Pick Your Word for 2026: Your Compass for the Year Ahead
Episode 46
This workshop-style episode guides you through choosing a powerful, God-aligned word for the year ahead. Your word becomes your direction. Your stability. Your grounding. Your next-level version of you.
Inside the episode we cover:
• Why a word matters more than resolutions
• How to reflect on 2025 with compassion
• What to release before stepping into 2026
• Questions to ask God as you discern your word
• How to integrate your word into daily life
• Identity statements + Scripture anchors
• A full workbook to help you walk through each step
🎉 Giveaway: Post your word and tag @CoachShannaP to enter to win a signed copy of Self-Care as Stewardship.
📘 Join the January Devotional Group:
Purchase the book, scan the QR code, and hop in the group to go through the devotional with me.
Watch Here:
-
07:07:56
Hello, and welcome to episode 46.
07:08:01
of the Christian Life Coach Podcast.
07:08:04
If you're listening in real time, the day this releases,
07:08:10
Happy New Year's Eve 2025.
07:08:14
I decided…
07:08:16
This year, I'm changing things up a little bit.
07:08:19
Typically, I would do…
07:08:23
this episode as a workshop.
07:08:28
But…
07:08:30
It just didn't work out this year, the way that…
07:08:33
it has in the past. So, I am pivoting a little bit, and since I have the podcast,
07:08:39
I thought, this is perfect!
07:08:41
So, I am going to do my word…
07:08:46
For the new year,
07:08:49
workshop as a podcast episode.
07:08:53
And if you're hearing this,
07:08:56
in the middle of 2026 sometime,
07:08:59
In 2027, in 2028,
07:09:02
Excuse me. You can still use…
07:09:05
This information to set
07:09:09
Set your compass.
07:09:11
for the days ahead. And that's kind of a little bit, like,
07:09:16
um, the way I think about the word for the… my word for the year, it's kind of like…
07:09:21
a compass, and it's something that I have done for several years.
07:09:27
Some people have been doing it a lot longer than I have, and some of you may have never
07:09:32
chosen a word for the year, and I would encourage you to do that. If you're listening here,
07:09:38
then you are looking for creating positive change in your life.
07:09:44
I would assume, and doing…
07:09:48
This setting an intention of your word for the year can definitely
07:09:52
be part of that process.
07:09:55
So, I…
07:09:58
I just want to close out 2025 with clarity,
07:10:04
With intention…
07:10:07
With so much love and compassion,
07:10:10
And with courage.
07:10:14
And… I want us, all of us,
07:10:18
to be compassionate with ourselves and honest.
07:10:23
And also hopeful, looking forward.
07:10:27
And I…
07:10:29
I don't take my word for the year choosing, like,
07:10:36
Like, I… it is very serious, and it is very important to me, but it's not…
07:10:44
it's not the end-all, be-all. I love it, it's fun,
07:10:47
And also, it really does help to set the compass, and to help me to
07:10:54
refocus.
07:10:56
each morning when I'm writing down my
07:11:00
my imp… like, it's kind of my impact statement that includes my word for the year, which is funny that I say that, because my word for 2025.
07:11:10
has been impact.
07:11:12
And my impact statement has been…
07:11:17
The impact of taking impeccable care of myself is immeasurable.
07:11:23
And that has shown to be true.
07:11:26
And also…
07:11:30
It is evident when I'm not taking care of myself, so it is a really good reminder each day when I go to write down my statement that includes my word.
07:11:39
For the year, so I really do, I take it seriously.
07:11:43
I use it throughout my full year. I… up to yesterday, wrote my
07:11:49
my impact statement on my planner. I haven't done my planning yet today.
07:11:54
I'm recording this on December 5th. It is 7-11 AM.
07:11:59
And I have not gotten my planning done yet, because I wanted to get this… this episode
07:12:06
recorded.
07:12:08
So,
07:12:10
just thinking about…
07:12:13
what might your word be? Do you want to choose a word for the year? Why does it matter?
07:12:19
And I just want to say that
07:12:22
it can be fun.
07:12:24
It can have huge impact, like I said,
07:12:27
You can use it as a compass,
07:12:30
as a, um, as a…
07:12:35
a re-focusing tool.
