What My Word of the Year Does for Me

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i hope your 2018 has started off strong! as mentioned in getting the most out of 2018, i have carefully selected my word of the year! ready for it….

so, why embrace as my word of the year?

the end of 2016 and a fair chunk of 2017 was hard for me. dealing with postpartum depression, my husband traveling a ton and no longer feeling like ‘myself’ was hard. i didn’t pick a word of the year. i didn’t set any tangible goals. looking back, my word of the year was probably ‘survive’ and my goal was to keep my kid and dog alive (thankfully my husband is pretty self-sufficient).

in reflecting on my 2017, i realized that a large part of me kept waiting and waiting for my life to go back to ‘how it used to be.’ to feel how i used to feel, to have the amount of alone time i used to have and for my damn jeans to fit me. a piece of me also kept waiting to return to the traditional social work field, hesitant to fully embrace my new life.

embrace is my word of the year because i not only want but also need to embrace and accept where i am at currently.

in 2018, i am going to:

  • embrace my new role as a mom
  • embrace my capabilities
  • embrace my strengths
  • embrace that our ‘normal‘ looks different than others
  • embrace that i can bring my social work knowledge into our business
  • embrace the fact that i can make money and still make a difference
  • embrace the thought of our family expanding
  • embrace the support, encouragement and push my husband gives me to accomplish many of the above things
  • embrace the notion that if something isn’t working for me, i can change it
  • embrace me

i feel like this is the prefect word for me this year, much as ‘capable’ was a few years back.

ravery has full permission to remind me when i’m dragging my feet or i am getting in my own wayย to gently say, “chelsea…EMBRACE this opportunity” and then i imagine us getting some sort of power rings like captain planet to harness our power. just a thought.

for me, a word of the year needs to keep me in check while also inspiring me. embrace is the one for 2018!

what is your word of the year?

30 Comments

  1. Melinda

    January 10, 2018 at 6:11 am

    “embrace the thought of our family expanding” are you telling us something???

    I think ‘Embrace’ is the perfect word for you. There’s so much love, healing, self care, compassion, resilience, and heart in it. ((((((hugs))))))

    • chelsea

      January 10, 2018 at 12:34 pm

      haha nope – my womb is currently empty and my love of red wine increases ๐Ÿ™‚

      we do want more than one kid so i’m trying to *embrace* the thought that i may not necessarily experience the same very hard time initially with the next one.

      you are right that there is love, healing and compassion in the word ’embrace’ – i still love my capable brace! now to find something that says ’embrace!’ hope you are well melinda!

  2. Alanna

    January 10, 2018 at 8:05 am

    I love this. Thanks for the reminder to reflect on the last year and to look forward to the next! I am struggling with starting my own business and the struggle is really in my head more than anything. I know I need to take a step back, reflect, and then give myself a firm but gentle push to get out of my own head and keep working towards my goals.

    • chelsea

      January 10, 2018 at 12:43 pm

      congratulations on starting your own business, alanna! that’s HUGE and exciting! i would really encourage you to think about choosing the word ‘capable.’ i struggle too (mostly in my head like you said) and the word capable really helped me to remember i can do this (ie starting our business)! you are capable of starting a successful business and capable of achieving your goals!

  3. Amberly

    January 10, 2018 at 8:31 am

    I like this word!! I have similar feelings as you for 2016 and 2017, they were rough years. I’m working on myself this year and finding my happy again. One week in and I’ve already noticed a huge difference, I think because I’m accepting the things that I’m able to do and embracing the progress over perfection!

    • chelsea

      January 10, 2018 at 12:44 pm

      i am so happy to hear you are finding your happy again this year, amberly! that’s really wonderful. progress over perfection really is key, isn’t it? so glad you are already feeling great about this year!

  4. Elyse @ Just Murrayed

    January 10, 2018 at 8:42 am

    I think this word is SO perfect for you this year, Chelsea! Can’t wait to see how you use it in the upcoming year!

    • chelsea

      January 10, 2018 at 12:44 pm

      thank you elyse! it’s feeling VERY right and came shooting into my mind one day. it’s a sign ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Jo Burns

    January 10, 2018 at 9:19 am

    Hi Chelsea. I really enjoy getting your blogs. I rank you right up there with Seth Godin, just a different genre ;).

    Love your word – embrace is both powerful and full of grace. I went with phrases this year…Dance with fear and Re-Ignite my Optimism!

    Cheers to you!

    • chelsea

      January 10, 2018 at 12:46 pm

      jo!!!! that is seriously an ENORMOUS compliment from you about ranking me up there with seth godin. thank you. truly!

      oh i like that you went with phrases this year! dance with fear and reignite optimism are PERFECT! cheers to you too!

  6. Audrey

    January 10, 2018 at 11:43 am

    This was my word in 2016 (? I think). It’s a wonderful word and I think you’ll absolutely do it justice! I did not, lol. I wanted to embrace where I was and embrace those around me, but I just hated my job and I felt unaccomplished and unfulfilled and totally spiky toward those I loved.
    In 2017 and again in 2018 I didn’t pick a word because they just don’t work for me right now. I think you’ll do really great things this year when you remember to embrace the moment, though!! I’m excited for you!

