How to Choose a Word That Shapes Your Year
Studies show we speak approximately 7,000 words a day. Some of those words are meaningful. Many are forgettable. But every once in a while, a single word can change everything.
Unfortunately, it’s often the negative words that stick. Words like worthless, ugly, failure, and forgotten echo louder than the rest. One cruel comment can drown out a day’s worth of encouragement. One label can linger far longer than it should.
But what if the words that shape us could be chosen on purpose?
What if, instead of letting negative words define our identity, we replaced them with truth, one word at a time?
This isn’t just an exercise in positivity. It’s an invitation to choose intention over insecurity, focus over fear, and vision over doubt.
It’s time to choose your W.O.R.D. Not just any word, but one that reflects who you are becoming. Here’s an acronym to help you out!
W – Worth
The word you choose should start with your worth.
Value isn’t something you earn—it’s something you already have. Your worth doesn’t increase when others see it or diminish when they don’t.
My mom once shared a story with me about her work. She worked in Manhattan at a very bougie retirement home—think five-star living at its finest! A woman arrived wearing a stunning 10-carat diamond ring. It was dazzling. Everyone noticed. But when the ring suddenly went missing, panic spread.
Before anyone could contact the family, the woman laughed and said, “My dear, do you think I’d wear my real diamond in this place? That one’s locked in a vault. I have three more fakes in my drawer.”
The diamond was a decoy, but her wisdom was real. She understood its value, precisely why she didn’t wear it carelessly. She didn’t need to put it on display to know what it was worth, just like she didn’t need to prove her own.
The same is true for you. The word you choose should reflect value.
O – Own
There’s something powerful about owning something that belongs to you. Whether it’s a car, a dream, or a goal, ownership changes how you treat it.
I remember my first car. It was a beat-up Honda that I overpaid for, but I named it Lexus because, given my payments, that’s what I should have been driving. Regardless, I drove it with pride because it was mine.
The word you choose may not sound impressive to anyone, but if it’s meaningful to you, that’s what matters. Own it. Speak it. Live like it’s already yours.
R – Remember
A word won’t change your life unless you remember it.
A man made headlines for having $321 million in Bitcoin, but he forgot the password to his digital wallet. He has one attempt left before it’s locked forever.
Let that be a reminder: it doesn’t matter how valuable something is if you can’t access it.
Write your word down. Display it somewhere you’ll see it daily. Let it become part of your rhythm and routine. Remind yourself of who you are becoming, even when it feels like you’re falling short.
D – Determined
Words take root through repetition and resolve. Choosing a word is easy, but living it out takes determination.
Author and speaker Tony Robbins says, “Whatever you associate more pain or pleasure with will determine your behavior.” In other words, if the temporary pleasure of comfort outweighs the long-term purpose of change, the old habits will always win.
To live out your word, you must want the change more than the comfort of staying the same.
If your word is peace, you must be willing to let go of chaos.
If your word is discipline, you must say “no” to distractions.
If your word is hope, you must believe it’s possible, even in the waiting.
Be determined to live into your word, especially when it’s hard.
A Word Can Change Everything
Over the years, I’ve heard many powerful words from students. Some are inspiring, and others are heartbreaking.
I’ll never forget a boy who approached me after a talk and said, “Miss Daira, I know my word. It’s Dinner.”
I paused, unsure. “Dinner?”
He nodded. “My family struggles to pay bills. Some nights, we go to bed hungry. So I want to focus on dinner.”
I looked him and gently suggested a new word: More.
What if you chose more for every part of your life? Not just more food, but more hope, opportunity, stability. More than what you’ve been through. More than what you thought was possible.
His face lit up. That word changed everything.
Choosing a word isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about choosing direction.
Perhaps your word is ‘peace’ because anxiety has been louder than the truth. Maybe it’s an upgrade because your environment pulls you backward. Perhaps it’s ‘discipline’ because you’re ready to stop talking and start doing.
Whatever you choose, make sure it reflects your worth. Own it. Remember it. Be determined to live it out. Your word may not change the world. But it can change your world. And that’s a powerful place to start.