One Word to Rule Them All (at Least for 2026)

Last week, I wrote about why I chose the word guide to—well—guide me in 2026. I also asked readers to share the word they’ve chosen for the year, with the hope of sparking ideas for anyone still staring at a blank page (or their coffee) thinking, I should probably pick a word.

And holy moly—you delivered. The responses were thoughtful, faith-filled, honest, and occasionally so good that I briefly considered breaking the rules and choosing more than one word myself. (I didn’t. Barely.)

If you’re still deciding, or just curious about what’s resonating with others, keep reading. There’s a lot of wisdom here.

My word for 2026 is focus. This just bubbled up from within. With a lot of “world” instability and some things shifting for me professionally and personally, I want to be able to focus on what I find important. Say no more to distractions (so many) and “well, I could do that thing...,” and say yes more to what resonates on the soul level.

My word for 2026 is SERVE. Yes, I also believe in the “one word” philosophy, and I have found through the years, that it does act as a guide post, and as a reminder of how God works throughout the year, helping me to achieve what I set out to do. My word for this year was possibilities and God has not disappointed, opening many doors.

This year the word was acceptance.

Revival!

Torch...letting God light my path and ignite a new chapter this year.

Sleep. On the seventh day, He rested. (Honestly, this one may be the most aspirational of all.)

Gratitude. I’ve kept the same word for several years.

This year, my word is joy. I usually choose a different word every year—even when I led a team, I had a word that guided us. One year, that word was love. Everything we did focused on connecting with each other and our clients with love. I told them that decades from now, they probably wouldn’t remember my name—but they would remember the love.

What struck me most wasn’t just the variety of words, but the intention behind them. Each one reflects a desire to live with more purpose, more faith, and more clarity—whether that looks like rest, service, focus, joy, or simply showing up with gratitude.

If you’ve already chosen your word, may it anchor you when things feel uncertain and nudge you back on course when life gets noisy. And if you’re still deciding, maybe one of these words just tapped you on the shoulder.

After all, sometimes the right word has a way of finding you.