Why ‘Transformation’ Is My One Word 2015 (#OneWord2015)
For the last two or three years I’ve adopted a ‘One Word’ for the year. The concept is to choose a word which will define your year, which will guide and direct all you do and be at the centre of everything that year.
For 2014 I chose ‘courage’. And this turned out to be very prophetic. I was confronted with the worst of myself and the best of myself.
The best? That I have a writing gift which God wants me to use to benefit others for good – and which actually makes a difference in the world. That I’m well-liked, respected person and writer with a lot to give to the world, and have infinite value and worth as I am.
The worst? My abysmal management of my finances which was going to land me in major trouble unless I took action. How disconnected I’d become from God, and from my own calling. And in what bad health I was in, physically, mentally, emotionally, professionally and spiritually. And above all, my epilepsy-related depression.
This is what happens when you choose a word for the year. In some strange, cosmic way, it comes to challenge you, and incapsulate everything you are in that year. And it’s not exaggeration to say it changes your life for the better.
For past few years when I’ve chosen words they have challenged me and changed me. My hope is the same will happen this year
I’ll be honest.I’ve struggled to find a word for this year. There’s so many words I could choose which would be appropriate for this year.
Intentional – I want to be intentional about my life for this year.
Responsibility – I intend on taking more responsibility for my life this year
Enough – this year needs to begin with me knowing I’m enough right now, overweight, no books released, no courses written, nothing achieved, no weight lost, no counselling or therapy undergone as yet.
All these words are big words for me this year, and I will be bearing them all in my heart for 2015. And if I had chosen any of them for my OneWord this year, it would be entirely appropriate.
But as I considered my word for the year, I realised how in the past my one word hasn’t been a description of where I am now, but more a prophecy of what is to come. A call out to me to step forward in my life and move toward a new tomorrow.
And the word which kept coming to me was
‘transformation’
Now for some of you this may remind you of certain Michael Bay movies, or for we children of the 80’s, of toys of our childhood. But it’s a word which really does embody my hopes for this coming year.
My Word & Your Word
2015 has the potential to be a year of transformation. I hopefully will have two hardcopy books coming out, including my first full length book. And regardless of how many they sell, the simple act of releasing printed hardcopy books for sale, is a gigantic, humungous achievement for me. It’s something I never, ever believed I would ever do.
And I know the whole process of this will change me in some way.
There will be a legacy in my life – whether it’s only in my soul, or some movement in the development of my blog. For absolute certain, it will transform me as a writer.
I’ve also for the first time created a life plan for myself, through Donald Miller & Storyline’s ‘Create Your Life Plan’, course. Making decisions about what to say yes to and more crucially, say no to in my life, set clear goals and priorities, and begin a daily schedule for my plans and priorities for each day, including rest and my social life.
I won’t go into too much detail – because I want others to see the fruit of this plan in my life, rather than me tell everyone what the plan is. This is because in the past I’ve made plans and not kept them – and I don’t intend this to be the case this time around.
And if this plan bears fruit over this year and coming years, I’m going to be transformed.
One of the reasons I’ve procrastinated about living out new plans in the past is fear. I have always sensed God has something more for me than the life I have now, and the person I am now. And because it’s been disguised for so long and I’ve run away from it, living a different life, for so long, barely anyone knows who this person is – including me.
I see glimpses of him from time to time, and I like what I see. But to live this way all the time, and embrace this fully, means not just changes in my character, but changes physically, and changes in my circumstances – and I have no idea what any of this will look like.
The word courage was very appropriate for last year precisely for this reason – I needed to choose to walk this path despite not knowing the outcome. And as I enter 2015 this is what I’m trying to do, piece by piece.
I’m stepping, with absurd and blind courage, stepping into God’s plan for me.
My hope is God’s plan will transform my life. Just as a #OneWord365 could transform yours. (you can tweet that)
So, my call to you today is to choose a word for 2015 (if you haven’t already). A word which incapsulates where you are and where you want to be. Which calls you out and challenges you to grow.
I can tell you from experience, you’ll never regret choosing a word for the year.
Are you with me?
Question For Reflection
Do you have a one-word for 2015? If not, what would it be?
Let Me Know In The Comments Below!
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(Picture Sources: You Tube / OneWord365)
(Transformers TM & (c) 1990-2015, Hasbro Inc)
Great word! Also you give me something to ponder…what would my word be? I’ve been told this is the year of jubilee and the first word that comes to mind is Celebration. I like the idea of celebrating all God has done and is doing in my life! Thanks James!
Thanks Tara, so glad to have inspired you. Hope you find the right word for you this year – and celebration seems like a great word!
I love the word Transformation versus all the others that you were considering. I’ve never thought of choosing a word for a year – but it’s a nice idea. I think “forgiveness” might be my word. I’ve quite a few people in my life who simply can’t be anything but what they are and maybe I need to forgive them for their inabilities. I’m not saying they are right – they aren’t, but maybe I need to let the frustration and disappointment go and simply forgive.
Thanks Elyse – really encouraging to know of all the words this stood out. I hope you are able to find your word for the year, and forgiveness is both a challenging and powerful word. Will be praying you find the right word this year.
Great word James! I know you can do whatever the Lord has called of you as long as you rest in Him. In the past, I have not participated in the word for the year. If I were to choose a word for this year, it would be intentional. But I choose to be led by the spirit and be intentional in the things He wants rather than the things I want.
