Pictured: Custom Watercolor Word of the Year from Waiting on Martha Home

Selecting a word of the year that frames up what I want to achieve personally during the year ahead is one of the activities I look forward to each year. I started picking a word of the year a couple of years ago.

Here’s a recap of what words I’ve chosen in previous years:

2020: Bloom

2019: Overflow

This year the selection of my word came to me easily. I prayed about it and asked God to work his wisdom in my life. This year, as I thought about a list of words, the word “Confidence” came into my mind.

2020 did a number on my confidence. There were many unexpected twists and turns that challenged my ability to be confident about the path God has laid out for me. I won’t go into specifics, but my career, relationships, and self-love all took a hit. As we step into 2021, he’s already proven to show me that I am on the right path and better than I give myself credit for. In 2020, I started to let the negative narrative that people said about me, my ability to succeed, and my relationships take over my life.

2021 is a rebuilding year focused on confidently utilizing the tools in my personal toolbox and believing that I am the “girl for the job.” I am focused on being more authentic and confident in God's steps for me. What does being confident look like for me?

• Be confident in my career journey

• Build my self-esteem and learn to appreciate and accept compliments from others

• Show up authentically each day and learn to be vulnerable with others

• Work on becoming a confident leader

• Be more vocal about my accomplishments and my expertise

• Share more of my personal life in the public and professional life

• When I’m faced with obstacles in life see them as opportunities and not challenges

• Be an advocate for myself and my strengths rather than focuses on the weaknesses

• Be open to having raw and real conversations without being scared of the ou’ outcome or response.

Like every year in 2021, it will be a marathon, not a sprint and each day, I am challenging myself to show.

What’s your 2021 word of the year? Tell me in the comments below.