Your One Word Challenge: Discover 2–3 New Insights This Month
{One Word 2025 September Linkup}
Your One Word Still Has More to Teach You
Can you believe we’re already nine months into the year with our One Words? For many of us, our word has been a faithful companion—sometimes inspiring, sometimes challenging, and always shaping us in ways we couldn’t have predicted last January.
But here’s even better news: our words still have more to teach us in these last few months of the year. The final quarter is often where the deepest lessons emerge.
A Simple 3-Step Challenge
Here’s an easy practice you can try this month to uncover fresh meaning in your word:
1. Look up your One Word on Wikipedia or a resource of your choice.
2. Find 2–3 new facts, angles, or connections you didn’t know before.
3. Reflect on what you find:
- What surprised you?
- Did it shift your perspective?
- Does it spark any new ways to practice your word in daily life?
My Word: Ripple
Here are two products I discovered when I looked up Ripple.
1. RIPPLE FOODS
I was intrigued to discover this company: Ripple Foods. They create products using the “small but mighty yellow pea to make waves in your world.”
The company is built on the idea that even small choices—like a glass of plant-based milk versus dairy milk—can create far-reaching effects. Their “Ripple Effect” philosophy fits perfectly with my theme that tiny actions matter, whether in business or in life.
Because I have family members with dairy allergies, I’ll ripple this brand along to them.
2. RIPPLE, MY LITTLE PONY
When my daughters were young, they had some My Little Pony products. But I don’t remember a character named Ripple. She is a playful baby seapony, the fastest swimmer of all the baby seaponies.
In an episode of the TV series My Little Pony, Ripple rides her frog float into a hidden cave and gets lost. She cries for help until Magic Star comes to her rescue.
This storyline tweaked how I think about ripples. So far, my thoughts on ripples have been how we send contributions out into the world. But Ripple the seapony reminded me that ripples can also carry requests for help. When I send out ripples for help, I can trust that help will eventually find its way back, often in surprising ways.
Share Your Discoveries
When you’ve tried the challenge, I’d love to hear what you find—whether it confirms what you already know or opens up something completely new.
This September One Word linkup will remain open from Thursday, September 25, through Thursday, October 9. Share your insights in a blog post to link up below, drop a note in the comments, or join us in our One Word Facebook group.
Let’s encourage each other to finish the year strong.
What new insights has your One Word shown you recently? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Looking ahead: Our October linkup will open on opens on Saturday, October 25. Plan to join us with an update about your One Word.
If you’d like to receive our monthly One Word emails and ideas, join here any time of the year.
Link Up About Your One Word
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You always come up with such interesting takes on the challenges!
Thank you for keeping us on track.
Wikipedia says that wisdom is a hot topic historically and it shows up in the artwork of many unexpected cultures!
Like you, I am amazed that we’re so far into the year.
Yes, wisdom has a history going back to the very first person I suppose! How interesting that it shows up in art so frequently. I’ve never really thought about that. Thanks for sharing that, Michele.
I’m happy to have you along with me on the One Word journey, Barb!
I love this insight! I never thought of ripples as carrying help requests, but you’re right — sometimes the circles we send out are not about influence but about connection. What a comforting thought that our cries, even small ones, can find their way back with an answer.
Thank you for the blog and for the One Word challenge! This time I didn’t discover a lot of new things, but I did notice a certain depth in my word, and I found that very beautiful. I’m grateful for the encouragement to keep going with my word.
Thanks, Aritha. Even when we don’t find some great new discovery, it’s still encouraging to affirm the truths we do know about our words. I’m glad you’re continuing forward with your word too! Abide is such a steadying presence.
It’s amazing that we’re three-quarters of the way through our 2025 One Word journey, Lisa. My journey this quarter looked quite different from what I had imagined. Instead of spending hours reading about prayer and learning more, I loved and served family and friends through life-changing moments, i.e., I acted and prayed in the moment with them.
I love what’s happened with your word, Lisa. My brain loves to study and learn more about my word, but I’ve discovered that it’s in the actual practice where we can get the biggest gains. Glad this is happening for you; it sounds valuable not only for you but also for others around you!
I’m a bit late in joining you all this month Lisa but I’ve been Exploring (my WOTY) some interesting topics this month.
Your suggestions above are great, & I can’t believe it’s the end of September already either!
blessings, Jennifer
You’re right on time, Jennifer. I’ve enjoyed reading your explorations this year! And yes, it’s crazy that we’re already into October now.
Lisa, I love your posts about your word … I didn’t know there was a My Little Pony called Ripple either. 🙂 I have yet to write a second post about my word for this year (notice), but one is simmering in my mind. And I’m also getting ahead of myself because I think I already know next year’s word! Definitely not going to write about that one yet. 🙂
I’m smiling with you about next year’s words – I’ve already been toying with one too! 🙂 It’s not too early to be thinking about it, although I have been known to change my word at the last minute come Dec 31. ha.