The Nudge Word

What Will It Be in 2024?

It may have been around for years but I only caught on last year to the the notion of a “nudge word”. This intriguing idea came to me courtesy of the Washington Post. As the Post put it in the description that I read last year (Pick a New Year’s nudge word instead of a resolution - December 29, 2022), a nudge word is not a broad resolution (exercise more) nor a specific goal (go to the gym three times a week). Rather it’s a single word that captures the mindset you want to adopt in the new year. As they put it, “It’s a word that will nudge you toward positive change whenever you think of it”. I consider it a reminder or a mantra for the year. It’s a word to keep me focused on how I want to live in 2024. That’s a lot to ask of one word, don’t you agree?

Selecting the word is a thoughtful challenge for me. The WaPo suggests you consider things that made you happy this year or felt good this year. How can you get that feeling all the time? What word might guide you to that more contented place? Another route to choosing a word would be to think about what would make your life better. What might reduce your stress, or help you feel more connected, or improve your work world? What word would remind you to focus on a more complete life? A third strategy when selecting a word is to check in with your body. How is your physical health? your mental health? How do you feel when you wake up in the morning or when you look in the mirror? Even one word in the back of your mind might push you to that healthier place over the course of the year.

Here’s a sampling of words directly from the Washington Post to get you started.

Words of reflection: awareness, awe, breathe, pause, reset, gratitude, resilience, optimism, focus

Words of change: reset, renew, nourish, energize, growth, recharge, evolve, bloom, adventure, travel

Words of connection: relate, reconnect, experience, balance, engage, cherish, comfort, listen

Choosing the word can take a bit of time. I mulled it over for a couple of weeks last year before I went with the word “openness”. I’ve always viewed myself as tolerant and open to other people but I needed to learn more about being open to the Universe, to the things that I can’t control. I wanted to become a person who could accept those things that I couldn’t change. I wanted to learn more about being open to surprises and to their impact on me. I used the word often during the year, sometimes in a piece of writing, sometimes in conversation. I can’t say that I am anywhere near mastery of the art of openness but I did, at least, practice awareness of being a more open person. As we wind up 2023, I imagine that I could choose that word “openness” again for 2024. I need the practice, for sure, but there are other words that are teasing me to be chosen.

What about generosity? I think about this one often. I want to show material generosity but I also want to show generosity of the spirit. I want to reach out to people. I want to connect with people and with causes. I want to be generous with my time, with my supportive words, with my ability to listen. I want to be generous when it comes to protecting the planet and to protecting the residents of the planet who most need a generous spirit.

Courage is another word that I am considering. I think there is a great deal of room in my life for courage. In many ways, I live a predictable and safe life. Can I be a bolder human being, a person who is more willing to take chances, to step out in every way? I’m not necessarily talking about Big Steps (like traveling by myself to a place where English is not the native language) but even tiny steps. It can be hard for me to attend social functions or to text someone who might enjoy being seen that day. It’s not easy for me to step out of routines even when I want to do the thing that the Universe is offering me. Sometimes I want to stay home and read when I COULD go out on a hike or a beach walk. Is it courage that I am looking for? I want to push myself out of the ordinary day.

I suppose another word that is knocking on the door is mindfulness. I’m not sure I like that particular word for what I am aspiring to but what I’m going after here is awareness of the present moment. I want a word that means staying grounded, staying in the moment instead of drifting to some rare and perfect yesterday or tomorrow. I want a word that means attending to Beauty all around me. The word also would remind me to stay tuned into my own senses, feelings, and thoughts and maybe allow life to unfold as it will? I’m not sure what the actual nudge word is for this.

I’ve thought about connection as a nudge word for the new year. The pandemic wasn’t all that awful for me because I rather like solitude and, as noted previously, I’m not keen on social gatherings. On the other hand. I DO value my people. I especially value my extended family. They are a fascinating collection of engaging, smart, funny, and thoughtful people. I value a handful of longtime friends and I don’t want to lose them before they leave the planet for good. So, connection hangs around with her deep presence, whispering, “Don’t forget me.”

There are several other contenders and who knows what word is yet to show up on the horizon. I just wanted to show how this process has worked for me. It is true that there might be more than one word worth selecting. Since you make the rules for this game, you can choose more than one if you want. I like the idea of having only one word as my guidepost but that certainly doesn’t mean I can’t give attention to other signposts along the way. I think the primary value of this word-of-the-year exercise is the mulling over of possibilities. Who do I want to become in the year ahead? What do I value and want to bring out the most in myself in 2024? What does 2024 need from me? I will settle on a word by the end of the first week or two of January. You can expect an update at that time.