Three Conversations to Deepen Your One Word Practice
{One Word 2025 August Linkup}
I love experimenting with new ways to connect with our One Words. This month’s challenge may be my favorite because it’s also about connecting with other people.
Instead of just journaling or reflecting privately, you’re invited to explore your word in conversations with others. Find our August linkup below for your posts (open for 2 weeks through September 8) or share a comment here.
Here’s how you can join in this month’s challenge:
1. Pick 3 People to Chat With
Think about three people in your circle—family, friends, or coworkers—and schedule a time to talk about your One Word.
Conversations don’t have to be long or formal. They can happen over coffee, during a walk, or even on the phone. The key is simply to share your word and see what comes up.
2. Use These Conversation Starters
Not sure where to begin? Try asking a few of these questions to guide your conversation:
- How would you define [my One Word] in your own words?
- What do you think is the opposite of [my One Word]?
- How often and where do you hear [my One Word]—rarely, sometimes, or often—in your daily life?
- Do you have any ideas for how I can better live out [my One Word]?
I’ve been asking these questions to my own friends this month. Here are some insights I gained from their responses about my word Ripple.
- Define Ripple: water moving after something is thrown in; something small growing into something big
- Opposite of Ripple: calm; contained (<–I’m still thinking about that one!)
- Hear about Ripple: my grandson says it a lot; Fred Sanford on Sanford and Son drank Ripple as his alcoholic beverage of choice 🙂
- Ideas for Rippling: be aware of things you do that affect other people, good or bad; watch how small actions add up over time
3. Share Your Experience with Us
The best part of this challenge is that we get to learn from each other. After you’ve had your conversations, I’d love for you to share what you discovered. Link up a blog post below or post your reflections in our One Word Facebook group.
Or leave your word in the comments, and I’ll respond to you with my thoughts about it.
Why This Matters
Your One Word doesn’t have to stay private. When you invite others into your journey, it can:
- Spark new insights you haven’t considered before
- Strengthen your relationships by sharing something personal
- Encourage you to keep practicing your word in daily life
- Help you see how your word is showing up in the world around you
This challenge is one of many ways to bring your word to life—through real connection and reflection.
Share your word! Or let me know what you think about my word Ripple. Let’s grow together through our words. Leave a comment here.
Looking ahead: Our September linkup opens on Thursday, September 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
- Does “For Now” Have to Mean Forever? How to Avoid Settling for Less
- 4 Things I Loved, Learned, Celebrated, and Let Go of This Month
I recently compiled and edited my posts on 2023’s word (REST) and submitted them as a devotional for YouVersion, so I’m curious about the response and interaction of readers. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the way our words relate to one another across the pattern of years. REST led to GIVEN, which has led to GET WISDOM.
I’m not ready to start thinking about 2026!
Do let us know the reactions you get about your Rest devotional, Michele. That’s exciting. I love how one word often leads to the next. I often don’t see the patterns except in hindsight…
Too funny about Redd Foxx! Had you known about that connection b/f Mike shared it w/ me? I thought it was a hoot and likely a way you’d not thought about your beautiful word before!! I couldn’t tell from your post if this was Mike’s doing or your grandson’s. 🙂
xo
L
Jeff has been an avid fan of Sanford and Son for years. I think it’s the junk collection that is his draw. lol. Jeff’s family has many beautiful old things they’ve collected through the years from auctions and thrift stores and from items their own ancestor passed down through the years. It’s a ripple effect all its own. But not the Ripple drink. 🙂
I love your suggestions Lisa & the insights from your conversations about your WOTY – Ripple!
In my post this week I explored how a tumble rippled not only throughout my body but to memories of a lesson learnt in another season of my life.
Blessings, Jennifer
I appreciate you linking this post, Jennifer. It’s an important reminder to all of us that we can have different types of tumbles and learn different things from each.
I like the response to how you can better live out Ripple in your life, Lisa, “Be aware of things you do that affect other people, good or bad.”
Thanks, Lisa. I appreciate that you are intentional too about your own ripple effects that you are putting out into the world.
These are great ideas, Lisa. I’m going to try this out with friends and family and see what they say and share it on my blog. Thank you for the nudge!
Good! I hope you’ll get the chance to talk about Strong with those around you. I’ll look forward to reading about the reactions you get!
To late. Always to late. But I wrote a new blog about my One Word
You’re not too late for September’s linkup, Aritha! 🙂 I’d love for you to add the link to this post next Thursday when the September linkup goes live. I know others would appreciate reading your wisdom on pacing as much as I did.