07:12:38
as a word that grounds you for the year. Like, this is…
07:12:44
this is the… the…
07:12:47
foundation that I'm building my year on, and this is the… this word…
07:12:52
is what I want to use to direct
07:12:56
my year.
07:13:00
Because, if you… if you don't choose the direction that you want to go,
07:13:06
Your year will choose it for you.
07:13:08
The people around you will choose it for you, your job will choose it for you.
07:13:13
And you do have a choice. You have a lot of choices.
07:13:18
every day. And…
07:13:20
choosing to be intentional about the direction that you're heading, the direction that you want to be going,
07:13:30
is so helpful, because…
07:13:34
the whole…
07:13:36
when you… when you… when you fail to plan,
07:13:41
You plan to fail.
07:13:43
If you do not set your direction, you're gonna end up somewhere.
07:13:48
It might not be where you want it to be, and probably won't, but if you do choose the direction that you want to be headed in,
07:13:55
You're going to end up where you want to be, eventually.
07:13:58
And so that… using the word
07:14:01
using a word for the year is, like I said, it's the compass to keep you headed in that direction.
07:14:09
It helps us to set a vision,
07:14:11
for what we want our year to look like.
07:14:14
Again, the direction that we're going to
07:14:18
to embody, to live out that vision, it helps us to renew our mind.
07:14:25
And keeps us steady on the path.
07:14:28
And… I…
07:14:32
when I choose a word for the year,
07:14:35
These are… these are… these are why it matters to me, and this is…
07:14:40
if it's… if it doesn't fit these categories, then it's not gonna be a good word for me for the year.
07:14:48
It is going to…
07:14:51
speak to my identity.
07:14:54
Who am I becoming?
07:14:57
Who am I? Who does God say that I am?
07:15:00
And who is God calling me to be?
07:15:04
And so my word is going to speak to that.
07:15:09
direction, where I go, what I say yes to, and what I say no to.
07:15:14
My word is going to…
07:15:17
be, like, a boundary for that.
07:15:20
If it fits into…
07:15:22
This identity of who I am becoming.
07:15:26
And it moves me in the right direction.
07:15:28
then that would be a good word.
07:15:31
accountability, it's a recalibration tool. Like I said, when I write that sentence down in the morning,
07:15:37
And I remember the impact
07:15:41
is immeasurable.
07:15:43
When I take care of myself.
07:15:46
And my word was IMPACT.
07:15:49
So if that keeps me accountable,
07:15:51
Every single day to remind me.
07:15:54
Is this… increasing my impact? Is it sharpening my impact?
07:15:59
Or is it detracting away from it?
07:16:03
And then emotional…
07:16:06
grounding, um, emotional…
07:16:11
Support…
07:16:13
emotional regulation…
07:16:16
it keeps me settled. It reminds me, oh, that's right.
07:16:20
This is where I'm at.
07:16:22
It's okay.
07:16:24
So it keeps me grounded.
07:16:28
And a word of the year, I… I think that a word of the year is so much better.
07:16:35
van resolutions.
07:16:37
Resolutions are…
07:16:39
Resolutions are like goals. This is what I want to do.
07:16:43
in the new year.
07:16:45
And, typically, we set resolutions without
07:16:51
Without any plan behind them.
07:16:54
And choosing a word of the year isn't necessarily what I want to do, it's who I want to be.
07:17:02
And I… I really like that, because when I am being the person that I want to be,
07:17:09
then I'm going to be doing the things that that person does, and I'm going to be moving in the direction
07:17:14
of a person who…
07:17:18
is growing her impact, is sharpening and focusing her impact, who is taking impeccable care of herself.
07:17:25
So, resolutions really rely on willpower, too. Like,
07:17:30
I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna do this. I said I was gonna do this, I'm gonna do this.
07:17:33
Um, and…
07:17:37
a word of the year shapes
07:17:41
It determines how you look at things, how you make your decisions,
07:17:45
how you decide to spend your time or not spend your time.
07:17:50
And…
07:17:53
resolutions, or just, what am I… what am I trying to… to accomplish? What am I trying to do?
07:17:59
And… did you know that, like, what is it?
