal (like weight loss or productivity)
- What other people think you should do
- A rigid rule you can fail at
How to Use Your Word of the Year
Let your word guide you:
- When you start your day
- As you make decisions in relationships
- When setting goals or choosing commitments
- When deciding where to spend your energy
- When responding to challenges or stress
A helpful question to ask often:
What choice here moves me closer to my word?
My Past Words of the Year
- 2018 – Peace: Created a morning routine that truly saved my life
- 2019 – Joy: Married Seth
- 2020 – Intentional
- 2021 – Love
- 2022 – Celebrate
- 2023 – Simplify
- 2024 – Alignment: Downsized from 3,500 sq ft to 1,000 sq ft
- 2025 – Clarity
For 2026, my word is Presence.
I’m using this word by first asking how I want to feel in each area of my holistic health and life—and then creating intentional actions to support that feeling.
Here’s what presence looks like for me.
Physical Health: Presence in My Body
Being present with my body means listening to what it needs to feel energized and strong.
Intentional actions:
- Increase strength
- Create a flexible weekly movement plan using baselines and ideals
- Baseline: 10 minutes of movement daily (yoga, walking, bike, rower, stretching, or 100 reps of a movement)
- Ideal: 4 workouts + 1 yoga class, with baseline movement on remaining days
- Minimum of 60 oz of water daily
- Weekly macro-balanced meal planning (including snacks)
- Eat without distractions when possible
- Take supplements to support my health
- Prioritize sleep as foundational
Emotional & Mental Health: Presence With My Mind
Presence with my mind allows me to feel calmer and process emotions more intentionally.
Intentional actions:
- Protect my morning routine of meditation and journaling
- Practice regular thought work
- Coaching and therapy monthly
- Mindfulness throughout the day
- Creative projects each month
- Word games
Relationships: Presence With the People I Love
Being present in my relationships creates deeper, more authentic connection.
Intentional actions:
- Continue ABC dates with Seth (we’re currently on R)
- Monthly supper club gatherings
- Backpacking hikes
- Wonder Women group
- Regular family get-togethers
- Spend meaningful time with our kids and grandkids
Learning & Growth: Presence in Learning
Presence in learning allows me to feel fulfilled rather than overwhelmed.
Intentional actions:
- Read 3 books per month
- Complete 2 courses I’ve already purchased
- Work on CEUs each month
- Listen to podcasts that support growth and curiosity
Spiritual Health: Presence With the Sacred
Being spiritually present helps me feel grounded and centered.
Intentional actions:
- Attend or watch church weekly
- Integrate prayer and reflection into journaling
- Volunteer with organizations that matter to me:
- Hope House
- Food Bank
- Echo Collective
Financial Health: Presence With Money
Presence with money brings clarity and alignment.
Intentional actions:
- Weekly or monthly financial check-ins with Seth
- Pause before purchases
- Review subscriptions and recurring expenses
- Make values-based financial choices
- Track expenses intentionally
Home: Presence in My Space
Presence at home means creating a space that feels calm, cozy, and clutter-free.
Intentional actions:
- Choose one monthly home project and break it into small steps
- Use “calm, cozy, and clutter-free” as a filter for decisions
- House rule: no piles
- Daily close-down process
- Create a House Manual
Professional & Career: Presence in My Work
When I lead my work with presence, I create organized systems, serve my clients deeply, and allow my business to grow sustainably and profitably.
Intentional actions:
- Serve my clients well
- Create a digital course in 2026
- Schedule weekly CEO meetings
- Create SOPs, review P&Ls, and track growth
- Grow my membership community
Ready to Create Your Own Holistic Plan?
If you’re feeling inspired but not sure how to turn these ideas into a plan of your own, my Holistic Goals Workshop can help.
It’s a simple, guided experience to help you create goals that feel intentional, aligned, and supportive of your whole life.
👉 Get access to the Holistic Goals Workshop here
How I Support Women in This Work
I empower women to love their REAL Life even when things don’t go as planned- experiencing infidelity, divorce, or other life shifts.
1:1 Coaching
We start with a two-part coaching experience designed to help you:
- Process what’s happened
- Reconnect with yourself
- Rebuild a life rooted in clarity, strength, and self-trust
- 👉Schedule your first session here
Love Your REAL Life Membership
👉Learn more and join here Learn more here
Inside the Membership
🌱 Monthly Theme – Focus and intention
📖 Book of the Month – Personal growth aligned with the theme
Weekly Rhythm
- Monday: Move + Meditate (Live on Zoom)
- Tuesday: Motivation
- Wednesday: Quote from our book
- Thursday: Journal prompts
- Friday: Yoga Flow (Live on Zoom)
- Saturday: Decluttering challenge (5 min, 15 min, or 2 hrs options)
- Sunday: Soulful check-in
Live Events (All Recorded)
- Monthly planning session
- End-of-month workshop
- Weekly movement + meditation
- Yoga Flow Fridays
Let’s create a REAL life you love—one intentional step at a time.
🎧 Listen to the Podcast:
🌿 7-Days to Loving your Life More Challenge: Register here
- This 7-day email challenge will help you stay accountable and motivated to build the foundational habits to living and loving your REAL Life.
📱 Follow Along on Social Media:
- Instagram– follow my stories and reels
- On Pinterest – come pin with me – check out my boards for my favorite meal planning ideas and more!
- & if you want to dive into wellness a more, join my FREE private Facebook Group: Wellness for Real Life- body, mind and spirit
Be well,
Faith
***Some of the links in my posts contain affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link. I pinky promise I will always give my honest opinion of any product and would never recommend something if I did not use and love it!!