Discipline. Yes, discipline is my word for this year. For the past five years, I have embraced the concept of having a word of the year, and it has served as my guiding light annually. Before I delve into more details about my word, let's understand the logic behind this amazing concept.
The concept of selecting a "word of the year" has gained significant popularity in recent years. It serves as a focal point, a guiding light, and a source of inspiration for many professionals. Let's explore the importance of having a "word of the year" backed by research in neuroscience and psychology.
A Bit of Neuroscience
Brain plasticity, or neuroplasticity, refers to the brain's remarkable ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This adaptability allows the brain to learn from experiences, adjust to new situations, and recover from injuries. Neuroplasticity involves both synaptic plasticity (changes in the strength of connections between neurons) and neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons) (Mateos-Aparicio & Rodríguez-Moreno, 2019).
The brain's plasticity is significantly influenced by focused attention and intention. Setting a word of the year helps reinforce neural pathways associated with positive habits and mindsets. This focused attention on a single concept or word can lead to more robust cognitive frameworks for achieving goals (Davidson & McEwen, 2012).
Furthermore, Steven Kotler, in his book "The Rise of Superman" (2014), discusses how intention and goal setting can activate the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for higher-order thinking and planning. Individuals harness the brain's natural ability to concentrate and align their actions with their aspirations by choosing a word of the year.
And Psychological Benefits
From a psychological perspective, the word of the year is a powerful tool for self-reflection and personal growth. A study by Emmons and McCullough (2003) found that individuals who practice Gratitude and reflective thinking tend to have higher levels of well-being and life satisfaction. Individuals can cultivate a positive mindset and improve their overall mental health by selecting a word that resonates with their goals and values.
Additionally, Schwartz and Sharpe (2006) highlight the importance of practical wisdom and decision-making in their research on virtue ethics. Having a word of the year helps individuals make more thoughtful and consistent decisions that align with their long-term values and goals.
Intrigued, What Happens with a Word?
Words hold incredible power when processed in the mind; they transform from mere letters or sounds into meaningful concepts. If you don't process words in your mind, they will be nothing more than a jumble of letters or sounds. Talking about brain plasticity, you may now think, how does our mind interpret words and phrases? How the mind creates meaning is called cognitive semiotics, and one crucial thing to be aware of is we think in metaphors.
Cognitive semiotics explores how humans create meaning through signs, symbols, and language, integrating linguistics, psychology, and neuroscience insights. This interdisciplinary field examines how our cognitive processes shape our understanding of the world through metaphorical thinking (Zlatev, 2012). Metaphors are not only linguistic expressions but also fundamental cognitive structures that shape our perceptions and actions (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980).
Research in cognitive semiotics has shown that metaphors are deeply embedded in our conceptual system, influencing everything from everyday language to abstract reasoning (Gibbs, 1994). The brain's ability to form and use metaphors is linked to its plasticity, allowing it to adapt and reorganise based on new experiences and information (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980).
In simple terms, metaphors impact your brain, which is how it interprets (metaphor) information. It's the way you think. This is why your behaviour may be influenced by the imagery surrounding you (priming).
Brain priming is a psychological phenomenon where exposure to one stimulus influences the response to a subsequent stimulus, often without conscious awareness. Essentially, it prepares your brain to process information more quickly and efficiently (Bargh & Chartrand, 2000). For example, if you see the word "doctor," you might recognise the word "nurse" faster than if you saw the word "bread" first.
Impact in the Corporate World
In the context of leadership synergy, brain plasticity plays a crucial role. Leaders who adapt their thinking and behaviour in response to new challenges and opportunities are better equipped to inspire and guide their teams. By leveraging the brain's plasticity, leaders can develop new skills, improve their decision-making, and foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation within their organisations (Mateos-Aparicio & Rodríguez-Moreno, 2019; Hannah et al., 2013; Voss et al., 2017; Sivalingam et al., 2017).
