# My 2025 Word(s) of the Year ##### Why I'm choosing two words this year to guide me --- For the past few years, I’ve chosen a word of the year. One single word. Why a word of the year? Because planning doesn’t work for me. Not anymore. Despite being a lifelong planner (who loves nothing more than a new diary and pretty stationary), I’ve realised that rigid plans leave me feeling restricted. Suffocated. Anxious. A word of the year, on the other hand, is like a destination. It gives me clarity without caging me in. So it’s not a resolution or a plan (I’m shit at those!). But an intention. A guide. A lighthouse to steer by. Here are my words from the last few years: **2022**: Finish **2023**: Consistency **2024**: Slow/Ease And now, after *literally* spending all of December mulling it over (changing my mind six times in the process), I finally decided on my 2025 words. Yes...*words*. Plural. But let me take you through the messy process first. --- ## Reflecting on my Word of the Year To figure out my words, I asked myself: *What themes or emotions keep showing up for me right now?* Here’s what came up: **Authenticity** – This word is already part of who I am. Showing up as me. Quirks and all. **Alignment** – Same. It’s non-negotiable. If something doesn’t feel right to my core, it’s a no. **Transparency** – This came up a lot in business. It reminds me to be open and honest, especially when things feel icky or I feel vulnerable. **Growth** – I want to grow in every way. Mentally. Emotionally. Physically. But it didn’t quite feel like *the* word. **Confidence** – A constant work-in-progress. Owning who I am is slowly building my confidence. But this wasn’t the right fit either. --- I also toyed with words like *playful*, *build*, and *surrender*, but none of them felt quite right. I then asked myself 3 more questions: 1. *Which word feels like a soft nudge toward who I want to be?* 2. *Which word feels true to my core, not what I think I should pick?* 3. *Does this word feel expansive and flexible enough to grow with me?* --- ## My First Word: Foundations Eventually, I landed on **foundations**. Why? Because I have a habit of running before I can walk. I compare my chapter 5 to someone else’s chapter 20 (or 100) and forget to focus on the basics. It’s like muscling up a weight at the gym without proper technique – looks great until something gives. Without solid foundations, things crack. They crumble. They’re unsustainable. --- ## The Second Word: Audacity Even after I’d settled on *foundations*, the word **audacity** kept nudging me. I heard it in an audiobook. It popped up in conversations. I couldn't stop thinking about it. And then I thought – *Why the hell can’t I have both?* Choosing two words feels bold. Rebellious even. (Especially for someone who’s spent her life as a people-pleaser, following rules and staying in her lane.) So, for 2025, my words are **Foundations *AND* Audacity**. --- ## What these words mean to me **Foundations is my focus.** It’s about stability, structure, and creating a base that supports everything I want to build. Focusing on sustainability, I want to build foundations: - **For my health:** prioritising habits that support me. - **For my business:** creating systems and strategies that align with who I am. - **For my relationships:** showing up authentically and unapologetically. Initially, I thought building foundations meant working quietly in the background. But now, I see it’s about having the audacity to build *boldly*. Foundations don’t always mean playing small. It means creating strength and stability so you can dream bigger and stand taller. Foundations are anything but passive. They are active. Like the roots of a tree. They reach deeper. They support more. Allowing us to grow strong, weather storms, and flourish when we’re ready to do so. --- **Audacity is my energy.** It’s about stepping into my boldest, most authentic self. Being audacious means refusing to shrink myself or apologise for wanting more. It’s: - Owning my truth - Speaking up - Trusting my gut - Advocating for what I want And doing all these even though I’m scared to do so. It’s about writing what’s on my heart. Laughing too loud. Dancing in my kitchen. And living fully aligned with who I really am. But audacity doesn’t always mean big, dramatic moves. It’s also about saying, *“Fuck the hustle.”* It’s about resting unapologetically. Listening to my body. And having the audacity to say: - *Not today.* - *I’m not doing this alone.* - *I need help.* Because asking for help isn’t weak. It’s an audacious act of self-advocacy. It’s about standing up for our needs. And creating space for what matters. Audacity isn’t about being fearless. It’s about being scared and doing it anyway. --- ## Giving myself permission Choosing two words for 2025 feels like the ultimate permission slip. To live life on my terms. To do things my way. To stop hiding. Last year, I talked a lot about authenticity and alignment. This year, I don’t just want to talk about them. I want to *know* them in the deepest parts of myself. --- ## Ground. Fly. Repeat. As women, our energy ebbs and flows. Which is why I struggled to choose just one word. What felt like the right word for me in my Inner Winter didn’t fit in my Inner Summer. And vice versa. Hence why two words works so well. **Foundations** is my grounding word. It’s about the inward focus – The roots. **Audacity** is my flying word. It’s about outward energy – Spreading my wings. Together, these words remind me to: Root down. Rise up. Build boldly. Live bravely. So, here’s to a year of building *foundations*. And having the *audacity* to do it my way.