Choosing a Word of the Year for 2025

Karen Estep explains how she chooses her word(s) of the year and what her words will be for 2025. This is a great practice to keep yourself motivated all year long.  

Do you choose a word of the year? Four years ago, I hated the idea of a “Word of the Year.” I thought it was so “extra” for people to do this practice and I honestly could not keep myself motivated to stick with anything for more than a few days, let alone a whole year. Well, three years ago I entered into my OCIA journey, reevaluated my spiritual needs, grew closer to God while becoming Catholic — and now I choose a word or words of the year every year.  

An exercise in self-discipline and discernment

This process really started after listening to the Abiding Together podcast. The three women described how to discern their words so beautifully that it was hard not to want to join in the process. They talked about spending a lot of time in prayer or in Adoration and really listening for what God is trying to tell you. At first, I was like, “Ha! If I am quiet for more than five minutes, people will start to worry!” Five minutes of Adoration was like a thousand lifetimes for me. However, I took the time to discipline myself and stayed with discernment and listening, and soon had words!  

What I learned from past words of the year

In 2023 my word of the year was “surrender.” I was happy with that choice because I was a new Catholic. I was learning to surrender my wants for what God truly needed me to do, but I realized for a control freak like me, surrendering takes a lot of strength. So, that year I actually had two words: strength and surrender. Now, I am a person who needs a daily reminder, most of the time hourly, and sometimes minute by minute, so I asked a local bracelet artist to create some bracelets for me to wear. I wore those bracelets like badges of honor. The funny thing is, I find that these are words I still need on a daily basis.  

My word for 2024 was not a word I would have chosen but it was truly divinely inspired for me. I went to a Lauren Daigle concert with a couple of friends in October of 2023. During the concert Lauren sang the song, “Kaleidoscope Jesus.” Afterwards, she explained that people are like kaleidoscopes. We made up of all these broken pieces, but we’re made to use those pieces to refract God’s light into unique artwork.

I bawled like a baby at this explanation and decided that night that “kaleidoscope” was going to be my word for 2024. I was going to make it a point to see the kaleidoscope in everyone I met. Once again, I had a bracelet made and wore it all year. That bracelet started a lot of really great conversations because not a lot of people walk around with the word “kaleidoscope” around their wrist.

Little did I know, God actually meant for me to see the kaleidoscope in myself. After an encounter at a Steubenville conference, I realized God wanted me to see the kaleidoscope of my life and use my broken pieces to continue to refract His light.  

This year's words

This year I have three words. I have a lot of goals for 2025 BUT this one goal, with these three words, encompass all of the goals. “Light Holy Fires” are my Words of the Year for 2025. I started discerning these words in July of 2024 and I think they are perfect. I did have some bracelets made and I cannot wait to see what fires I will start this year. Part of choosing these words also means that I have to keep my Holy Fire lit within myself. I am going to have to remain in prayer, go to Adoration, and dive into Scripture all year too, because I cannot light holy fires if I am not lit spiritually as well.  

Do you choose “Word(s) of the Year”? If so, please be sure to share with us! I truly think God helps us decide on words so that we not only inspire ourselves but inspire others as well!  

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Copyright 2025 Karen Estep
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