07:18:03
I think it's the second Friday in January is called Quitters Day, because by the second Friday in January,
07:18:11
Most people have forgotten what their resolutions even were.
07:18:16
How crazy is that?
07:18:18
So, resolutions are tasks
07:18:22
Their goals that we hardly ever achieve,
07:18:25
Choosing a word for the year is…
07:18:29
embody an identity. It's… it's shaping your identity, it's deciding…
07:18:33
to trust and believe that you are who God says you are.
07:18:40
And deciding…
07:18:43
to embody that, to walk that out,
07:18:46
And then to be who God is calling you to be in your life,
07:18:51
In your situation where you're at right now,
07:18:55
And what is a word that helps me to remember that, to remember who…
07:19:00
I am becoming.
07:19:03
And your word, it should stretch you a little bit.
07:19:07
It shouldn't be a word that is…
07:19:10
Like, oh, yeah, that's… yeah.
07:19:13
that's who I am. Like, I don't have…
07:19:16
What? You know? I think that my first… I don't remember if it was actually my first or second word that… for the year that I chose,
07:19:25
But I chose the word discomfort.
07:19:28
Because comfort doesn't change you. You cannot grow
07:19:34
When you're comfortable.
07:19:36
Now, I'm not talking about go out and…
07:19:39
get completely out of your comfort zone, where you're terrified, and you don't feel…
07:19:45
like, you can do the thing, but you should be at least
07:19:50
a little bit outside that comfort zone.
07:19:53
You should be a couple steps out of it.
07:19:55
Because you cannot be transformed without discomfort.
07:20:00
being willing to experience and walk in and allow…
07:20:07
discomfort…
07:20:09
is the door that you have to walk through and…
07:20:12
keep walking through in order to get to where you want to be.
07:20:16
When you allow yourself to experience and operate in a place of discomfort,
07:20:22
You are able to accomplish anything.
07:20:25
That is… the discomfort is the key to all of your dreams.
07:20:30
I think that's what one of… a very… a very prominent coach says something to that effect.
07:20:37
Okay, so that is why…
07:20:42
And…
07:20:43
Those are all of the things that I think about Word of the Year.
07:20:47
At this point. So, I just… I love it. I think it's fun.
07:20:51
It all… it's fun, and I also take it very seriously.
07:20:54
I am a word nerd. I love…
07:20:57
words. I love figuring out just the right word for just the right situation.
07:21:04
And for my word of the year, I am very meticulous,
07:21:09
And…
07:21:11
It's so interesting. I don't…
07:21:13
in all just… in full disclosure, as of right now, December 5th, at 7.21 AM Mountain Time,
07:21:19
I have not picked my word.
07:21:22
I don't… I don't know my word for the year yet. I kind of have a vague idea.
07:21:27
But I'm going to have to dig in and do this work.
07:21:30
And figure out what my word is. And typically, when I do the workshop,
07:21:35
I have my word picked out, and I have a graphic made, and I show it to you at the end of the workshop. But this year,
07:21:43
I don't have it yet! I will. By the time you are listening to this,
07:21:49
at the earliest, December 31st, 2025.
07:21:53
I will have my word by the time you listen to this, but as I'm recording it, I don't yet. I have an idea.
07:21:59
I'm gonna have to dig in and do this work for myself.
07:22:02
So I haven't done it yet.
07:22:04
And once I have my word, I will be posting it, and you will know what it is.
07:22:11
So, let's… let's go through. So, there is a companion
07:22:17
workbook for…
07:22:20
this episode.
07:22:21
If you go to the show notes,
07:22:23
And click on…
07:22:27
the… the… the link that takes you to the podcast resources,
07:22:32
Click on that link, I will have… there will be a document
07:22:35
in the podcast resources,
07:22:38
That says, word for 2026.
07:22:41
workbook. So, if you want, you can pause this right now and go click on that link and get that workbook.
07:22:48
and go through it, or you can…
07:22:52
listen and download and do the workbook as you choose.
07:22:56
So, here we go.
07:22:59
Step number one is…
07:23:01
looking back on…
07:23:03
this year. Looking back on 2025,
07:23:07
And reflect.
07:23:11
and reflect with compassion, not shame.
