Prepare to Shift: Choosing My Word for a Year That Will Change
“All that you touch, you change.
All that you change, changes you.
The only lasting truth is change.”
– Lauren Olamina in Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
A Daily Walk, A Subtle Shift
I open the front door.
The sun is shining, but the breeze is cold.
I slip on my gloves. It’s going to be a cold walk.
As has become my practice, I begin my walk by noticing how the shift in environment—from inside to outside—feels to my body:
- the change in temperature on my skin,
- the direction of the wind on my face,
- the deeper breaths as I walk up the hill.
But when I turn the corner around the block, I consciously shift to a different mindset.
Now I’m looking for one thing:
What looks different today compared to yesterday?
Change Is Always Happening (Even If Invisible)
There are always differences. Even if I can’t spot them.
Since yesterday, I know that:
- the wind has rearranged fallen leaves,
- squirrels have stirred their acorn piles,
- cars have passed by, leaving microscopic rubber dust on the road.
Change is always around me.
But it isn’t only the outer world that shifts.
We Are Not Who We Were Yesterday
Our inner worlds are always on the move, too.
I am not the same person I was yesterday.
Neither are you.
We may look the same on the outside from day to day. And even on the inside, we’re breathing with the same lungs as yesterday, heaving the same heart up and down, and processing information with the same brain.
But the air molecules we’re inhaling today are new. The blood we’re pumping has been replaced by millions of fresh cells. And the thoughts we’re thinking are traveling on updated neural pathways based on our latest experiences.
Ready or not, aware or not,
we are changing.
Choosing My One Word for 2026: Shift
It was on one of these ordinary daily walks that I found my new One Word for 2026
SHIFT
because I’m so amazed, perplexed, and often troubled by these universal truths:
- Everything is impermanent.
- Everything changes.
- Everything shifts.
The earth does.
Circumstances do.
We do.
Every thing, every day.
From Ripple to Shift
In 2025, my word was Ripple. Through its lens, I watched when one thing moves, it affects everything around it.
With each shift you make, my world adjusts a little.
With each shift I make, yours does too.
This isn’t new wisdom, of course. As far back as 500 BCE, we have these sayings attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus:
- “The only constant in life is change,” and
- “You cannot step into the same river twice.”
The Art of Small Adjustments
Studies say we make an average of 200 decisions on every mile we drive (depending on city or highway traffic). These micro-adjustments can be slight moves with the steering wheel, speeding up or slowing down, taps on the brake, checking our mirrors, deciding when to change lanes—all important changes to ensure a safe journey.
Similar changes are just as important as we drive (and are driven) in our lives. The subtle shifts we will make each day in the coming year will help keep our minds, hearts, and bodies aligned to our changing environments.
Some shifts will be deliberate and noticeable.
But many shifts will happen underneath our consciousness, yet equally vital in keeping us responsive, alive, and moving along in the direction we hope to go.
My Intention for the Year Ahead
As this new year begins, my desire is:
to notice shifts more closely,
to make some shifts more intentionally,
and to accept inevitable (even unwanted) shifts more freely.
I’m writing this post as my first official partnership with Shift in 2026. I have designed a logo of Shift to put on my mirror. I’ve mapped a monthly schedule to include things like experimental shifts in pace, closer awareness of nature shifts, and noticing which of my interests have shifted over time.
Yet all the while I know, even begrudgingly, that these plans will shift in big and small ways to accommodate real life as it comes. Rigidity means death when we’re too inflexible. Shifts are healthy for growth.
This I can know with certainty:
Everything changes.
So this year I want to stay present.
Learn to make adjustments.
And be grateful for shifts.
Questions for You
What’s one small shift you’ve noticed in your life lately? Is there a small or large shift you’d like to make in 2026?
If you have a word of the year, what is it?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
About One Word of the Year:
If choosing one guiding word for the year speaks to you, you’re invited to join our online One Word community. We offer encouragement to each other all year round to continue practicing our words. You’ll receive a monthly email with suggestions, an invitation to join our private Facebook group if you’d like, and opportunities to share blog posts each month on the 26th.
That’s a great word for the year, Lisa, and so true! I’m not quite at the point of choosing my one word, although one does keeps coming to mind. Blessings!
I’ll be curious to hear what word has been coming to mind for you, Martha! It’s always fun to see what everyone chooses at the beginning of a year. I’m sure yours will be fantastic.
At first I thought your new word was Change Lisa but then there was a shift to Shift!
It will be interesting to follow your journey this year my friend.
I will post my 2026 WOTY later today.
Blessings, Jennifer
Well, you weren’t far off the mark, Jennifer. I actually thought about choosing Change but it felt too dramatic. ha. So I went with Shift because it feels more subtle. Shifts can be small or large (and so can Changes, I know, ha). I’m glad you went with both the words you were hearing and didn’t feel you had to settle on just one. Sometimes one word alone just isn’t quite right.
I agree Lisa on reflection my two words for 2026 seemed to just mesh together & enhance each other, it will be interesting to see what unfolds.
