Each year, for the last three years, I have spent time in December reflecting on what I want my word for the new year to be. I go through a five-day journaling course provided by Susannah Conway. Not only does the practice ground me journaling, which I love, but it also forces me to reflect on my personal and professional goals and my aspirations for the upcoming 365 days.

Rather than set resolutions, I try to choose a word that will give me focus on a variety of goals and aspirations for the year.

In 2015 I chose mindfulness and it was exactly what I needed.

After a rough year physically, I chose rejuvenate in 2016 to help me heal.

2017 was a year of challenge and I loved the push it gave me personally, professionally, and as an active citizen and seeker of social justice in our world.

As I began my reflection for this year’s word, I was focused on five potentials. One of the activities you do with each word is to define what it means to you and look up the dictionary definition. When I wrote my own meaning of these five words, one particular word kept popping up over and over again. But as I got to the final day, I still liked two of the words from my original list along with that sixth word that kept popping up.

One of the gifts of this idea, is that there is no right or wrong way to select your word (or words or phrase) for the year.  This is a personal activity meant to guide my own reflection.  Therefore, I decided I wold find a way to incorporate all three of those words into my 2018 focus.

My word of 2018 is… POSSIBILITY.  The supporting words to help guide my year of possibility are… ADVENTURES THAT STRETCH.

I look forward to all that this year will bring and to a year of possibility.  If you have a word or focus for 2018, I’d love to hear about it and your process in the comments. I plan to blog about my word throughout the year, so stay tuned to see what adventures stretch me!