Word of the Year 2026

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Word of the Year 2026" – Love Your Life Show with Susie Pettit

Date: December 27, 2025
Host: Susie Pettit
Duration: ~25 minutes

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Episode Overview

In this bonus episode of the Love Your Life Show, Susie Pettit guides listeners through the transformative practice of choosing a "Word of the Year" as an alternative to traditional New Year’s resolutions. Drawing from her own monumental experiences and reflecting on the past year—including major life changes and health challenges—Susie makes an impassioned case for this empowering tool. The episode is rich with personal anecdotes, practical steps, and motivational calls to action, all tailored to busy moms and women in midlife navigating complex emotional landscapes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Reflection: Looking Back to Move Forward (00:00–06:43)

• Susie's Year in Review:
  Susie shares how her life has been drastically transformed by both foreseen and unforeseen events, including medical emergencies (“My heart stopped twice. I was in the hospital for two elongated stays twice.” [00:21]) and ongoing adaptation to living abroad and adjusting to an empty nest.
• Choosing Word of the Year:
  She emphasizes the magic of choosing a guiding word rather than strict resolutions, explaining, “When I'm looking back like I was today, I'm like, oh my goodness… It's actually sort of magical how the word comes to be.” [01:16]
• The Power of Serendipity & Intuitive Signs:
  Susie recounts noticing a “heart healthy walk” sign immediately after reflecting on her health, underlining the idea that the universe conspires with your intentions (“And so that got me just to think some more about the Word of the Year and how helpful it is to choose a word of the year and how you just really don’t freaking know what life is going to hand you.” [02:46])
• Letting Go of Limitations:
  She urges listeners not to limit themselves with overly specific goals or resolutions, recounting her own story of financial and emotional hardship and how her life now far exceeds those earlier, more limited dreams. (“Thank goodness I didn't limit myself there, warriors…” [03:40])

Notable Quote:
"Word of the Year allows for more magic." - Susie Pettit [02:46]

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2. Why Words, Not Resolutions? (11:44–15:49)

• The Flaws of Resolutions:
  Susie challenges conventional resolution setting, calling it “a defeating way to start the new year” and explaining that it focuses on “what we’re doing wrong and what we need to do better, where we need to improve.” [12:35]
• The Superiority of the 'Word of the Year':
  “A Word of the Year brings our focus to growth and expansion versus weakness and imperfections. A Word of the Year also allows us flexibility during the year.” [12:45]
• Adaptability in Unpredictable Times:
  Using examples from the COVID years, she demonstrates how resolutions can become impractical, while a “Word of the Year” keeps you on track even as circumstances change.

Notable Quote:
"Choosing a word of the Year is expansive and focuses on possibilities no matter what your year throws your way." - Susie Pettit [14:27]

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3. How to Choose Your Own 'Word of the Year' (15:49–23:05)

Susie offers a simple, actionable five-step process for listeners:

• Step 1: Assess Your Current Situation
  Ask yourself:

  1. How do you feel most days? (List 3 words)
  2. What do you wish were different?
  3. What do you want more of?
  4. What do you want less of?
     “Get them out on paper. All right? Listening to podcasts is amazing… Taking the action step of actually doing what we're talking about here is where your life changes at just a compounding speed.” [16:24]

• Step 2: Dream
  Suspend limiting beliefs and imagine your best possible year.

  • “When you look back at this time next year, how would you like to describe your year?” [16:57]

• Step 3: Choose
  From a list or your brainstorming, pick 2-5 possible words, then revisit until one word stands out.

• Step 4: Saturate
  Integrate your word into daily life: alarms, sticky notes, jewelry, social sharing.

  • “The more visual reminders you have of your word, the more you bring that word into your life in your year.” [18:47]

• Step 5: Enjoy
  Live with your word as a guiding light rather than a strict measuring stick—no possibility of failure, only growth.

