As we approach the holidays, our minds are filled with to-do lists of people to see, activities to participate in, and events to attend. It’s also a time that many begin thinking of changes they would like to make in the coming year. Sayings such as “New Year, New You” have become embedded in our lexicon, and making resolutions is an annual tradition even though most resolutions are not kept past the end of January (Statista, 2023). While keeping resolutions may not have a high success rate, there is still a way to incorporate change as we head into the new year.

The One Word concept is an alternative approach to making resolutions. Instead of creating a specific goal, you pick a word to focus on the entire year. The word then becomes a filter and guide, helping you to grow in unexpected ways throughout the year.

For example, if you would like to improve your financial stability, you may choose the word, Intention. From there, you would consider how to be intentional with your money and what steps you could take to improve your financial situation. Going deeper, you may start to think about how to be intentional in your daily decisions, the dreams you pursue, and the time you spend as it relates to the financial stability you want to achieve.

Choosing one word to focus on can guide every aspect of your life and because of its simplicity, it is much easier to stick with than a list of resolutions. According to Gordon, Britton, & Page, “One Word creates clarity, power, passion, and life-change. The simple power of One Word is that it impacts all six dimensions of your life – mental, physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, and financial” (Gordon, J., Britton, D., & Page, J., 2023).

For a successful One Word journey, follow these tips.

• Begin by making a list of five to ten possible words.
• Narrow your list to 3-5 words and look up the definitions, synonyms, and antonyms.
• Give yourself about a week to think about the words.
• Choose your word. One may seem to jump out at you, or one may seem to scream “not me”. Any word you choose has the capacity to help you grow if you focus on it for an entire year.
• Make your word visible. Create a poster with your word, definition, and a quote, use the word as a screen saver, get a bracelet or key chain with your word, write it on post it notes, and/or write it in your planner every week.
• Commit to journaling about your word at least once per week using online journal prompts. Focus on how you are implementing your word in your health, finances, spiritual journey, etc.
• Share your journey with a trusted person to help you keep focused.
• Remain open and curious about how your word can apply to every area of your life.
• Write a beginning of the year reflection focusing on how you think your word will change you in different areas. Then write an end of the year summary about what actually happened.
• Enjoy the journey!

Additional One Word resources: https://getoneword.com/ and https://myoneword.org/.

How good are you at coping with adversity? Somehow, life always finds a way to present you with challenges that you didn’t see coming. Fortunately, you can improve your resilience skills—enabling you to bounce back when confronted with a crisis or an overwhelming change.

1. Differentiate problems from your response to them.

You have the option of reacting with panic, or responding in a calmer, measured way that allows you to proceed logically toward a solution. It’s your choice!

2. View your strengths positively.

Remind yourself that you’ve gotten through tough times before and be confident in your ability to re-apply those successful strategies.

3. Always be ready for change.

Remind yourself that life is always ready to throw you a new curve, and that sometimes the advent of a big, intimidating change can end up being a positive learning experience that helps you grow.

4. Keep your perspective.

No matter how overwhelming your problem might seem, try to view the situation in the longer- term context of your life and the larger world.

5. Lean on close family, friends and peers.

Being able to share concerns— and to brainstorm innovative solutions together—can give you more confidence as you move forward.

6. Stay flexible.

Try not to get locked into a single approach to solving a problem and have a flexible mindset.

7. Don’t forget your own needs.

In times of crisis, staying physically and spiritually fit helps you fight off stressors of all kinds!

8. When in doubt laugh at it.

Try to find those nuggets of humor, shake your head, and laugh at life’s wackiness.

9. Look for light at the end of the tunnel.

No matter how difficult or uncomfortable a situation may be, remember that even the darkest of days won’t last forever.

10. Keep building you resilience skills.

It may take time to learn how to stay balanced when times are tough. Keep learning from others who seem resilient, and build upon your valuable experience and personal strengths.