Every January, the pressure shows up right on time.
New goals. New habits. New versions of ourselves we’re apparently supposed to roll out immediately—fully formed, wildly motivated, and running on green juice and willpower.
I’ve tried that approach.
It never lasted.
What has shaped my life, again and again, is choosing one word to live into for the year. Not a resolution. Not a performance. A word that becomes a compass when things get hard.
This year, my word is undeterred.
And I didn’t choose it from a calm season. I chose it from experience.
Undeterred Isn’t Force: It’s What Happens at the Edge
Years ago, I had a trainer named Mike Champagne. Best name, right?
Mike understood people, especially when they were right at their edge. And he understood me.
One day I was bench pressing, heavy weight, real effort. Mike was spotting me, standing right over my head. My arms were shaking, my breath was tight, and my brain had started offering very reasonable excuses to stop early.
And then I hit it.
That moment where your body says, This is enough, and your mind starts negotiating an exit.
The edge.
Mike leaned down, looked me straight in the eye, and instead of shouting encouragement like most trainers would, he quietly said:
“Oh, oh… here she goes,” with his wry smile.
He didn’t say it ominously.
He said it knowingly.
Because he understood my process.
He knew my power.
And he knew exactly what was about to happen.
Every time I reached my edge, something unexpected would rise up in me.
Joy.
Not relief.
Not celebration.
Joy.
A sudden, uncontrollable swelling of life that would break through and I would laugh. Out loud. On the bench. Completely inappropriate gym behavior.
Mike would just let it happen.
He knew that on the other side of that laugh, I’d pull myself together…
and grind through the last reps.
He didn’t interrupt it.
He let me let it rip.
Joy met me at my edge.
The Struggle Was Never the Problem
I never believed joy waited on the other side.
I’ve always known the struggle is part of the magic.
Joy wasn’t a reward waiting at the finish line.
It was fuel, showing up right when things got hard.
Not to remove the weight,
but to remind me who I was.
Why One Word Matters
Choosing one word for the year isn’t about limitations.
It’s about focus.
A word helps you:
Recognize when you’re driftingDecide what deserves your energyStay present when the work gets hard
When chosen well, it doesn’t live in your planner.
It lives in your body.
How to Choose Your Word
If you’re feeling the nudge to try this, here’s a simple process:
Choose a word you can feel.
Say it out loud. If it lands in your belly or makes you pause, pay attention.Journal why this word matters now.
Why this year? What has life been teaching you?Apply it where the edge currently is.
Relationships. Work. Health. Faith. Boundaries. Start where it matters most.Imagine the ripple effect.
How would others be affected if you lived this word fully? How would your presence change rooms?Be honest about who can walk with you and who can’t.
Clarity attracts what fits and releases what doesn’t. Both are necessary.
Living Undeterred
Making a commitment like this isn’t always comfortable.
But clarity is powerful.
And power, when it’s rooted in purpose, sets you free.
This year, I’m choosing to live undeterred.
Not because I won’t reach edges, but because I know what meets me there.
Sometimes it’s strength.
Sometimes it’s grit.
And sometimes, unexpectedly, it’s joy, rising up and saying:
Keep going. You’re alive.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you want gentle structure, you can download my free New Year Intention Worksheet to help you choose your word and apply it in real life:
👉 DOWNLOAD THE FREE WORKSHEET HERE
And if you’re ready for bolder action: real clarity, momentum, and confidence, you can book a Reboot Clarity Call with me:
👉 BOOK YOUR REBOOT CALL HERE
However you begin, begin boldly.
Because the world doesn’t need a smaller version of you.
It needs you fully alive.
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