07:23:16
Honesty…
07:23:17
not guilt, regret,
07:23:20
shame, none of that belongs here. This is for information purposes,
07:23:26
And for learning and for growing.
07:23:29
So, looking back at 2026,
07:23:36
What… what went well?
07:23:40
What went really well this year?
07:23:42
And it can be super helpful.
07:23:44
to go back…
07:23:48
through your camera, your phone photos.
07:23:53
And kind of review the year in pictures.
07:23:57
Take some time with this.
07:23:59
Look back through journals.
07:24:01
Look back through your calendar, whether
07:24:04
It's a physical calendar or Google Calendar.
07:24:08
What went well?
07:24:10
Because I would imagine that there's a lot of things that went well that…
07:24:15
We don't even remember, because we think about the things that didn't go so well, right?
07:24:20
And there's so many things that we probably have even forgotten about.
07:24:24
So, I encourage you, go back and look at those pictures.
07:24:28
go back through your journal, your… maybe your prayer journal, see what prayers God answered.
07:24:34
that you haven't even…
07:24:37
properly given gratitude for.
07:24:40
What did you do that you totally forgot, and you're like, oh my word, that was so fun. I'm so glad I got to do that.
07:24:46
So look back, what went well?
07:24:49
What are you so thankful for this year?
07:24:53
Where it… what did God grow you in?
07:24:57
Where do you see growth in youth over this past year?
07:25:02
Where have you seen God's faithfulness?
07:25:05
This year.
07:25:12
How did you show up differently this year?
07:25:18
Within relationships with people,
07:25:23
In your job…
07:25:24
for yourself.
07:25:34
And just remember, we don't…
07:25:37
This is not for shame.
07:25:39
If you think I should have, you're shaming yourself, so let's not do that.
07:25:43
There's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
07:25:47
You did the best this past year that you could have done.
07:25:51
with the information that you had, with the wisdom that you had, with the conditions and the circumstances that you had.
07:26:01
What surprised you
07:26:03
about you this year.
07:26:07
And I'm just reading through these questions, they're all in the workbook.
07:26:11
So you can sit down and…
07:26:13
You can pause this episode as I ask the questions to answer them, or
07:26:19
listen through and do the workbook.
07:26:22
You do you, however it works best for you, that's…
07:26:25
This information is to be used as a tool to help you grow and build.
07:26:31
Never a weapon.
07:26:34
to tear down.
07:26:37
So what surprised you about yourself this year? Where did you grow in grit?
07:26:44
Or, I'm sorry, where did you show…
07:26:47
grit, growth,
07:26:50
or faithfulness.
07:26:56
What served you well?
07:26:58
this year, and what didn't.
07:27:06
That was all step one. So then, we move on to step two.
07:27:10
Release what does not serve you in 2026.
07:27:14
And I just did…
07:27:18
two episodes…
07:27:19
The first two weeks of December.
07:27:22
about releasing what does not belong.
07:27:26
chipping away with a chisel,
07:27:29
at all of the things that do not…
07:27:32
that are not you, that do not belong on you, that you do not want to carry around anymore, and if you have not listened,
07:27:40
Two episodes 42 and 43.
07:27:43
I highly encourage you to go listen to those.
07:27:48
So, releasing what does not serve you in 2026.
07:27:54
What do you want to let go of?
07:27:57
What old patterns, what are habits?
07:28:02
patterns that you have
07:28:05
have been practicing…
07:28:08
These are practices that we do over and over again. When we practice something over and over again, we get really good at it.
07:28:15
So what are the patterns that you have been practicing
07:28:19
that are not serving you, that are not moving you in the direction that you want to be going.
07:28:24
that you want to let go of, that you want to set down?
07:28:29
And you want to do something new.
07:28:33
And list them all out.
07:28:36
What limiting beliefs?
07:28:38
Do you want to release?
07:28:41
What are old stories?
07:28:43
That you keep telling yourself about yourself,
07:28:47
that keep you stuck, that keep you…
07:28:51
limited, that keep you from doing that thing that you have been dreaming about doing.
07:28:59
What are those sentences in your head?
07:29:01
that you believe that are on repeat,
07:29:04
That are keeping you from being who you know you are called to be.
07:29:13
And some of those might be…
07:29:15
I've never done it before. Who am I to think I could do that?
