The idea of having a Word of the Year I didn’t invent. Credit goes to a woman who is a fashionista like me. Riffing on her original intent I want to give you my impression on how to choose and use the word.

Picking up on the beauty and benefit of this philosophy I chose the word Refine. Not only would I refine my approach to buying things this year. Refine I would how I lived my life and my weekly routine.

One online dictionary definition of refine is: to make improvement by introducing subtleties or distinctions.

The way I improved my life was to enact subtle changes in each season.

My New Year’s resolution was to give and receive joy. Thinking positively is one thing. Feeling joy is another. In 2025 expressing elation was on the agenda.

Using one simple word to tune into what you need to do can have a positive impact. 

What inspired me was reading the book I recommend:  A Colorful Way of Living: How to Be More, Create More, Do More The Vera Bradley Way. Cofounder of the women’s lifestyle brand Barbara Bradley Baekgaard in the Cut and Trim chapter got at this exactly: “Our lives are better by design. When we sketch out how we want our lives to look, and then make a plan to implement that vison, we can accomplish our goals.”

The author asks: “What big or small twist on an old pattern can you make that will help you feel more relevant and true to the woman you want to be today?” The guys among us and others of any identity can redesign their lives too.

Bradley realizes the change “can be subtle, and still significant.” These takeaways from the book resonated with me as I seek to refine how I want to live and cut out the things that no longer serve me.

In keeping with the idea of having a colorful way of living the chosen word should be positive and life-affirming. The word should help you design the life you want to have in these 12 months. 

The word to choose is the one that is lovely and not too lofty given your circumstance. Using the word refine I was able to make improvements in my well-being incrementally every week.

Get clear on why you’ve chosen the word. Write down or type up the definition of the word.

Detail on the page how and when and where to do what the word expresses in a paragraph or two or so. Remember the benefit you’ll get from using the word as the catalyst for personal development.

You can keep a notebook to write your goals and resolutions. I type up information on sheets of paper and print it up. Then laminate each sheet. Keep them handy to re-read for inspiration to power through.

More than the Word of the Year reflecting what you want to do it should get at how you want to be. The word should elevate your confidence and sense of self.

Like with a New Year’s resolution it’s best to keep the Word of the Year a simple specific achievable goal of your own choosing that reflects how you want to level up. 

The fun part is that in January we get the chance to design our lives using a new word each time. A dynamic way to improve our outlook about what’s possible.