Notable Quote:
"A word is something you aim for. A light to aim towards when your days might be dark. There is no possibility of failure. You do not fail. You learn and grow." - Susie Pettit [20:18]

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4. Community, Support, and Encouragement (10:17–11:44; 23:05–25:00)

• Listener Engagement:
  Susie encourages listeners to share their ‘Word of the Year’ with her via social media or email, and highlights the “Warrior of the Week” for show reviews and interaction.
• Invitation to Membership:
  She recommends joining her monthly program for women over 40 or her Happiness Habits class for ongoing community support and coaching.
  • “Women don’t regret signing up. They regret not joining the community sooner.” [23:05]

Closing Encouragement:
"We are on this earth for a purpose... Instead of telling yourself you can do it alone or you don't need support, why not try it? ...This is your year, your life, your moment. I would love to be your coach and support you on this magnificent journey." [23:05–24:10]

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• "My magic sign is always the sun.” [05:20] — Susie noting how serendipity affirms her intentions.
• “There's nothing to fix about you.” [12:44] — Reframing personal development from self-acceptance rather than self-criticism.
• “Your brain looks for solutions when we direct them in that open growth mindset way.” [14:17] — On the power of open-ended focus.
• "Get it to work for you. It will form neural connections that will unconsciously help you bring your word into reality. It seems woo woo, but trust me, I've seen it happen. I've lived it.” [19:26] — On the science and magic of mindset.
• “A word is something you hold loosely. You aim for, a light to aim towards. There is no possibility of failure.” [20:10]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–06:43 – Personal reflection, life updates, the magic of the Word of the Year
• 06:43–11:44 – Reintroduction, background, listener engagement
• 11:44–15:49 – Why eschew resolutions for a Word of the Year
• 15:49–23:05 – Step-by-step guide to choosing and living your Word of the Year
• 23:05–25:00 – Community invitations, encouragement, closing words

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Action Items & Next Steps

• Visit smbwell.com/word to get the “Word of the Year” worksheet.
• Write down and share your word with Susie on Instagram (@smb.wellness) or via email ([e-mail]).
• Consider joining Susie’s monthly membership community or signing up for her Happiness Habits class to find greater support throughout the year.

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Susie Pettit’s warmth, humor, and lived wisdom make this episode a motivating and practical guide for anyone—especially mothers and women in midlife—seeking a more expansive, self-compassionate path into the new year. The invitation is clear: pick your Word of the Year, lean into its magic, and step into 2026 empowered and inspired.

Transcript

[Susie Pettit]

Hello warriors. I wanted to come on here today and give you a bonus episode, a word of the year episode. If you haven't done word of the year before or if you have done it, this is the episode for you. So listen in and I'm giving you a brief inter intro to let you know why I am like, you know what Susie, you gotta release that word of the year is important. So I was out on my Sunday after. I still am out on my Sunday afternoon walk, uh, which I take and it tends to be a little longer on Sundays. Cause Sunday's my gym day and I just love to then go for this long, luxuriant walk, whatever, you don't need the details. But I go for a longer walk and then often go in a different place than I normally do. And so I was walking and I was reflecting on this past year. It's been pretty freaking monumental for me. My heart stopped twice. I was in the hospital for two elongated stays twice. I still my, you know, my third year of living in a foreign country on the other side of the world. So even though three years in some ways might feel like a long time, it in other ways feels very short to me. In the span of my 54 years still feels very new. And then also I am still in sort of an empty nest stage. I'm getting used to not having my kids around and it's three years for that too. So that I raised my kids for 27 years, I guess is the how old my oldest is. So this is again still relatively new for me to get used to that. So I'm having, you know, some reflections and I'm thinking, and I'm thinking of gratitude with my heart and I'm thinking of how my word of the year makes such a freaking difference in my life and choosing a word of the year, how it really leads me in ways that I can never see when I choose it. But that when I'm looking back like I was today, I'm like, oh my goodness. It's. It's actually sort of magical how the word comes to be. And, and just today I just as I'm walking, I'm reflecting and I'm like, yeah, this really has been a year. And I'm thinking of my heart. I go to where I'm. I had decided ahead of time to turn around. And I turn around and I look up and there's this sign that says heart healthy walk. I'm not making this up. I'm like, what? Because one of the things I did when I got this. This heart diagnosis and surgery and all that was. I stopped running this past year. That actually was monumental, too. Czq. I could have mentioned I had been running really at least three or four times a week since I was age 13. So that's four decades. That has been a lifelong love and passion of mine and a big piece of my mental and physical health. So stop that walking now from my heart. And I'm just really leaning into this belief that this is what's best for me now, yada, yada, yada.