07:29:20
Nobody in my family has done anything like that.
07:29:24
It's crazy to want to do that.
07:29:27
I could never figure it out.
07:29:29
I'm too old, I'm too young, I'm not pretty enough, I'm too fat.
07:29:36
I… whatever it is, what are those beliefs
07:29:39
Nobody likes me, I'm not likable enough.
07:29:43
What are those beliefs that you keep telling yourself that are keeping you
07:29:49
from being who God…
07:29:51
says you are.
07:29:56
letting… what is… and this goes along with it. What is the negative self-talk that destroys you, that tears you down?
07:30:05
Rather than build you up.
07:30:10
whatever habits that are rooted in avoidance,
07:30:14
In shame, in fear.
07:30:16
that you've been practicing that you want to let go.
07:30:23
So, once you have all of those down,
07:30:28
You want to release them.
07:30:30
And the good news is…
07:30:33
that you can.
07:30:35
beliefs are…
07:30:39
Thoughts that we think,
07:30:41
that we have decided are true about us.
07:30:46
And, because we decided that they're true,
07:30:49
We can change our mind.
07:30:52
We get to choose…
07:30:54
what we think about ourselves. We get to choose
07:30:57
what we think about anything.
07:30:59
And so often, we don't even think it's a choice, we just think it's the truth.
07:31:04
I can't… like, it's just true. Why…
07:31:07
What do you mean I can change how I think about it?
07:31:11
Is it true that you're too old?
07:31:14
Is it true that you're too young?
07:31:17
Is it true that you're not pretty enough?
07:31:21
Like, where's the evidence?
07:31:24
What if it wasn't true?
07:31:27
What if there was evidence?
07:31:29
to show you that the opposite
07:31:32
Of what you've been telling yourself is true.
07:31:39
So I just want you to sit with this for a minute.
07:31:42
You get to choose.
07:31:44
You can choose…
07:31:48
what you think about yourself,
07:31:51
Therefore, you can choose what you believe about yourself.
07:31:55
And… the Bible has a lot to say about you.
07:32:00
And I have chosen…
07:32:02
to believe what the Bible says.
07:32:05
I have chosen to put my faith and my trust
07:32:10
And my hope and my belief,
07:32:12
in Jesus, that He came
07:32:15
from heaven to earth.
07:32:18
to live a perfect life,
07:32:20
To die on a cross for my sins, to forgive me,
07:32:24
And to make me in…
07:32:26
bring me back into right relationship with God.
07:32:30
died on that cross, He bled for me, he gave his body, his life for me.
07:32:35
He was buried in a tomb?
07:32:37
And he rose again?
07:32:39
He defeated death, sin, and the grave?
07:32:43
And he ascended back up into heaven, and he is preparing a place for me.
07:32:48
Some people choose not to believe that.
07:32:51
It's a choice. So if I can choose to believe that,
07:32:55
I can choose to believe that he made me for more than what I'm living out right now.
07:33:00
I can choose to believe that I am a child of God, I am made in His image,
07:33:06
I am loved, I am redeemed,
07:33:09
I have been restored, all of my mistakes,
07:33:13
all of my past,
07:33:15
is all working together for the good of me, because I love God, and I'm called according to His purpose.
07:33:24
I don't have to choose to believe any of that.
07:33:27
But I do.
07:33:29
So if we can choose that, then we can choose
07:33:32
The thoughts that we have about ourself.
07:33:35
And if they are not true,
07:33:37
And if they are not helpful,
07:33:40
I don't want to thank them.
07:33:43
Okay, that was just a little… that was just a little extra thought lesson thrown in there.
07:33:48
And I… and I'll just throw it in here, too. This is what I help women with in my coaching.
07:33:54
We work on this, whether I'm working with women,
07:33:58
that want to lose weight, that are working on creating their business,
07:34:03
that just want to have better relationships, that just want to feel better being a parent.
07:34:09
we work on all of this.
07:34:12
On an individual basis, or in groups that I run.
07:34:16
Okay, so…
07:34:18
We have decided those…
07:34:21
Limiting beliefs and old patterns, old ways of doing things that we want to let go of.
07:34:27
So, let's do that. Let's confess.
07:34:31
Confess.
