My New Word For 2020 And Why I Changed It

I spent 3 days with Rachel Hollis and 4,000 energetic, heart-open women at the Rise Ft. Myers personal development conference last week. I have a new word for 2020.

If you read my last blog, you know that every year I pick one word that is my intention for the year, that will inspire me and help me make decisions about how I spend my time and energy. Before attending Rachel’s conference, my word was “play.”

On Day 1 of Rise, Rachel told us that by the end of the event, we’d be claiming a word for 2020. Simple, I thought, I’ve already done this.

But as I sat in my seat for 3 days being inspired by other women speakers who were living their dream and changing people’s lives, and as I journeyed through deeper self-growth inquiry, journaling, and goal road-mapping, I was reminded of my story.

I was reminded that every single thing I’ve experienced for the last 39 years of my life has led me to this very place I stand (in Wonder Woman pose while at the conference). I was reminded that when I give myself permission, self-love, and space, I have a big vision and life-changing dreams that I want to accomplish.

“Play” is a good word to drive a year. But choosing it was no longer sitting well in my body. Something about it felt off. When Rachel said that our word should scare us or make us a little uncomfortable, it solidified my suspicions that “play” was not the right word for my 2020.

You see, play is really a continuation of my 2019 word, “ease.” “Ease” was perfect for my 2019. It’s exactly what I needed to inject into my life so I could learn to feel more flow, give up pushing and control, and work and live in alignment with my values, desires, and authentic self.

Embracing “ease,” I surpassed all my goals at my corporate job without burning out, had some incredible travel and play with my family and friends, and effortlessly transitioned out of corporate into running my coaching business full time. It was, no doubt, my best year ever.

But as I thought about it, “play” is pretty similar to “ease.” In essence, I was taking the stay-inside-my-comfort-zone-because-life-is-great way out by continuing my 2019 theme in 2020.

(Ease is different than easy, by the way. It doesn’t mean everything will be easy or we should walk away from a challenge – because I love a good challenge and always want to be growing. Ease means not creating self-made pain. It means moving gently with care, a light-hearted flow. But I digress…)

Ease was now a part of me. So if I wanted to grow and learn and look back on 2020 feeling the same pride for it as I do about 2019, I needed a different word. A bold word. A word that reminded me of why I was put on this planet and what I want to accomplish. A word that connected me to the thousands of lives I want to (and know I can) impact.

My word for 2020 is “audacity.”

While there are several definition versions of audacity online, I have picked and molded my favorite parts to create this definition I will choose to live by in 2020:

A willingness to take bold risks; boldness or daring, especially with confident disregard for conventional thought.

I declared audacity as my word on Saturday and, you guys, I have already been presented with so many opportunities to put audacity into action. I’m excited. I’m scared. I’ve cried. I’ve tasted elements of my powerful future. Emotions like rage and heartbreak and pure love are bubbling up and I’m embracing them all. I see a new journey of growth that is required of me to up-level my life yet again, and I take it on with audacity.

I want all of you, my dear readers, to have this too, whatever it is you desire. Declare your word. If this blog inspired you to change it, do so and don’t look back. Remember, you co-create your life, so get out there and get going!

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