Then I look up and I see.

The sign and I'm like, oh, my goodness. And so that got me just to think some more about the Word of the Year and how helpful it is to choose a word of the year and how you just really don't freaking know what life is going to hand you. That this is really what the manifesting and all that fun stuff is on, is that you just have an idea and a feeling of sort of what you want, whether it's what you want the year to be or what you want your life to be or, you know, that's bigger than resolutions. Resolutions are very discreet and are very concrete and very distinct, I guess, is the word I was looking for. It's like, I want to lose this or I want to build this or. And Word of the Year allows for more magic. And just as I'm thinking that, I'm like, it allows some magic to come in because so many times, you know, I'm in financially bankrupt in the basement of my house, fighting for custody with my ex and my dad paying for his lawyer and feeling just so stressed. I knew I wanted something different. I was like, not this. I need out. And I think if you had asked me to dream the biggest dream I could have dreamt at that moment, it would have been to be, you know, maybe living three blocks away from where that house was in Arlington, Virginia, with custody of my kids and some financial independence and probably single, like, you know, never finding love or companionship again. And that would have felt really wonderful to me. So if I was going to spell that out on paper, that's what I would have done. And thank goodness I didn't limit myself there, warriors, because there's no part of my brain that could have seen the reality of the life that I'm living now. And if you're new to this episode, if you're new to me and the Love youe Life show, get the podcast Roadmap. And I can explain some of my past, but I think those of you who've listened for a bit, you get what I'm saying is that like if I had said yes, I, you know, been very distinct. I still can't remember what word did I just say? You guys Descriptive and like, this is what I want. XYZ and say I got that. Okay, great. But I don't even. Like, I'm not allowing for any room with the universe and magic and, and amazingness. And my life is far exceeded anything I could have imagined just by getting a vibe, choosing a word of a vibe that I want, a vibe that I'm feeling, something that feels real to me in the moment. And really word of the year, you don't overthink it. You just choose something and then you let the world do its magic. And so I'm thinking this, I'm walking, I'm thinking about this and about the world doing its magic. And my magic sign is always the sun. I've. I love the sun. And I look down and I kid you not, I'll put pictures of these in the show notes. There is a sun. I think it's like a jibbet that someone has on their croc. I don't even know if that's what it. There's a sun, like a beautiful little half inch sun on the ground where I'm walking. So like, come on, come on. So I'm like, susie, you gotta do an episode for the Warriors. So that's what this is. This is a quick episode explaining to you how to do the word of the year.

And this intro is for you to.

Just like really encourage you to choose.

A word of the year this year.

If you've already chosen it before or you, you're just like, I'm in, Susie, bring it. Okay, get the word of the year. It's a document or PDF or I don't. My brain is. It's Sunday. Give me a break. I'm not thinking clearly, but I think it's smbwell.com word. I will put that link in the show notes so you don't have to rely on my Sunday vacation brain at and just, just freaking do it, please. And then share with me. Part of the. The passion and the power of the word of the year is that once you choose it, then you bring it into being in all ways you can. Like, I once got a ring made with my word of the year and I once got a bracelet with my word of the year and you put it on stickies. You tell people. So tell me your word of the.

Year once you have it.

Tell me on Instagram, if you're on social, if you're on the platforms there, email me susiembwell.com I don't know if you just let me know. Spread it, tell people and start to embody that word. And watch out my friggin Warriors. I am so excited for you. So thank you for listening and I can't wait for all of us in the upcoming year that we're going to have.

I love you.

[Podcast Narrator]

Hi, this is the Love youe Life show with Susie Pettit, certified life and wellness coach. Join Susie as she helps you with your wellness and mindset so you can live a life you love. Let's go Warriors.

[Susie Pettit]

Warriors.

