It’s my 8th year of choosing a word to guide me through the upcoming 365 days. I’ve shared how I pick my word and my words for the last few years here.
Sometime this last November, I started to think about what I wanted to focus on in my upcoming year. Not to rush into it, but to give intentional thought to what I wanted to cultivate. As I thought of a potential word, I’d add it to my list in my Notes app on my phone. Some of my words I brainstormed are below.
- Wait
- Foundation
- Expand
- Rooted
- Practice
- Training
- Momentum
- Accelerate
- Multiply
- Prepare
- Expand
- Impact
- Amplify
- Develop
- Elaborate
- Magnify
I had a few words throughout those few weeks that seemed to fit, but the one I ultimately chose for the year was one I initially discarded early in the process.
I was at a church service in November and the sermon talked about Ephesians 3:17-19 which says:
“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
While sitting there, I recalled the word “rooted” that I had initially considered. I felt a tug toward it. I prayed that if that were to be my word, that it would become abundantly clear.
Over the next few days I was ordering some Christmas gifts I saw a new course called “Rooted in Grace” from a company I purchase bible studies from pretty frequently. It covers 10 ways to grow in your relationship with God.
As I was picking out books I wanted to read the next year, I came across one I’ve read twice, called Rooted. I added it to my stack to read again in 2022.
Throughout conversations, podcasts, and books over the next few weeks I continued to see this word. As I thought about it more, I saw exactly how the plans I had for the next year aligned with being rooted.
So that’s my word for 2022 – rooted. In the next post, I’ll be sharing more about what that will look like for me and how it will align with some of the plans I have for the year.
It’s so cool that you’ve had a word for the year for a few years now. I myself just started, and my word for the year is ‘fail’ which, despite its negative connotation, actually spurs me on to doing more things. Wishing you all the best!