I remember about 3 years ago when I chose my first word of the year. Until then, I hadn’t really understood why people chose a word of the year. How did a word of the year even help?

What I have found is it is much like setting a goal. If you’re not a goal setter, this may not help you understand, but I am a goal setter, or at least, I’ve become one.

I have found that having a word of the year helps me filter the things I add to my to-do list, the goals I set, and the people I allow to influence me.

My first word of the year was “Thrive.” Because we decided to homeschool our kids that year, it turned out to be the perfect word. For year 2, my word was “Savor” since we were in the midst of adjusting to homeschool, and I wanted it to be a positive experience. Last year, I chose the word “Undeserving” after hearing a sermon from my pastor which was incredibly convicting.

My word of 2020 is “Cultivate.” I read a book by this title at the end of 2019, and I discovered something about myself. I realized that I am too hard on myself. I expect too much too fast. I set an intention, and as soon as I meet it, I set a new one, not bothering to celebrate the accomplishment. So this year, I want to start cultivating things in my life, realizing they will take time and celebrating the victories along the way.

I want to cultivate my prayer life, my friendships, and my business. I want to cultivate characteristics in our family like peace, laughter, and patience. I want to learn from the hard things and spend time in the dirt because I know they have a purpose. And then I want to enjoy the fruit of the labor.

Do you have a word for 2020?