For years, I’ve encouraged choosing a word or phrase for the year — not as a goal, but as an anchor.
Not something to chase.
Something to return to.
That hasn’t changed.
What has changed is how slowly and intentionally I approached that choice this year.
As I moved toward 2026, I didn’t want a word that pushed me into action. I wanted something that supported how I move through life when things are unclear, unresolved, or slower than I’d like.
So instead of choosing a word, I chose a posture.
What I mean by “posture”
In everyday terms, posture is how you hold yourself.
It’s who you are being — not just what you’re doing.
Two people can:
- be in the same room
- do the exact same thing
- say the exact same words
…and have completely different impact.
Why?
Because posture shapes:
- the energy you bring
- the presence you carry
- the internal stance you’re living from
One person may show up rushed, tight, or guarded.
Another may show up steady, open, and grounded.
Same behavior.
Different posture.
And that posture affects everything — how you make decisions, how you handle pressure, how you experience your own life.
Posture is seasonal
One of the reasons posture matters so much is that it isn’t static.
There are seasons for:
- action
- courage
- rebuilding
- waiting
- resting
- standing firm
And there are seasons for remaining.
This year, for me, is a season of remaining.
A brief note on faith (take what resonates)
Before I go further, I want to say this clearly:
You can take or leave the faith language.
I’m not here to convince anyone of anything. I’m sharing my own process honestly, because faith and Scripture have been central to my healing and growth over the past few years.
Even if that language doesn’t resonate with you, the process itself still applies. It’s rooted in self-awareness, nervous system regulation, and intentional decision-making — not dogma.
Why I approached 2026 differently
My word for 2025 was Grounded — and I actually lived it.
I slowed down more than I ever had before.
I stopped forcing momentum.
I chose simplicity over speed.
In the past, that kind of slowness would have made me anxious. Instead, it gave me clarity.
Slowing down helped me hear what mattered, what didn’t, and what no longer needed my energy.
Drawing closer to God didn’t make me passive. It made me calmer. More patient. More willing to trust timing instead of trying to outrun it.
That experience showed me something important:
I didn’t want a word for 2026 that would push me.
I wanted a posture that would support me.
The core insight
This year, I didn’t choose something to motivate me.
I chose something that would:
- interrupt old patterns
- regulate my nervous system
- bring me back when I feel rushed or impatient
- remind me where authority actually belongs
That became the filter.
The process I used (and how you can use it too)
If you’re choosing a word, phrase, or posture for the year, here’s the process I used — and why it worked.
1. Notice what feels misaligned
Instead of asking, What do I want more of? start here:
- What feels off right now?
- Where do I feel pressure or tension?
- What pace no longer fits?
Often, the right posture is the counterbalance to what’s been exhausting you.
2. Ask what you’re being asked to release
This is where things get honest:
- What am I gripping too tightly?
- Where am I forcing clarity or outcomes?
- What would feel relieving to loosen — even slightly?
This shifts you out of striving and into awareness.
3. Identify what’s hardest to give up
This question changed everything for me:
What would be hardest to let go of this year — control, urgency, certainty, or speed?
Your answer points directly to the posture that will stretch and support you most.
4. Choose something that supports you when things are slow
Don’t choose a word that only works when life feels exciting or clear.
Choose something you can return to when:
- answers aren’t coming yet
- progress feels invisible
- patience is required
A posture is something you live from — not something you perform.
5. Let the posture become a filter
This is where this overlaps with the work I teach around long-term vision.
A posture helps you:
- decide what belongs — and what doesn’t
- say yes or no with more confidence
- choose the energy you bring into conversations and commitments
Identity comes first.
Alignment follows.
Why this approach is gentler — and still powerful
This isn’t about forcing momentum or picking a word that sounds impressive.
It’s quieter.
More honest.
More sustainable.
Some seasons call for movement.
Some for building.
And some for paying attention.
If this resonates, you’re not behind.
You’re listening.
A final invitation
If you choose a word, phrase, or posture for the year, don’t rush it.
Let it steady you.
Let it guide your decisions.
Let it shape how you show up — especially when things feel unclear.
Sometimes the most powerful commitment we can make isn’t to do more.
It’s to be, differently.