07:34:33
the things that you have been doing that have been
07:34:36
that have been drawing you away from God rather than closer to God, that have been
07:34:40
putting you on a path away from who you know that you want to be.
07:34:46
confess those, and give it up to God.
07:34:49
Surrender.
07:34:54
Ask God for help.
07:34:58
Replace the lies.
07:34:59
with truth.
07:35:03
Any of those limiting beliefs that you've been saying, find a scripture that refutes it.
07:35:08
Write those down. Remind yourself of them. Put them on doorposts.
07:35:13
Put them on post-it notes.
07:35:15
Put them on as phone reminders, put them as backgrounds on your phone, on your computer.
07:35:21
Replace the lies with truth.
07:35:28
Make space.
07:35:30
Letting this go, releasing all of that makes space for what you actually want.
07:35:37
You can actually see, okay, there's space here, what do I want to put there?
07:35:42
It's like cleaning out your closet, getting rid of everything,
07:35:45
And then you have empty… you might have empty drawers, you might have empty shelves, you might have empty hanging space.
07:35:51
What do you want to put there? You get to choose.
07:35:57
What stories have kept you stuck this year?
07:36:03
What did you keep dragging along?
07:36:07
that God has been asking you to let go of.
07:36:15
Now, I just don't want you to know,
07:36:17
I'm speaking to myself here.
07:36:19
I'mma do this work too, I just haven't done it yet.
07:36:23
So, what stories have kept you stuck this year?
07:36:27
The stories that you've been telling about yourself.
07:36:32
Because, honestly…
07:36:34
When you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them.
07:36:41
That quote, like…
07:36:43
It hit me, like, a ton of bricks when I heard it a few years back.
07:36:46
When you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them.
07:36:50
What are you fighting for?
07:36:55
that when you really think about it, you're like, why am I fighting for this? I don't even want it. This is not what I want.
07:37:01
And then what did I keep trying to drag along that God has asked you to drop?
07:37:08
What version of you is not invited into 2026?
07:37:14
what version of you that you have been,
07:37:18
Are you going to release?
07:37:21
Before you walk into 2026.
07:37:28
Step 3.
07:37:33
Receive what God is speaking over you.
07:37:40
Allow yourself, put yourself in
07:37:43
a position of receiving.
07:37:47
Be receptive.
07:37:49
Slow down.
07:37:52
Talk to God, ask the Holy Spirit,
07:37:57
And listen.
07:38:01
Spend time inquiring, spend time journaling.
07:38:05
go out side, walk.
07:38:09
without listening to anything.
07:38:12
And as I say that, I cringe, because that's very hard for me to do. I always have my AirPods in when I'm walking.
07:38:21
Ask God, who
07:38:23
Who are you?
07:38:26
forming me into.
07:38:28
Who are you asking me to be?
07:38:32
Who are you?
07:38:34
In the process of making me become.
07:38:39
Or who am I becoming?
07:38:43
What fruit are you growing in me?
07:38:49
Where do you want my focus?
07:38:53
Where do you want my obedience?
07:38:56
Where do you want me to step out in courage?
07:39:02
And these questions are really just to…
07:39:04
prompt you to get you thinking,
07:39:09
talk to God. Who do you want me to be this year, God?
07:39:12
Where are you leading me? What direction do you want me to go?
07:39:18
What do you want me to focus on?
07:39:24
And when…
07:39:27
And ask God, what?
07:39:29
What is my word for the year?
07:39:31
Show me. Reveal it to me.
07:39:34
And then pay attention.
07:39:36
I… when I get my word,
07:39:40
I know it instantly.
07:39:44
Instantly. I can be thinking of all the words,
07:39:47
And I'm like, is it this? Is it this? Is it this?
07:39:50
Um, I think it was the year that I picked discomfort. I had picked something else.
07:39:57
I was like, I really thought, I'm like, this is going to be my word, I can't remember what it was.
07:40:02
And… I was listening to something, and like, clear as day, I'm like, oh, my word's discomfort.
07:40:08
Last year, I think it was in November last year,
07:40:13
I hadn't even really started thinking about my word for the year yet.
07:40:17
And God just dropped it in my spirit. It was impact. And I just knew.