Thanks Nichole, so encouraged by your belief in me, and agree, it’s so vitally important to rest in Him for the journey ahead. I would never say a word for the year is pre-requiste at all – and it’s so clear to see your heart, your motivation, your purpose, is clear and focussed on the right things, and praying God continues to lead you more into His will this year.
Now there’s a word that should be a “lifetime” word instead of simply the word for the year. Awesome post. Right now, I think my word is “survive”.
Wow, such an encouraging comment Tamie – means so much. Yes, think it is a lifetime word. Wish you well with your word for the year….and hope survive becomes thrive.
It seems to me that “transformation” encompasses the other possibilities, including “enough” and “intentional,” because by accomplishing your goals, you are acting intentionally, but that is a transformation.
But don’t be too hard on yourself over your past year. While you may not have put any books out, you accomplished a lot of other steps in writing, reviewing, preparing, editing, etc. Writing a book is a long process, and we writers need to acknowledge every milestone along the way.
And that’s a transformation, too: from idea to manuscript to published book.
Absolutely spot on Scott – great comment, with lots of wisdom & insight here. Thanks so much for your encouragement. I have a new sense of perspective after the last year, and a clearer vision for this coming year than I did for 2014. my words for the year have tended to be prophetic, and also a sign of decisions I’m making going into that year – and transformation really does sum it all up for this year.
Transformation – that’s a great word choice. One could have as easily stated “change” but it doesn’t have the same connotation. One can ‘change’ their mind, a simple decision made, but to ‘transform’ one’s mind, is to have a new way of thought and outlook. May you hold strong to your word this year.
Thanks Bob, wise words as ever. Thanks for the encouragement, you hit on the precise reason I chose ‘transformation’ not ‘change’. I hope to stay true to this word this year.
A challenging word, James but full of possiblity. Your post brought to my mind Romans 12:2
Thanks Onisha – great passage, thank you. It is indeed both a challenging word and one with great potential.
I have considered doing #OneWord365, and I haven’t found my word yet. Many of the choices you named would be good ones for me. Much like yourself, though, they aren’t my goldilocks word. I usually take most of the month of January to really kickstart my year. By Jan 31 my plan is complete and I’m ready to go. I guess I’m a late bloomer. 🙂
Honestly Lisa, I am with you there. I’m taking my time getting everything in order to make this year what I wish it to be. I’m taking small, key steps and not putting too much pressure on myself too quickly. But I’m on my way, and that’s the key, that each day you’re taking a forward step. I hope you find your word for the year and find all you want from this year.
The process of choosing a word to inform the new year is part of the journey that word will initiate. Your post captures this reflective wrestling beautifully, James. And “Transformation” combines all the other words you considered ~ awesome!
May 2015 be all you hope it will be.
Thank you so much for your encouragement and support Mikaela – it means so much. Thank you for your support.
I’m with you, James! “Small” is my word this year. I love seeing how God uses these words to teach and grow us!
Great Eileen – and excellent word for the year as well, wishing you the best for an awesome 2015!
In one of my college classes the professor gave each us a word at the end of the term. Mine was Freedom. I kept the paper it was written on taped to my computer for years, until it got lost in one of my many moves. It’s a word that can have so many meanings.
Yes, definitely – freedom is a powerful word. It’s amazing how one word can make such a difference to our lives. Thanks Rebekah.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
– Romans 12:2
Love this verse Brad – great stuff, thanks for sharing.
Anytime, brother. “Transform” is one of my themes, too. Not for the year, but in my art. It’s pretty powerful.
James, it seems like you’ve already been prepared for a time of transition and transformation as you’ve displayed courage to see the need for positive change and to make wise choices to aid the process. I think lasting, deep, inner transformation is an ongoing process that takes the rest of our lives as we surrender them to God. But maybe you are in a season of particular alteration which will be especially life-transforming for you? I hope so.
It’s good to see the reflective processes at work here too. You have certainly come a long way toward realising your dreams as a writer and mustn’t discount all that has brought you to this point. As we grow and learn it informs our art and enriches the finished product. I’m excited about the 2 books (and more?) to come ~ and proud of all you have achieved so far. Well done!
My own #oneword365 sounds like an also-ran, last-ditch selection, but it was wrought in some prayerful waiting, anguish and a whole lot of scepticism. For how could I (as an M.E sufferer) accept ‘Rest’ as other than God asking me to, well, physically rest more, pace more, pull back and become even more invisible? Yet, there is a sweet side to it I yearn for, a leaning restful into my Lord and a deeper communion with Him. Time will tell.. Blessings to you as you come to grips with all the exciting things ahead of you this year. 🙂
Joy, I have missed your wise, encouraging and insightful comments. You are always without fail a huge encouragement and inspiration to me. Thank you so much for your kind words and your constant support. Your #OneWord365 sounds as much a challenge as my own, and you have my total support as you walk that path. I will of course keep you informed as to the progress of my own – my hope is that you and others simply see it through my words, achievements and actions this year. Thanks again, so much Joy. I’ve missed your comments.
Thank you, James! I’ve missed commenting here and elsewhere as I used to. 🙁 Please be reassured I always read your blog whenever possible, even if I lack the wherewithal to comment or share. There are so many things calling for attention and draining energy these days that I’m having to be selective in how I spend it and avoid spreading myself too thinly! Bless you for noticing. 🙂
Transformation is a great word. As you learned last year from your word “Courage” – just be READY. Because transformation comes by making changes… it can be unsettling but can also produce tremendous growth and durability! Great post James!
Thanks Ms. Cheevious, appreciate your wisdom, support and encouragement, thank you so much.