Hello and welcome to another week with me, Susie Pettit, your certified life and wellness coach. How are you? If you're listening to this as it comes out, I am doing awesome. I have recently moved and boy is my current life situation a verification of the incredible power of coaching. If you're a new listener of the show, you may not realize my backstory. It's about time that I record an episode revisiting the bumpy ride that got me there. I will do that in the future, maybe this next year where I speak to the specific tools and mindset shifts I made to get from where I was to where I am. That's not the episode for today, but today, suffice it to say I was was once emotionally and financially shattered, living in an unfinished basement, unsure when I would be able to see my kids, having my biological family sort of take a stand against me. Really scary times. And through using tools like the one I mentioned on the show today and in other past episodes, I am now living a life that is unrecognizable to that Susie who was living in that unfinished basement that was in like 2015. Warriors. That's not that long ago. Okay? I am now living a life. I love the name of the show and one I never thought was possible for me, which is the power of coaching with the framework I use. Which is why I'm so freaking glad that you push play on these episodes, okay? Because I get to help you use the thought model and bridge thoughts to create a future you possibly don't even believe yet is possible for you. I will put the links to thoughtwork and bridge thoughts in today's show [e-mail] 229 for new listeners and also encourage you to get the podcast [e-mail] roadmap because roadmap is all One word. Because that will help you get the foundational things to get started living this life you love. Okay. I am just here with you, doing the work with you, shining a light out for you. The more of us doing the work to bust our limiting beliefs and giving ourselves permission to want what we want, the more we show other warriors what could be possible for them too. One thought at a time. Busting through one limiting belief at a time. One warrior at a time. All right, which brings me that. That was a very good cue that my brain just gave me. I want to highlight a warrior of the week and how you get to be a warrior of the week is to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. But the show. All right, and you head over there and if you are chosen, you will be the warrior of the week. And this warrior of the week doesn't.

Even have a name.

She's so fancy that it's like a heart stars and a kissy face is her. Is her. Somehow she managed to do that on Apples. I'm very impressed. Okay. She says wonderful topics, five stars. I really enjoy the topics of the episodes. Things that are very relevant to me and that I talk about with my closest friends. Susie has a lovely, lovely perspective which she pours herself into. Added bonus, the show volume is perfectly loud enough. If you like me, listen to podcasts in the shower. Thank you, Warrior the weak heart star smiley face. I really greatly appreciate you guys leaving reviews for me or letting me know on Instagram DMs that I'm. What impact the show is making for you. I'm just sitting here alone, recording, talking to my computer. And when I can hear that I have touched one warrior's life in any way that just makes what I'm doing, I just keep going. So let's do it. Okay. If you want another way to help me keep going, please head over to patreon smbwell.com patreon no, no, no. Patreon.com susipettit all one word to support me for less than a cost of a coffee. Coffee. And we can keep this piece podcast ad free, which is very helpful for me too. Anyhow, let's get in because I want to give you this super life changing tool which is choosing a word of the year.

Okay.

Yep, you heard me. This life coach is advising you to poo poo resolutions. Okay. And it's not because I didn't used to make them or haven't tried them. Oh my. No. I used to make resolutions at the beginning of each year in Fact, I took it my resolution making so seriously. I would read articles on what best resolutions like what the best resolutions were and I'd ask friends what theirs were. I would look externally for what I should be doing and guidance on what my next year should be like. Okay. Instead of turning inward to use my inner warrior as a guide, I fell on old programming that taught me that inner Susie didn't know what was right. I needed to look externally. Resolutions really encouraged me to look externally to answer the question of how to best fix Susie. Okay.

Geez.

What a defeating way to start the new year. It goes against everything I practice and teach here on the Love youe Life Show. There's nothing to fix about you.

Okay?

