Every January for the past several years I've chosen a word for the year. Just one word to act as a guide, a reminder of the intention I set at the start of the year for how I want to be and feel in the coming months. 2017's word was connect (loved this word and it served me well) and in previous years I've chosen balance, share, grow and positive.

For 2018 my word is visible.

I battled with this word for a little while, it felt too plain, too nuts and bolts, not 'magic' enough to be my word for the year. Then I realised that the word had popped into my head fully-formed, fleshed-out and it's exactly the word to guide me through the year. It's because the word came to me so completely that I think I've struggled with it. Surely it can't be that easy? Surely I need to ponder and mull over and try on different words for size to see how they fit? It can't be that a word pops into my head and I'm done, word for the year sorted, can it? 

Well, it seems it can. I think visible is precisely the word to see me through 2018. It doesn't feel particularly comfortable, becoming more visible in the world is going to take some willingness to put myself out there, to step further into the light, I'll need to unearth some bravery lurking within me. 

But I believe it's what I need to do the work I'm so passionate about and it's what I want to do. I want to empower you to live the full life you want, to free yourself from getting bogged down in overthinking, to spend less time stuck in your head worrying and more time enjoying your life with everyone and everything that make it unique to you.

And I can't do that if I don't speak up, share my knowledge and experience, and show my face, figuratively and sometimes literally. This isn't about radically going against my nature and trying to be someone I'm not, I'm an ingrained introvert and that's not about to change any time soon. But I am going to push myself (kindly) out of my comfort zone and into my stretch zone by piping up that I have something of value to contribute, rather than saying it quietly and hoping someone hears. I'm going to chat more on Instagram Stories and Facebook Live, make more recordings (audio and visual) for my e-courses, I hope to write more for publications, and I'm even going to give a talk at the Mindful Living Show in June! (I have other plans in the making, I'm just not quite ready to share them yet…!) 

Because, when we get to the crux of the thing, how can I help you, how can I empower you, how can I give you the tools to live your life as you want if I don't shine a light and make them visible?!

So, that's my word for 2018. Do you choose a word to keep you on track through the year? If you'd like some help with picking a word take a look at Susannah Conway's free course, Find Your Word, or Ali Edwards' One Little Word. I'd love to know what word you come up with.