The Nudge Word

What Will It Be in 2025?

It may have been around for years but I only caught on a couple of years ago to 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 in 2022 (Pick a New Year’s nudge word instead of a resolution - December 29, 2022), a nudge word is not a broad resolution (for example, 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 2025. 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

Two years ago, my nudge word was “openness”. I wanted to be as open and curious about life as I could be. I picked up ways of thinking that year that still guide my thoughts and actions now. Last year, my word was “joie de vivre”. I love this definition of that expression: your delight in simply living your life. You can read more about my selection of that word here. I think it was an excellent choice for the year. I found myself slipping away from it occasionally but, overall, I think the essence of that word filtered into my life over 2024. Much like “openness”, I picked up some awareness and some strategies to celebrate joy that will stick with me into the future.

What words are attracting me this year? To be honest, I could easily defer again to either of those two previous words but why not expand myself in new directions? I think about the word “generosity” 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 is worth 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’ve thought about connection as a nudge word for the new year. I rather like solitude and social gatherings can be a lot of work for me. 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.”

“Pay attention” is a phrase that sought my attention a lot during 2024. 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. In recent months, in particular, I have been pulled into the past, maybe seeking to understand regrets or just wishing I could change parts of the past. When not lost in memoryland, I find myself cringing at the future. There’s no point in going backwards or forwards. I can’t change the past and much of the future is not mine to control (and that seems to be the stuff I most fret about: all those things that I cannot control). I want to pay attention to Beauty all around me. The phrase could also remind me to stay tuned into my own senses, feelings, and thoughts and maybe allow life to unfold as it will? It’s worth consideration.

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 2025? What does 2025 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.