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. Cindy says…
    01/04/2014

    Possibilities... As in be open to all possibilities, every where every way.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. 2014 and One Little Word | says…
    01/05/2014

    […] I wanted to be able to start my year out this year with a path to follow.  Something I could achieve and see results.  If I were to say I have goals I believe I just would have just said them or wrote them down and never would actually commit to reaching them.  Just in time when the decisions were brewing, I see in my news feed this post from Ali Edwards about OLW, One Little Word […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Janine says…
    01/05/2014

    My word came to me this year and it is open. I completely forgot that was your word last year Ali. For me it is about allowing new doors to open as I reluctantly close the very painful door of infertility and remain as a one child family. I also need to be open to new learning in my career I also want to be open to my son's growing independence, which is very difficult for me!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Financial Priorities, Resolutions, Goals, and Word for 2014 | Stapler Confessions says…
    01/05/2014

    […] go about my daily life.” Now is the time, and she recently posted her 2014 word. To read it, click on over. But be sure to come back, to find out my “One Little Word” for […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. kim says…
    01/05/2014

    breathe...to help center myself so i can focus on being the best me possible.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Amanda says…
    01/05/2014

    This is my first attempt diving into using one little word as a guide for the year. So fro the next 12 months, my word is “endeavor.” I’ve been to full of self-doubt and lacking the oomph to just go and try or do things, so this year I will endeavor.
    Looking forward to see how you navigate thriving this year.
    xo A

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Susan says…
    01/05/2014

    My word is centered. I have difficulty living in the moment and being present. I also deal with a lot of anxiety and I feel this word will help me stay grounded. I have a daughter with a life threatening illness and I am continually working at not worrying about the future and just staying centered in today:)

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. laura says…
    01/05/2014

    Give.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. The Daybook January 5 | Music City Mama says…
    01/05/2014

    […] word for the year. I’ve chosen BELIEVE  and am eager to see where it takes me. I’m taking this year-long workshop with the delightfully tall and geek-chic Ali Edwards. It seems (so far) to be an […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Theresa says…
    01/05/2014

    This is the first I have ever heard of olw but it "caring" perfectly fits with so many themes in my life right now. I am trying to change my eating and exercise habits to improve my health. I am a special education teacher who cares for others all the time but needs to find balance to be more caring of myself. My husband and I are thinking of trying for a baby late this year so this may add a whole new demention to the caring I do in my life.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Back from the Weekend | The Everyday and Beyond says…
    01/06/2014

    […] you have a word yet for 2014? Mine’s […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Miranda says…
    01/06/2014

    My word is pause/paws...I think I'll write it phonetically so I can use it either way

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Cindy W. says…
    01/06/2014

    I am going to try this .....so here goes....I have never done this before so I will follow you all closely!!

    My word is LISTEN!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Why I am here | Get Stuff Done says…
    01/06/2014

    […] by this post, I chose my “Word of 2014.” This word will guide my approach to life and my actions […]

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  15. Isabo says…
    01/06/2014

    My little word for 2014 is MINDFUL... I've been on a get healthy journey in 2013... but was only thinking of my weight and physical measurements... but really I need to be mindful of how I spend my money, what I put in my brain, what I put in my mouth, what I let my eyes rest on... mindful... stop and think first... ahhh should be an interesting year.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Isabo says…
    01/06/2014

    my one little word for 2014 is MINDFUL. In 2013 I have done a lot of work on my physical health.. but there is so much more to being healthy... so it is MINDFUL... what goes in my mouth, how do I spend my money, what goes into my brain, what do I allow my eyes to rest on... what goes into all the various parts of my personhood... MINDFUL. should be an interesting year.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Life Documented: Figuring It Out | says…
    01/06/2014

    […] year  2014 my plan is to blog and put into picture form my One Little Word as I strive to figure out what having a purpose is really about.  There may be days that there […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. PROJECT LIFE: January Page 2 | Elisa Ingram says…
    01/06/2014

    […] Edwards has done it again with the One Little Word challenge. Last year my word was FOCUS. This year it is GROW. So what does that mean? It means […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Linda Dwyer says…
    01/07/2014

    My word for 2014 is FALLING. I had the luxury of having dinner with 2 girlfriends last night and was so inspired by one's chat about this blog that I decided straight away to join this journey and my word just fell into my thoughts straight away. I have fallen into so many things in my life so far that this word will hopefully inspire me to let go and just keep trusting that I'll always land on my feet.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. 2014 One Little Word | Allowing Myself says…
    01/07/2014

    […] in choosing your own word to guide you this year? I suggest two resources: Ali Edwards One Little Word series, as she’s the creator of this online project and Susannah Conway’s Unravelling […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. the obligatory post | kulik photography says…
    01/07/2014

    […] this year though. I started making a list, and had decided that this year instead of just choosing one word it would be a multiple word kind of year. And then when I sat down at my computer to create […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Padni says…
    01/07/2014

    on 2014 my One Little Word is Focus. I choose that word for some reasons (many reasons actually). This year is really different from the previous one, I'm a mother now and everyday is a busy day, resting on my sofa is a rare moment and how I missed to sleep for a long time on my bed. But seeing my little boy to grow up everyday is a momento, a beautiful moment that I never want to exchange with. I'm thankful for my lovely hubby that never complaining for being busy helping me to finish the housework and take care of the baby, even he love to do that, he said. When I'm in the mood to make scrapbook (to release my stress) He help me to caring the baby. How grateful I am. :) Thanks to you Ali for sharing the One Little Word.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Liza says…
    01/07/2014

    Hi there, I'm joining in this year. I've chosen Mercy for my word.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. glee sexy and i know it download says…
    01/07/2014

    You have remarked very interesting details ! ps decent internet site . “I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying that I approved of it.” by Mark Twain.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Lynn says…
    01/07/2014

    My word this year is SURRENDER.

    You can read about it on my blog :)
    Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies

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