Let Your “Word” Help Create Your World in 2023

“Words create worlds.”  – Attributed to many

I believe words matter.   Apparently, so do the many others who make one of their New Year’s rituals to pick their “word for the year.”  This is a word or short phrase that represents a personal and/or professional aspiration that will serve as an inspiration, motivation, guide, anchor, or “theme” for the upcoming year.  Mine has traditionally been a “made-up” word, often a combination of words, that energizes me and serves as a compass to help keep me aligned with my stated priorities … it helps me create my world for the year.  

Indeed, words are symbols for thoughts and ideas, and we personalize them according to the meaning we associate with them.  Consider some words that have taken on a whole new meaning (or multiple meanings) in the past 3 years, such as zoom, distancing, variant, hero, vacation, mask, quarantine, incubation, booster, transmission, and even cloth!  Each of these words now have a newly acquired “emotional charge” attached to them, and depending on your perspective, symbolize different meanings, and those differences have indeed often created very different “worlds.”   

In the past 4 years, my self-created words have been “zilience,” “reslove,” “cor,” and in 2022, “bemusedament.”  My understanding of bemusedament helped me to tap into the creative spirit around my core values of connection, wonder, love, growth, and fun, and informed as well as inspired my writing, including the recently written poem “Epiphany”.  This poem served as the inspiration for this year’s word, “Rēpiphany,” which I intend will help raise my awareness to the many “Holy moments” in my life, remind me that our lives are part of something much larger, and inspire me to show up as my “better self” more often. 

How about you?  What might be the word or words to help you frame your year – or perhaps for you it’s a picture, quote, song, or poem (or all of the above!).  Consider picking one or more and sharing their meaning with those close to you, including your PeerRx partner.  I’ve found that doing so is great fun, can provide you insights into your psyche, and by inviting others into the conversation, can supercharge your intention by providing some encouragement and accountability around it.     

Looking back one year from now, what kind of world do you want to have helped create in 2023?  Well, it can all start with just one word.  Why not give it a try ….