My Word for the Year 2021

Blog Contributed by:
Sara Afzal
Management Consultant | Highly Keen Management Institute

Instead of writing a new year’s resolution (or panicking that you don’t know how to make a new year’s resolution) another great way is to have a focus word. ‘A single word that summarizes what you need, what you want to focus, or what you need to improve on’.

In short, a word for the year! It provides you an anchor and encourages you to consciously (and subconsciously) consider this focus word when making decisions.
Every year I find a quiet corner to sit down, reflect and consider a word that will define my next year. Last year it was ‘Peace’. Ironic choice, since the world went into a pandemic and so much happened in life and surroundings. But this word ‘peace’ stayed as my anchor and I found internal peace in the external chaos. With the lockdowns imposed, we all have had a lot of time at hand and taking benefit of that I did make peace with a lot of unresolved matters, many relations, feelings, thoughts and realities.

Seeing how the past year had been for all of us, this year I wanted to pick something that would help redefine the purpose of my life. Something that I could hold onto, something which could give me hope, energy and positivity. I wanted something that would push me through the edge and help me make decisions that would allow me to rise; to learn; and become a new better me.

So this year, I chose the word “Grow” (by that I mean to Improve | Re-define | Build).

I want each day of 2021 to be defined by the word “Grow”.

How I grow as a Person.
How I grow as a Professional.
How I grow as a Humanitarian.
How I grow in my Religion.
How I grow in my Relationships (as a Daughter / Sister / Family member / Friend etc).

I want to grow in every capacity, in every form. So that when I sit down to reflect on 2021, I see a better me, with identifiable changes at which I can look back with happiness and get motivated to embark on another year of life.

2020 was surely a year which took a lot from us. But it did not take our hope, rather we have become more resilient and prepared to take on more with eyes on a bright year ahead.

~ Guide for how you can decide Your Word for the Year ~

Sometimes we know exactly what we need in our lives, and sometimes we need to stew on it a bit. Ask yourself questions. Consider how your past year has been, what is something that you could improve on, do differently or keep working on? What you want more or less in your life, how you want to reflect on yourself and etc.

There are no rules. If you choose a word and then during the year, you want to change it, add another or modify it – then do it! It’s your own personal ‘game’! You might even find that you want to choose a new word each month to focus on.

I hope this provides some inspiration or guideline for you. I would love to hear your thoughts on having a word for the year and what that word is….

Happy New Year!