We want to accept our imperfect self. We want to look at gain over gap thinking, face versus fear living. And my God, how could I say do resolutions. Resolutions counter all that. Resolutions bring our focus to what we're doing wrong and what we need to do better, where we need to improve. They're very black and white. You either do them or you don't. As a coach, I am intensely interested in your well being and feeling state. Which is why today I passionately encourage you to choose a Word of the year instead of making New Year's resolutions. A Word of the Year brings our focus to growth and expansion versus weakness and imperfections. A Word of the Year also allows us flexibility during the year, which we actually saw during the COVID years. Okay, what if your resolution during the COVID years was to go to the gym three times a week? That got pretty hard in March, eh? Do you just throw up your hands? You're like, well, there goes my year. Or what if your resolution was to go out to dinner with your partner once a month? Not so possible, eh? Whereas if you choose Word of the Year, it's still on. If your word was health and the gym shut down, your brain looks for solutions. I guarantee you'd be one of those people like Zooming some group exercise class. If your word of the year was connection and you're no longer able to go out with your friends, well, Zoom to the rescue again. You probably got together with your friends on Zoom. I know people were doing happy hours on Zoom. The point is, is your brain looks for solutions when we direct them in that open growth mindset way. Whereas resolutions are limiting and focus on our weaknesses. Choosing a word of the Year is expansive and focuses on possibilities no matter what your year throws your way. Okay, my year this year through stuck my way that I never could have foreseen. Happening. But since I chose my word of the year, I still was in a really good place and I can see how it's all happened. So let's figure out how to do it. Have I convinced you to do a word of the year? If so, grab your worksheet. If you get my weekly newsletter, it's attached to this week's edition. If you're new to the Suzy show, get your word of the year at smbwell.com word print it out and let's go. Okay, so the first step to picking your own warrior word is to assess your current situation. And we're going to do that by answering some questions that I have on that sheet. And if you're listening and you're able to, you could get out a pad of paper right now and answer these and sort of stop and start. Don't do that if you're driving or in the shower, like my warrior of the week. But here are some questions to ask yourself. 1. How do you feel most days? What are three words that you'd use to describe how you feel most days or felt most days this past year?

2.

What do you wish were different in your life? If I could hand you a magic wand, what do you wish were different in your life?

3.

What do you want more of in your life? 4. What do you want less of in your life? Now, warriors, I cannot emphasize enough. I really would like you to stop, not just think the answers in your head. Get them out on paper. All right? Listening to podcasts is amazing. It's wonderful. It can change your life. Taking the action step of actually doing what we're talking about here is where your life changes at just a compounding speed. Okay? So go back when you have time to answer those four questions or get your word of the [e-mail] word and write them out. How do you feel most days? What do you wish were different in your life? What do you want more of in your life? What do you want less of in your life? And let your pen just go judgment free, okay? If you're concerned that someone else is going to read it, write and rip afterwards, okay? But get that out of your head. Step number two is to dream, dream. Turn off your inner critic or limiting beliefs or what other people are going to think and allow yourself to imagine your best. 2023. This is not a time to let your brain tell you why these things aren't possible. You say brain, I'm dreaming now. This is a time to engage your growth mindset and to Imagine what you want this year to be like. What would make this year great? Here's some more questions to answer. What would make this year great? How does that feel like? What does that look like? What does a great looking year look like to you? How about. I love this question. When you look back at this time next year, how would you like to describe your year? How do you want to feel about yourself? Okay, step three is choose. Get quiet. Find a quiet place. Read over the list on the handy word guide I made you and choose two to five words that stand out to you on a scrap of paper. Carry that paper around for a day or two. Get it out, look at it. Which word is sticking out to you? One will begin to shine and call to you. That's your word. I know a lot of us that have been raised the way we are, we're like, oh, I want to choose the right word, whatever word is sort of calling out to you. Great. You can keep the other words on a note file on your phone for another year, okay? But choose the one that sort of starts to stick out to you. And then step four, Saturate. Bring your word into your life in as many ways as you can. Okay? Write it out on sticky notes. Have it be an alarm on your phone. Write it on note cards, pretty cardstock. Stick it around your house.

Change.

