As you may know each year, I choose a Word of the Year and I also love helping people discover theirs.

While there are different reasons why people may choose a word of the year, I wanted to give you a little peek into how I think about it and my purpose behind this annual practice of mine.

The Purpose Behind My Word Of The Year

Firstly, my word of the year is not a superficial slogan that aims to sound good to others.

Secondly, my word is not an identity label that defines me as a person.

But rather the primary purpose of my word of the year is to serve and support my key area of growth.

Past examples of my “Words of the Year” included STEP, COURAGE and SCOPE (which you are welcome to read about here).

In a nutshell, I’d describe the purpose of my word of the year as a “personalized anchor, nudge and filter for my decisions, pace, and attention for the upcoming year”.

Two Questions To Help Test Your Word

If you have a word of the year already, maybe my description above can help as a sense check on whether it works.

You can ask yourself now,,,

“Will my word, [insert here], serve as a personalized anchor, nudge and filter for my decisions, pace, and attention for the upcoming year?”

Or if that feels a bit too complex, here’s an alternative simpler question to ask yourself…

”Does my word feel weighty?”

In my experience, our words of the year should feel weighty. Why? Because there are multiple layers to the word and because it’s deeply personal.

Okay, So What Was My Word For 2026? 

And my word for 2026 is …. drum roll… STEWARD

Ever since taking on the new Executive Director role with International China Concern, I feel like I’ve been “thrust” into a new chapter of life.

In this new phase, most of the challenges I’m facing seem to flow into one super challenge which sounds like the following: 

“There’s so much opportunity, I have too much to do, I don’t have enough time and I hate the feeling of disappointing others”

This word STEWARD is already shaping how I think about the year ahead.

At its heart, the “success of stewardship" is about care, not on hitting certain KPIs.

For me that includes stewarding:

• the moment

• the conversation

• the resource

• the song

• the person

• the project

• the decision

To live into the word STEWARD will require me to:

1. Complete what is already in my care before seeking more

2. Say NO before saying YES

3. Pay closer attention to God’s voice rather than external pressure

A Personal (and Unexpected) Layer

There’s also a personal layer I didn’t expect when landing on my 2026 word.

I found out that the Chinese character for steward is: 管 (guǎn)

管 means to manage, oversee, take charge of, be responsible for.

Guǎn also sounds like Guan...my dad’s name.

It’s been a quiet reminder that stewardship is generational.

It’s not just about what I do this year, but how I honour what I’ve been given and what I help carry forward for others.

The "UnGlamorous" Implications

I also recognise the implications of my word aren’t glamorous:

• Saying no more frequently

• Disappointing people (leadership often involves this)

• Communicating earlier and more clearly

• Feeling “behind” compared to others

• Choosing margin and space over constant momentum

I need to be reminded again and again that my deepest and most important growth is often not glamorous and social media "post worthy". 

 It's a difficult lesson I'm learning (albeit slowly and often against my natural instinct for momentum and outward achievement!)

Over To You

1) Share Your Thoughts (& Word With Me)!

I'd love to hear from you! Have you landed on Your Word for 2026 already? Have any thoughts on what I've shared? Email me james@liveholystic.com and share with me as much or as little detail as you'd like!

2) Still keen to Discover Your Word for 2026?

As much as it pains me, I won’t be hosting a “Discover Your Word of the Year” session or hosting Brave Men gatherings at the usual pace this year. Haha you can blame my word of the year STEWARD!

But even though I won't be running my 90min Word of The Year session, I’m still happy to freely share my 7 Step Guide with you. Click here

Finally, may 2026 be a year of not more striving, but deeper faithfulness with what’s already in your hands!

- James

p.s what you are reading is an example of my email drops that focus on both celebrating the victories and wrestling through the tensions of building a life of holistic success and lasting contentment. Subscribe here to receive future email drops straight in your inbox

#Leadership #HolisticSuccess #WordOfTheYear #CoachingReflections #2026 #Steward