07:40:21
That's my word.
07:40:24
So, ask.
07:40:26
Ask God, and pay attention.
07:40:29
And you know that your word is from God when it might be a little bit convicting,
07:40:35
But it's not condemning.
07:40:38
It is aligned with Scripture,
07:40:42
It's… it's like an invitation, it's like a drawing, you're drawn to it.
07:40:48
And there's a little bit of discomfort. It might be a little holy discomfort,
07:40:54
and excitement. Like, ooh, I don't know.
07:40:58
I mean, impact, come on.
07:41:02
That was… that was an uncomfortable word.
07:41:06
And then pick your word.
07:41:09
It should anchor your identity,
07:41:12
It should challenge your comfort,
07:41:14
It serves as a filter,
07:41:17
And it aligns you with the direction that God is calling you.
07:41:21
to… to walk in.
07:41:24
It aligns with the person that God is calling you to be.
07:41:31
And I will…
07:41:33
I have in your workbook.
07:41:35
There is a page that has
07:41:40
a lot of word options.
07:41:42
Just to get you thinking.
07:41:45
Just to help spur you on,
07:41:48
And then you dig and you find the right word for you.
07:41:52
And you don't… you want your word
07:41:56
to be…
07:42:00
true to you.
07:42:01
Not what you think it should be, not what you think would impress other people, or…
07:42:07
you know, it's not… it's not people-pleasing,
07:42:10
It's not just because it's pretty.
07:42:14
And you want to make sure that your word is chosen from your intention, not insecurity.
07:42:20
Not, oh, I really wish I could be that person.
07:42:23
But I don't know if I can. It's who are you being called to be?
07:42:31
You can ask yourself,
07:42:33
these questions. Who is the woman I want to be?
07:42:39
Who is the woman you want to be?
07:42:42
On December 31st, 2026.
07:42:47
What version of me is God growing?
07:42:52
What area of my character needs strengthening?
07:43:00
What breakthrough do I want to walk into?
07:43:04
Oh my word, that is such a good question.
07:43:07
What breakthrough do I want to walk into?
07:43:10
What breakthrough do you want to be living in?
07:43:14
In 2026.
07:43:21
try writing out identity statements. I actually like doing this periodically.
07:43:28
I will get… I will open up a fresh page.
07:43:31
And just write, I am a woman who.
07:43:34
And then I'll list out all of the
07:43:36
all of the identities, all of the qualities that I want to be,
07:43:42
a woman of.
07:43:47
And you want to… I mean, obviously, you want this to be specific to you.
07:43:53
Here are some examples that may or may not fit, but it can get your brain
07:43:58
um… get your brain working to find your own.
07:44:02
I am a woman who chooses peace over panic.
07:44:07
I am a woman who listens to God,
07:44:10
before my feelings.
07:44:15
I am a woman who honors my body,
07:44:18
through stewardship.
07:44:21
I am a woman who keeps promises that I make to myself.
07:44:27
I am a woman who is capable of figuring things out.
07:44:34
I am a woman who takes impeccable care of myself.
07:44:40
I am a woman who prioritizes relationships.
07:44:46
I am a woman who seeks connection.
07:44:51
Write these down.
07:44:53
Yours, your own, write them down.
07:44:56
And say them out loud. Write them on paper.
07:44:59
Speak them with your mouth,
07:45:01
And then you're writing it, you're thinking it,
07:45:04
You're writing it, you're saying it out loud, and you're hearing yourself say it.
07:45:14
So, I… in choosing your word,
07:45:18
Like, all of this…
07:45:20
should help you to find your word. You have the word list written out.
07:45:25
I also, and this is what I know that I will be doing, because I have an idea of my word,
07:45:30
I. Love.
07:45:32
a thesaurus. Oh my goodness, I love a thesaurus.
07:45:36
And there is a great…
07:45:39
resource that you can use, and it's… it's kind of… it's my go-to.
07:45:43
It's wordhippo.com.
07:45:45
And it is… you can do it on the web.
07:45:49
You can also download the word Hippo app.
07:45:53
And it's free.
07:45:55
And it's a thesaurus, and it is
07:45:57
fabulous, because you can put a word in the search,
07:46:01
And then it gives you, you know, a bazillion… it gives you all the definitions of the word, and then variations within each of those definitions.
