One Little Word® 2014

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Make your word visible: Order your own word from recycled matericals created by artist Colleen Attara here

My One Little Word for 2014 is thrive.

This year, more than any other I can remember, I'm starting off the year with questions. What does it mean for me to thrive? What does it look like? What does it fee like? Are there areas in which I'm already thriving? What's realistic vs. visions of what I have in my head of what it means to thrive?

Open was an awesome word for me last year. It was a touchstone as I navigated my way through growing pains and man oh man did it work in a million different ways I could not have imagined when I started 2013. More often than not when faced with a decision, I chose to open more rather than closing off which was my number one intention last year. That said, I feel like I've been spinning in circles a lot this past year. I've been reacting vs. being proactive and have been dealing with a variety of issues related to stress and growth (totally all part of my own life journey).

To me thriving is optimal living. It's being present and awake and stepping up to be my best self physically, emotionally, spiritually, creatively and within my relationships.

It's not a quest for perfection. It's an opportunity to continue choosing to let go of things outside of my control and to figure out who that best-me-right-now really is.

It will be a whole new journey and I'm here to tell you I welcome it wholeheartedly.

Bring on 2014.

This year I invited my friend Elise Blaha Cripe to film a little video about her experience with One Little Word. One of the reasons I admire Elise is that she is awesome at follow-through and documentation. I've loved reading about her experience with her words over the last few years on her blog and she inspires me consistently with her projects and her real-life reflections.

Here's Elise in her own words:

Thank you Elise for sharing about your own journey here.


AE_Thrive

Are you considering selecting a word for yourself (or letting one find you)? There's no right or wrong. The main thing to remember is that this is your word. It's not for your child, parent, partner, spouse, sister, etc.

And what do you do with this one little word?

You live with it. You invite it into you life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities.

SHARE YOUR WORD THE COMMENTS | I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2014. In the comments feel free to simply leave your word as your comment or write a bit about why you are choosing this word. In a couple days I’ll combine all the words into a single post – super inspiring to see all the words in one place.

If you’re new to the concept of One Little Word, you can read some of my previous posts here: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.


ONE LITTLE WORD® 2014 | To help keep your One Little Word® more visible throughout the year I offer a year-long workshop featuring one prompt per month. Read all the details and sign up here. Registration is $5 off until December 31.

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938 thoughts

  1. Stephanie says…
    01/03/2014

    DARE.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Hello 2014 | Birdwing Paper Designs says…
    01/03/2014

    […] week I came across a blog post from Ali Edwards about her inspiring concept called One Little Word.  Just a single word to make […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Elayne says…
    01/03/2014

    measure

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Belinda says…
    01/03/2014

    This is my first OLW and my word for this year is consistency.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. One Little Word…2013 —> 2014 | Knit it, Violet! says…
    01/03/2014

    […] never shared my One Little Word for 2013 in this space, partly because it felt right to keep it a little private, but also just […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. one little word: wonderful | such wild love says…
    01/03/2014

    […] one little word for 2014 is […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Amanda says…
    01/03/2014

    My OLW for 2014 is love. There are a number of different reasons, but it's the first year that I knew well before January 1 that this was to be my focus for the coming year.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Amanda says…
      01/03/2014

      Here's my blog post about my choice...
      http://confessionsprov31wannabe.blogspot.com/

  8. Welcome 2014 | Allowing Myself says…
    01/03/2014

    […] So for the rest of the weekend, I’m working on Unraveling 2014, my INFJ business class, and digging into the first installment of Ali Edwards’ One Little Word class. […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Linda Greer says…
    01/03/2014

    2013 was the first year in about 6 years that I did not choose a word....and I really needed to.

    This year, my word is ABIDE. I tend to try to do things MY way, instead of leading God lead me...and let's just say that MY way isn't always the best or most fulfilling way. So for me ABIDE means to pause (and wait for Him), to wait with expectation (because He will provide the right path), to accept without question (when He answers my fervent prayer) and to submit (to His will).

    ABIDE. Yep, I need that word.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. one little word, 2014, smile — sarah learns says…
    01/03/2014

    […] year i signed up for ali edwards’ one little word course through big picture classes and my word was connect. i did an ok job of keeping that word in […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Angela says…
    01/04/2014

    Deeper! Deeper in relationships. Deeper in my walk with God. Deeper in love with my husband. Deeper invested in what's already in my life. Deeper into who I am, and who I'm supposed to be.
    http://www.angelastrand.com/2014/01/my-word-for-2014.html

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. One Little Word: 2014 | carol: currently says…
    01/04/2014

    […] Here is a post from Ali Edwards that explains it all: http://aliedwards.com/2013/12/one-little-word-2014.html […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Celebrating Our One Little Word for 2014 | Assessment in Perspective says…
    01/04/2014

    […] OLW for 2014.  Terje shared with us a blog about this idea of OLW from Ali Edwards –http://aliedwards.com/2013/12/one-little-word-2014.html.  Ali’s […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Curate | One Little Word 2014 says…
    01/04/2014

    […] year I decided to try a new way of inspiring change in my own life by joining One Little Word 2014, a year-long workshop hosted by designer/blogger/author Ali Edwards. In One Little Word, […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Marie says…
    01/04/2014

    Mine is APPRECIATE...I saw this word twice in the list...so I will be the third one. I'm really pleased to join OLW 2014 !

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Amanda Parham-Hall says…
    01/04/2014

    My word this year will be: REDISCOVER!!! I'm going thru some major changes this year, so I will be "rediscovering" myself, my family, my feelings & emotions, my faith in God....pretty much everything! Very excited about it:)

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Cody Doll says…
    01/04/2014

    I love the video and I really really want to take the class I just don't think I can this year. However, I am going to make a smash book and I have ideas of how I am going to use my word inside. I can't wait to share my thought in my book and on my blog. =]

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. The one with She Art | Studio B says…
    01/04/2014

    […] my blog roll and noticed many bloggers talking about goal setting for 2014. One Little Word (by Ali Edwards) is pretty popular. I’ve also seen beginnings of new 365 projects (like the one by Gretchen […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Jennine G. says…
    01/04/2014

    I love this! I just posted yesterday about a word I chose, without even knowing this challenge existed! I found it on a fellow bloggers post when she chose a word.

    Mine is Eucharisteo. If you want to know what it means and why I chose it, it's a little long to put here, so here's my post: http://www.livingawritinglife.blogspot.com/2014/01/words-as-symbols.html

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Carina says…
    01/04/2014

    BALANcE!!!!! After last year I definitely need it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Aubrey says…
    01/04/2014

    Conscious. Of my body, my influence, and The Lord.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Sandra Pawula says…
    01/04/2014

    My word is "focus" and it already means so many different things to me like mindful awareness, loving awareness, and presence in this moment. On top of that, I want to remember the focus on the most important priorities so there are no regrets ever. That's why I chose focus rather than one of my equivalent words.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Kathy says…
    01/04/2014

    grow

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Dcorder says…
    01/04/2014

    my word for 2013 was Rediscover. I 2012 was a challenging year for me and I wanted to "rediscover" all the things I enjoy that I had been missing.

    my word for 2014 is FOCUS. I want to continue to FOCUS on the things I rediscovered. I also want to focus on things that have gotten out of control.

    Looking forward to the process again!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Jann Webb says…
    01/04/2014

    The word I chose for 2014 is "Bloom". This year I intend to "Bloom" in all aspects of my life.

    Reply 0 Replies

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