    • chelsea

      January 10, 2018 at 12:49 pm

      oh was it? i didn’t remember that! i am sorry you had a rough time back then but hoping you are loving your new job much more ๐Ÿ™‚

      i think it’s completely okay with not always ‘feeling’ it when it comes to certain ways to set goals or to just pick a word to pick a word. that’s how i felt last year. you do you!

  7. Kate

    January 10, 2018 at 11:59 am

    I love it! My word of the year is โ€œgratitude.โ€ Hoping to use it as a reminder to be grateful of all I have on a daily basis, and to keep my negative attitude in check!

    • chelsea

      January 10, 2018 at 12:53 pm

      that is a great word, kate! i think we can all use that reminder of daily gratitude!

  8. Penny McWright

    January 10, 2018 at 1:05 pm

    I love the word embrace for you because it suits you. I am sure 2018 will be a great year for you, Ryan and Atlas as you embrace everything that is offered and comes your way!

    • chelsea

      January 16, 2018 at 9:47 am

      thank you penny! it feels really right for where i’m out right now!

  9. Charlene Maugeri

    January 10, 2018 at 2:11 pm

    Aww I love this! Here’s to embracing your new rolls! You go girl! I haven’t written my word of the year post yet because I’ve been a little busy in Orlando. But my word for 2018 is “reset”

    • chelsea

      January 16, 2018 at 9:48 am

      oh i’m really liking your word, charlene! you have some big changes ahead with a new city, new role as an entrepreneur so resetting the mindset is awesome!

  10. Charlene Maugeri

    January 10, 2018 at 2:11 pm

    Aww I love this! Here’s to embracing your new rolls! You go girl! I haven’t written my word of the year post yet because I’ve been a little busy in Orlando. But my word for 2018 is “reset”

  11. Jennifer Haston

    January 10, 2018 at 3:15 pm

    Rings are an awesome idea! I can totally picture you both touching
    them and gaining power!

    Talk about powerful. Embrace that
    your โ€œnormalโ€ looks different than others. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Going to embrace that notion!

    • chelsea

      January 16, 2018 at 9:50 am

      haha glad you can see it too jennifer! yup, need to get comfortable with embracing OUR normal – you are right indeed!

  12. Amanda

    January 10, 2018 at 5:16 pm

    Embrace is such a great word! Best of luck to you this year!!

    • chelsea

      January 16, 2018 at 9:52 am

      thank you amanda! cheers to you for a great 2018 too!

  13. Sara DeAnn

    January 12, 2018 at 2:10 pm

    My word is Healthy… I am going to use it as a guide for myself and my goals. Like a quick checkup to start paying more attention to what is healthy in my life as far as friendships, work/life balance, indulging, spending habits, saving habits, online time, all of it. It is my way of reflecting on and projecting to myself what I want. This is fun because I naturally like to question everything. I will keep it in check by remembering is this amount of checking healthy? Hahaha as a rational person I should do my best to even keep my obsession with words in moderation. If I want to be…
    _(you guessed it)_!

    I love your word by the way.
    To me it sound as if you are giving yourself a big hug along with some encouragement & I like that.
    ๐Ÿ™‚

    • chelsea

      January 16, 2018 at 9:53 am

      such a powerful word, sara! i think using the word ‘healthy’ as a guide for yourself and your goals sounds really perfect for you! keeping things in moderation and evaluation whether or not they are healthy for us is easy to say but much harder to implement so i’m glad you’re doing this!

      you’re right – i like the aspect of a big hug around embrace too ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Melinda

    January 26, 2018 at 2:36 am

    It’s taken me a month to clarify and be happy with my ‘word’ of the year. This year though, it’s a phrase. “Go deeper, not wider”.

    It comes from this post on Raptitude http://www.raptitude.com/2017/12/go-deeper-not-wider/ and is about using what we already have, mastering what we already do, rather than taking on something new. I can’t guarantee that I won’t start something new, however if I do it will be done with thought and consideration.

    And I’m having a bracelet wrap made (just like the bracelet I gave you when you were here) that says it, as a continual reminder to myself.

    • chelsea

      February 6, 2018 at 1:25 am

      really love that approach, melinda! how powerful about using what we already have and mastering it. i think that’s where i need to be too. so excellent that you are having a bracelet wrap made – who is by again? totally love that bracelet you gave me!

      • Melinda

        February 6, 2018 at 1:41 am

        I love the idea of carrying my word/phrase with me. The bracelets are from Momentum Jewelery https://momentumjewelry.com/ ๐Ÿ˜€

        • chelsea

          February 6, 2018 at 3:13 am

          thaaaank you! iโ€™ve been searching around trying to find one for my word so thank you! ordered mine and my momโ€™s for her birthday!

          • Melinda

            February 6, 2018 at 4:18 am

            Awesome! ๐Ÿ™‚