07:46:10
And then you can click on another word, and it pulls up that specific word,
07:46:15
And does the same thing. So you can kind of… you… it's kind of like a treasure hunt to find just the right word.
07:46:22
And I love it, so I encourage you…
07:46:26
to…
07:46:30
look at the list of words in the workbook.
07:46:33
Or, if you already have an idea of your word, dive into WordHippo to find just the right one.
07:46:41
And once you've chosen your word,
07:46:44
For 2026, congratulations! It's, like, I… it's a little bit ridiculous how excited I get about my word for the year.
07:46:53
And then you want to integrate your word into your daily life.
07:46:58
I will make an Instagram, um, a Canva graphic.
07:47:04
With my word, I write out… I go through and I find verses.
07:47:11
that either have my word in it, or speak to my word,
07:47:16
And I will pick a verse of the year.
07:47:22
And I will write that verse down.
07:47:26
Um, put it on my phone background,
07:47:29
put it on my mirror, I write it, like I said, I write my statement.
07:47:34
All year long, every day. So, if you
07:47:38
come up with a statement.
07:47:40
For the year that encapsulates or includes your word.
07:47:45
Write that down over and over again.
07:47:49
And then you use that word.
07:47:52
If… if… when you're making decisions, when…
07:47:55
Um, you're going about your day. Does… does this…
07:47:58
align with my word, because my word is my compass.
07:48:02
This is where I'm going this year. Does this align with it, or is it incongruent?
07:48:08
and detract me.
07:48:13
And then talk to God. Help me, God. Help me to embody this word.
07:48:18
Help me to use this word to draw closer to you, to become more and more of the woman that you are calling me to be.
07:48:28
And I would love it…
07:48:31
If, once you have your word, if you create a graphic or whatever and post it on social media,
07:48:36
Please tag me, at Coach Shanopee,
07:48:39
on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok,
07:48:43
YouTube, anywhere.
07:48:45
Tag me in it.
07:48:48
And… I will…
07:48:50
be doing another drawing.
07:48:53
And I will send the winner…
07:48:55
a signed copy of my book, Self-Care is Stewardship.
07:48:59
So, I would love to see what your word is. Please
07:49:03
post it on socials and tag me.
07:49:06
And you'll be entered to win
07:49:08
an autographed copy of Self-Care Stewardship.
07:49:12
Speaking of self-care as stewardship, a 31-day devotional…
07:49:20
Order your copy.
07:49:23
On Amazon, the link is in the show notes.
07:49:27
If you order your copy,
07:49:29
And then go to the page between day 7 and Week 2.
07:49:35
And there is a QR code.
07:49:39
There's also… the web address is also…
07:49:43
the web address is up here, you can use the QR code to get
07:49:47
The planning pages that are attached to the book.
07:49:52
So, this is… this is the link that you want to follow.
07:49:56
to get the planning pages, and then you will be invited
07:50:00
to join a private Facebook group for January 2026.
07:50:05
Where each day, we will be going through self-care stewardship.
07:50:09
So, you'll be going through the devotional with the author, which is me.
07:50:15
So we'll be walking it out together, accountability, community, mindset, scripture,
07:50:20
taking impeccable care of ourselves, the impact of which is immeasurable.
07:50:25
So, get your copy. If you already have your copy and you have not yet…
07:50:30
gone to that QR code,
07:50:32
Go do that, so that you're on the list to get the invitation.
07:50:36
to the Facebook group. And actually, Facebook group is already
07:50:41
created, so once you
07:50:44
join that, um, use the QR code, sign up for that, you'll get an email, and the email has the link.
07:50:51
to join the Facebook group.
07:50:56
And I am so excited to do that.
07:50:59
So,
07:51:02
I'm excited to hear what your words are.
07:51:05
I encourage you, pick a word that stretches you,
07:51:11
That strengthens you,
07:51:13
and aligns with who God
07:51:14
is calling you to be.
07:51:18
walk into 2026 with intention,
07:51:21
With clarity, and with courage.
07:51:26
Happy New Year!
07:51:28
and remember that life coaching is life-changing.
07:51:33
One renewed thought at a time.