You know the word the phone alarm so that when it goes off every morning you see your word. Okay? Take advantage of the post holiday sales and get a print or a pillow with your word on it. I'll put some cute pillows I found in the free warrior Facebook group. Tell people your word. Start speaking of it. Be brave. Be like my word of the year is and tell your friends, your family, your Internet buddies. Share your word with me. Email me susiembwell.com or share it on the aforementioned free Facebook warrior group. We will be talking about it in there. Okay? You can even they make mantra bands makes great I have a ring with my word on it from another year. They also make bracelets. I'll put all those links in the show notes. The point is, the more visual reminders you have of your word, the more you bring that word into your life in your year. Okay? Plaster your word around so that you snap yourself in the habit of thinking of that word when making a decision. Okay? And you are thinking of that word. You're like bringing it into energy. I have a sign by my oils, my essential oils that I use every morning to remind me at the beginning of the day of my intent. Remember Our brain is the most powerful computer in the world. They can't duplicate it. It's so powerful. So get it to work for you. It will form neural connections that will unconsciously help you bring your word into reality. It seems woo woo, but trust me, I've seen it happen. I've lived it. My word for 2022 was magic. And oh wow, were there moments where I would wonder, how is this gonna play out? This is certainly not magical by my standards. And ultimately, warriors, this has been the most magical year of my life. Thank you, brain. So saturate yourself with it. And number five, enjoy. You are set up for success. Believe in yourself and your word. Resolutions tend to be black or white. You either do them or you don't. A word is something you hold loosely. You aim for a light to aim towards. There is no possibility of failure. Remove that, that just option from your brain. Like I said with my magic, my word magic. This last year there were things that happened. I've spoken on the show how my mother in law died. We found her when we came here to the country. It was one of the worst things that has happened in my life. Okay. And yet hold tight to that word. Okay. Hold tight in that belief and that intention and adjust your course throughout the year. It's sort of like, wow, didn't see this happening. Okay. With an expansive, curious mindset and my coach laugh out loud. I held onto my word and my belief in the system. A word is something you aim for. A light to aim towards when your days might be dark. There is no possibility of failure. You do not fail. You learn and grow. Choosing a word also allows you to start your year looking forward with anticipation, excitement and inspiration. Whatever time you would have spent making resolutions and thinking about what you've done wrong and how bad you are, you get to think instead of what you're going to do right and how great the upcoming year can be. We are on this earth for a purpose. Resolutions led me to feel badly about who I was focusing on the gap, the negative. Choosing a word empowers me to accept how awesome I am right now while encouraging me to evolve to that next best version of myself. I encourage you to try something different this year. Share your warrior word with me and I will share my warrior Word of 2023 with you. Okay. I also invite you to join my monthly membership for women over 40 and get support on your journey. Instead of telling yourself you can do it alone or you don't need support, why not try it?

Okay.

Maybe your brain is like I don't do groups. Okay, you know what? There's no contract or cancellation fee. You can stop whenever you want. This is part of that growth mindset too. It's like, oh, let me see. Okay, that's it. Women don't regret signing up. They regret not joining the community sooner. So if that interests you. Smbwell.com membership this is your year, your life, your moment. I would love to be your coach and support you on this magnificent journey. One thing I've noticed about COVID and the state where we are right now is that people can be in a very dark mental place. They also either sort of rose or fell. Relationships strengthened or shrunk. Habits either became super helpful or incredibly unhelpful. Join me in optimizing your life for happiness and joy. Don't rest in indecision of maybe someday. Choose to join the monthly membership or take my Happiness Habits class. If you haven't taken that, that's my most popular class where I teach you the four habits foundational for life satisfaction and I give you one on one coaching. You get to meet with me each week at a time that suits you. Okay? I don't want you to live this mediocre life. It is actually my intense belief that you are not here to live a mediocre life where at the end of it you shrug your shoulders and be like, ah, I guess. I guess that's what it was about. I was happy enough. No, dear warrior, you deserve more. And we need humans to rise up. 2023 is leading us into a new frontier. All hands on deck. We need you Warrior. Let's go get them. Big love to.

[Podcast Narrator]

Thank you for listening to the Love youe Life show. If you want to hear more from Susie and support the show, be sure to subscribe to this podcast on itunes. Also leave a review and share this podcast with friends and family. Go get em warriors.