Out With Resolutions, In With Intention: How to Choose Your Word of the Year

Once upon a time, I used to make New Year’s Resolutions — or at the very least, set a few primary goals I wanted to accomplish in the coming year.

Finishing a class.

Reading a certain number of books.

Lifting a specific amount of weight.

Building up my savings.

Nothing exotic. Nothing to write home about.

Nothing that ever actually getting accomplished either.

A couple of years ago, I realized how unproductive general goals and resolutions are — for me. They come with a clear end vision but seldom with relatable, attainable, day-to-day action steps. I struggled with how to be the change I wanted to see in my world.

When Goals Aren’t Enough

Thanks to my training with iPEC, I now have practical tools and techniques I can use to recognize a goal and then break it down into realistic sub-goals. Not just for myself, but also with clients, obviously. We’ve all read about these strategies in one way or another.

Even with the ability to translate a goal into bite-sized habits and task lists, I still felt like there was an additional step — something that made “falling off the wagon” feel less like failure and more like feedback.

For me, that’s been having a Word of the Year.

Why a Word of the Year Works

Much like values (or perhaps even a value itself), my Word of the Year anchors me to something deeper than tasks and goals. It reminds me why I aim to exercise 3–5 times a week, and why I make space to read both for fun and for growth.

Just like my core values, my Word of the Year acts as a compass.

When I find myself not writing as much as I had hoped, I’m able to recognize that a single goal is only one thread in the larger tapestry of my life. That means the consistency I envisioned for something like eating less dairy might not always show up the way I planned. Life be lifin’. 

That doesn’t mean I’m going to give up and start throwing back a block of cheddar every day.

It means I have the chance to look back at my word — to revisit the vision I had when I chose it (or when it revealed itself to me) and reflect on how I can stay aligned, even when I’ve taken a side quest away from the smaller habits I set out to build.

Artificial Intelligence – Authentic Insight

In the past, I’d usually reflect and meditate on which word would serve me and my growth in the new year. This year, I decided to add an element of play knowing I wanted to share this concept with you, and asked ChatGPT to help me out.

In the process, I came up with a few prompts to share with you — in case you’d like to have some fun and use AI for something more meaningful than fact-checking Instagram info posts.

Discover Your Word of the Year Using These ChatGPT Prompts

Paste this first before Step 1:

You are going to guide me through a multi-step process to help me discover my Word of the Year.

 Please follow these rules:

• I will paste prompts into you, one at a time, and give my responses after each prompt.

• Do not summarize, reflect, or generate word suggestions until I explicitly ask you to.

• After I complete Step 4, I will confirm that your summary accurately reflects my reflections.

• Only after I confirm the summary, generate 3 possible Words of the Year with explanations and help me choose the one that feels most aligned with my intentions.

• Wait for my input before moving to the next step. Ask me to paste the next prompt if needed.

• Keep responses clear and concise, and make sure you are responding according to the step instructions.

I will now start with Step 1.

Step 1

Instructions:Paste into ChatGPT. Answer any questions it asks. When finished, move to Step 2.

Prompt:I want to choose a Word of the Year that will guide and inspire me in 2026. Help me discover it by asking questions that explore how I want to feel, grow, and show up in the year ahead. Focus on my experiences, personality, desires for change, and the objectives I want to pursue.

Step 2

Instructions:Paste this prompt. Write your reflections on the past year. Move to Step 3.

Prompt:Here’s what stood out about my past year: what energized me, what drained me, what I learned, and what felt meaningful.

Step 3

Instructions:Paste this prompt. Describe your vision for the year. Move to Step 4.

Prompt:Here’s what I want to feel, experience, and embody in 2026, and the areas of growth I want to focus on.

Step 4

Instructions:Read ChatGPT’s summary carefully. Confirm that it accurately reflects your reflections. Once you confirm, ChatGPT will generate 3 Word of the Year suggestions automatically.

Prompt:Note: This is the final reflection step.Please summarize the main themes and patterns in what I’ve shared across the previous prompts. Highlight key feelings, intentions, and focus areas. I will review your summary and confirm if it feels accurate.

Final Steps

ChatGPT will wait for your confirmation before generating words.After confirmation, it provides three Word of the Year options, explains why each fits, and helps you choose the one that resonates most.

Your Word in Action

Once you’ve chosen your word, it’s time to get to work – there’s no reason to wait for the Ball to Drop to start heading in the direction you want to go.

A great place to start is this: What first step can I take that sets my Word of the Year in motion now?

If you’d like extra clarity, support, or accountability as you carry your word into the new year, Pattern + Purpose^TM can help you stay focused and aligned with your intentions. 

Together, we can translate your word into habits, systems, and choices that reflect who you’re becoming—not just what you’re doing. Book a Discovery Call today to set your word in motion.