What an alive word for you and love the logo. My word has appeared but I am still finalizing what I want to say to about it or should I say – how it wants to be introduced to the world, it’s way, not mine. These words takes on life on their own, don’t they? What a life giving practice this has been for us.
Thanks, Jean. I’m glad your word has appeared! I’m so excited to hear what it is. I always love your thoughtful choices. And yes, these words definitely do take on a life of their own. A “life-giving practice” – what a beautiful way to describe what our words do for us. ❤️
What a lovely word to work with for the year ahead! I look forward to seeing how it manifests within and around you as each day passes!
One shift I’m making this year is to create before I consume, specifically in the mornings. I’ve fallen into the trap of making my morning tea and then scrolling through the news or social media to start my day and am determined to change that! It’s been a week now (yes, I started on a random day) and it’s been so meaningful. Some days I write, others I draw, surely crochet and embroidery will work their ways in there, too soon 🙂 The point is, to just be me without all the other inputs.
Happy New Year, Lisa! Cheers to a joyful year ahead!
Thanks, Melissa. I love the shift you’re choosing to create before consuming! What a beautiful intention. Hmm… I’ll take note of that for myself too. I just got back from my Banned Books book club where we’re invited to bring textile craft projects to work on during the meeting. I’ve yet to bringing anything, but I’ve so enjoyed looking around as we talk about the book and see someone knitting or crocheting or doing embroidery work, etc. Such beauty in the creation process as well as the creations themselves.
Beautiful reflection. Shift feels like a gentle, honest word for 2026.
Thanks, Lisa. “Gentle” is an apt word for how Shift feels to me! We’ll see if it turns out that way. 🙂
I love the smooth transition you are making from “ripple” to “shift”, both can be o so subtle while at the same time having a HUGE impact.
Thanks for this reflection, Barb. I’m excited to see where Shift will take me in 2026!
A side note, you may have noticed I have subscribed & unsubscribed several time lately. I can subscribe to comments but cannot get your new posts in my feed.
WP is weird sometimes.
Yes, WP is definitely weird sometimes! Sorry you’ve had trouble with it here. I checked my feed and it’s showing you as a subscriber to the blog as of 1/4/26, so hopefully things are squared away now.
Lisa, I am inspired by how intentional you are with your Word of the Year journey. I loved your thoughts about “ripple” last year, and will look forward to what “shift” brings you in 2026. I hope to post about my new word on Tuesday.
Thank you, Lois. I wasn’t exactly sure how Ripple was going to work out, but it surprised me every month by the frequency it popped up. I started Jan 1 making a document of where I saw Shift in my readings, but by Jan 3, I had to stop because it was showing up far more than I expected and I don’t want to keep up with it that closely. ha. After the tumultuous year you had in 2025 with your bike wreck, I can’t wait to hear what word you’re choosing for 2026.
This is so inspiring, Lisa. I’m constantly aware of what aging is doing to my body and while trying to stay healthy, I have to realize that things are shifting. Being open to the shifts as the world almost turns on its head, is something we must pray to be.
I look forward to being back in your lovely One Word Community this year. Thank you for your commitment to this year on year.
Warm wishes to you and your family for the year ahead. Stay blessed, Lisa.
Things are shifting in my body too. Every day. In ways I don’t always appreciate. ha. But facing reality is a good thing (even if painful) and I do want to continue shifting my gaze towards truth. I’m thrilled to have you active again in our community this year, Corinne! I appreciate your gentle wisdom and insights that you offer us and the world.
Season, both a noun & a verb, is my WOTY. On the cusp of a new decade, I’m aware of this season of my life with its waning physical capacity. The daily routine is often dictated by seasonal demands. I’m not a particularly religious person yet Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 speaks to me – to everything there is a season. There’s been a shift in my responsibilities with the death of my aged mom a year ago allowing me the freedom to season my life with more excursions, socialization & explorations.
Ah, my favorite is when a word doubles as both a noun and a verb, so I love your choice, Mona! Such a versatile and meaningful world. I have a friend who lost her mother at the end of 2025, and I sense a similar shift in her opportunities for seasoning in new ways like you mention. I’m sorry for your loss. Do keep us updated on your new adventures as you’re able.
Lisa, I love this! “Shift” is a fantastic word, and I can’t wait to see how you reflect on it this year. Thank you for sharing it with us. I will be featuring your post tomorrow at The Crazy Little Lovebirds link party.
Oooo. What a fantastic woty. I can’t wait to see where this takes you. This is such a wonderful message today Lisa.
Thanks so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month my dear sweet friend. I’m so happy you’re here.
Thank you, Paula. So far, Shift has already proven to be a prolific word because I hardly go a day without hearing it used. (Granted, I’m now looking for it so it appears to pop up more frequently!). I’m excited that you are savoring again this year; such a beautiful feast.
Thank you for featuring my post at the link party, Steph! I appreciate your faithfulness in hosting it.
I’m looking forward to seeing where Shift will take me this year. I’ve already begun seeing the word everywhere. 🙂
Another fabulous word of the year for you Lisa. I like the way you’re very intentional with your one word and enjoy seeing how you approach it.
debbie from debs-world.com