New Words, New Questions, New Movement

Decades ago I received my first “one word” that was thematic for the new year. Most years I received the word and a few years I chose the word. However it came, each year I felt an assurance that the word was the “right word” for that season, arriving in the fullness of time.

For several years (and I think this one may be life-long), the word was “Trust.” This year my word is “Welcome.” The words I feel are God-given and the more I leaned into them, the more God taught me about the word, its meaning, and its purpose for me as I walked the year with my Creator.

Do you have a word or theme for the new year?

If you do, great! If not, and you’d like to, you can bring this question into prayer. God may direct you to a word or may invite you to choose a word for yourself.

Keith Webb, coach and founder of Creative Results Management, settled on “Thrive” as his word for 2025. He proposed several reflective questions about his word which I thought would be great for mine, too. I’ve added a few questions that I’ve found helpful and created a blank space here where you can write in your word or theme.

Before we jump into the questions, I’ve found preparation is helpful and supports my desire to not only receive the word but deeply encounter what God desires for my transformation.

The Effectual Partnership

Contemplation and action are partners in the process of progress. All great change begins in silence and proceeds to action.

Begin with silence.

As I silently walk the rooms and passages of my interior castle, as Teresa of Avila describes it, I find myself given the opportunity to observe and explore my heart, mind, soul, and spirit. I also become more present and open to God’s voice and invitation. I find myself more able to honestly answer these questions.

I invite you to begin with a pause. Dropping gently into stillness, breathing a bit slower and deeper than usual. Allow the miscellaneous thoughts in your mind to become quieter in your awareness. Gather your whole being and your senses in a posture of rest. Notice that God is present with you.

I have stilled and calmed my whole being, content like a child resting against its mother is my whole being. Ps. 131:2

Now, bring in the questions, listen deeply, and note your reflections.

Imagine...

What does ____________________ mean to me?

What would be different if I were ____________________ -ing?

Listen...

What stirs in me, even as I think of ____________________?

What doubts emerge?

Reflect...

What needs to shift in me to ____________________?

What would I need to do differently?

Am I willing?

Foster…

What creates an environment for ____________________?

What gets in the way?

What are ____________________- rhythms I could begin doing?

Who would I like to join me to ____________________ this year?

Before the new year begins to push you forward into the tyranny of the urgent, I invite you to invest time in reflection on your word for this year. This word came to you for a purpose. It was given to you to unbox and examine, embrace, and explore.

From Contemplation to Action - Two More Questions

Answer after you’ve invested appropriate space and time in reflection.

What is my response to this divine invitation?

What is one right-sized step I can take right now to get started in ____________________?

May the Lord bless you as you take your word with you into the new year!

Postscript

Being a bit of a brain geek, I love how God creates our minds with what experts call the Reticular Activating System. Its main function is to be the gatekeeper of our conscious mind — to identify what is important and filter what is important into our conscious mind. It seems both natural and wonderful to me that God uses the “one word” method to support the contemplative/right brain work and center my “left brain” mind for the year!