My Word for 2025 Was STORY – Here’s What It Taught Me

Every year since 2017, I’ve chosen a Word of the Year to guide my intentions.

My words have been: 

• 2017: Growth
• 2018: Try Everything
• 2019/2020: Happy
• 2021: Embrace
• 2022: Ease
• 2023: Loving Calm
• 2024: Connect-
• 2025: STORY 

Here’s what STORY taught me – and why I’m more committed than ever to this practice.

Why I chose “Story”:

I use several methods to plan my year, including Leonie Dawson’s Brilliant Year Goal workbooks. As well as other workshops and trainings that I have been introduced to over the years. I have consistently chosen a word of the year to guide me since 2017. 

While doing my Goals Workbooks in the week between Christmas and New Year in 2024, I realised that I had had “publish my book” on my goals list for a few years already, and I really wanted to commit to that in 2025. 

Working through my word lists and ideas, I realised that the word to encapsulate that for me was going to be Story. 

And so Story became my word of the year. 

What “Story” meant to me:

Story was a way for me to connect both my own story, and those around me. I use all sorts of methods to define the word and here are some of the definitions that resonated for me at the beginning of the year. 

Story is a Journey Through Words – an opportunity to transport readers from the ordinary to the extraordinary. 

Story is The Thread That Connects Us – a shared currency of human connection. Since we stood upright and needed to connect with others for safety, we have used story to share information, make sense of the unexplained and form bonds of understanding. 

A quote that I really appreciated when I was researching the word Story was this beautiful one from one of the greatest storytellers of our time. 

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

~ Maya Angelou

Although my story hasn’t been completely untold, it has never been told all together and to such a large audience as publishing a book. 

2025 was the year I stopped bearing it alone. 

What “Story” helped me accomplish in 2025:

📖 Published All of These Lines 9 October 2025

I self-published my book, All of These Lines, after three years of having it on my goals list. In 2026 I’m going to record the audiobook, but you can get the book as an eBook or print on demand anywhere in the world already. Find direct links here. 

🎙️ Guested on my first Podcast 

I loved telling the story of making the decision to publish this year, and about how writing the book in midlife had a major part to play in this being the year to publish. Guesting on Sonja McKaiser’s Midlife Sessions was a highlight. Listen on Spotify Here. 

📹 Launched my YouTube channel

Properly launched my YouTube Channel and have been showing up consistently for the last month. I have always felt comfortable on camera, and this just feels like the right way to go to get my story out to the people who really need to hear it. You can support my channel by subscribing. 

🎤 Spoke on Virtual Stages 

I created The Empowered Journey to highlight speakers in the grief and loss space and provide the kind of support I would have liked to have had when I was at the height of my grief. I’ll be speaking at the TFMR Conference soon, and I’m sure there will be many more opportunities for me to speak on both virtual and real stages. This is the active beginning of me taking the steps towards appearing on a TED Stage one day. 

💜 Made so many new and deeper connections

This was a year of finding my place in the world, but also through sharing my story, I forged deeper connections with people in my life. Acquaintances became friends, new friendships blossomed, and I found new communities that truly made me feel like I belonged. All things that happened because I was telling my story, but also because I was looking to hear others’ stories as well. 

🦋 Found my voice as an author, speaker, and advocate

Although I’ve always felt comfortable speaking in public, there has been a lot of hesitation and procrastination with truly sharing my full story. Finding my voice through the process of writing, editing, publishing and promoting my book has helped me to truly embrace my own authentic voice. 

What “Story” taught me:

1. Your story doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful

I published my book myself. No traditional publisher. No professional editor. Just me, Google Docs, and determination. I tapped into my community and worked with some amazing people along the way, but ultimately, I got it out into the world. 

Imperfect stories still matter. Published is better than perfect, always.

2. Telling your story sets you free

Carrying secrets is exhausting. Telling the truth – even the scary parts – is FREEING. 

Getting the words out helps you to process them, and that is immensely freeing as well. Letting go of the hold that a lot of the feelings had on me was an integral part of actually putting my story to paper. 

The relief was immense.

3. Your story gives others permission

Every time I shared vulnerably, someone said, “Me too.” Sharing my story gave others the opportunity to delve deeper into their own stories and to feel seen in their darkest moments that felt terribly lonely. 

My story became permission for others to tell theirs.

“Stories are a communal currency of humanity.”

– Tahir Shah

4. You ARE the story you’re living

“We tell ourselves stories in order to live.”

– Joan Didion

The story I was telling myself (broken, failed, punished) was keeping me small. I’ve spent a long time working on my inner beliefs and thoughts. As the saying goes, “if you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right”. I had to change my beliefs to believe I could, and then I did. 

Rewriting my story – as one of survival, resilience, and hope – changed everything.

How to Choose your Word for 2026:

If you’re ready to create your most intentional year yet, start with a word.

Here’s how:

1. Reflect on 2025 (what worked? what didn’t? how do you want to FEEL in 2026?)

2. Download a word list for inspiration (I have 200+ words for you!)

3. Use the Have/Do/Be/Feel journaling exercise:

• What do I want to HAVE by end of 2026?
• What do I want to DO?
• Who do I want to BE?
• How do I want to FEEL?

4. Look for themes – what word would guide you there?

5. Trust your gut – your word will find you 💜

Get my FREE Word List (200+ words): Word Inspiration List

Want step-by-step guidance? Empowered by a Word Workbook

My word for 2025 was STORY.

I published a book I’d been too scared to share. I found my voice. I became the author I’d always dreamed of being.

One word. Twelve months. Everything changed.

What will YOUR word for 2026 create? ✨

Ready to find yours?

📥 Download my FREE Word List (200+ words to inspire you)

📖 Want guided support? Grab the Empowered by a Word Workbook