In corporate cultures, the word of the year can serve as a unifying theme that drives organisational culture and performance. Companies with a strong sense of purpose and alignment tend to have higher employee engagement and productivity (Harter, Schmidt, & Hayes, 2002). By adopting a word of the year, businesses can foster a sense of shared Vision and direction among their employees.
Moreover, Collins and Porras (1994), in their seminal work "Built to Last," argue that visionary companies often have clear and compelling core ideologies that guide their strategies and operations. A word of the year can encapsulate these core values, providing a tangible point of reference for decision-making and goal-setting.
Few Examples
Several experts have embraced the concept of the word of the year, using it as a tool for personal and professional development.
- Afeef Hussain, Leadership Coach and Trainer, Maldives, set his word of the year as Gratitude, Excellence, and Focus for (2021, 2022, and 2023 respectively).
- Oprah Winfrey proclaimed her word of the year was Purposeful on her Vision 2020 tour.
- Becca Wood set her word for the year 2022 as Vision. She said, "Without a vision, there is no leadership (in my mind) because a leader's primary responsibility is to set a vision and to help the community achieve it."
- Melina Palma, The Brainy Business CEO's word of the year for 2023 was Core.
- Robert Rose, The Marketing Guru, chose Gratitude for the year 2025.
My Story
I learned the concept in 2018, and for four consecutive years, I have used Gratitude as my word of the year. I was going through deep and painful events, and being in a state of Gratitude kept me grounded. My life had so many bumps and went from being normal to being continuously overwhelmed to severe depression, and at times, I saw my life as meaningless. But Alhamdulillah, Ma Sha Allah, Allah SWT guided me immensely and gave me more than I asked for.
In 2022, my word of the year was Create. With a focus on recreating my life, I was able to transition from being employed to becoming a solopreneur. I also designed my signature program, Dewdrop Leadership Certified Coach, a six-month intensive program that helps individuals crush their limiting beliefs and transforms them into Certified Coaches, Speakers, and Trainers.
My word for 2023 was Indistractable after doing a master class with Nir Eyal. With that mindset and focus, I created Dewdrop Writers and published my first book while helping four students publish their books. Along with my PCOMA team, I hosted the first edition of the Global Coaching and Speaking Symposium in the Maldives and did my first interview on Heyyambo on TVM.
As I began 2024, I was completely disoriented. I ignored all my personal development tools and forgot to set a word for the year. By the time I started reflecting on my life in late November, I was at a loss. My business and personal life were in disarray, and I was in misery. I lacked direction and had lived the whole year, barely surviving the day, almost every day. Losing myself was partly because of geographical placement. Being on a dependent Visa, I was told I could not do any professional work in the new location. I had no physical encounters and was working indoors within the four walls of my office, 24/7. Some days, I tell myself, just be grateful for what you have. As I fought the battle of adjusting and accepting my new reality, I was also dealing with several challenges with my children's health. The excess cortisol grabbed its opportunity, and I ended up mostly in the hospital. I was choiceless and helpless on most occasions, and my only reliance was on Allah. Alhamdulillah, I made it through the year. Alhamdulillah, Ma Sha Allah, for my husband's unwavering support, care, and love.
The challenges don't discredit the incredible things that happened in my life. (Wait for another article, yes!). The observations were only about what happened when I didn't have a word of the year as my north star.
In November 2024, I decided to make 2025 an intentional year and live every day as if it were my last and make it the best day of my life. My word of the year is, therefore, discipline. By discipline, I mean to be consistent in the 11 areas of my life, with a special focus on my spiritual excellence In Sha Allah. It also means I plan my week and give my best shot to live within the plan. Indeed, consistency is the backbone of mastery, and I am on a mission of excellence.
As I end week two of the year, I have achieved 65% of this target, AlHamdulillah, Ma Sha Allah.
How do you do it?
Setting a word of the year is easy. If you have done the annual audit of 2024 using my HIGHLIGHT framework, you would now be very clear about the areas of improvement.
- What is one behaviour/attitude you want to improve on?
- If you do one thing daily, what would it be?
- Choose a word that resonates with the behaviour/attitude. Make it fun; search for synonyms and fix the one you love most.
- Define what you mean by this word. Does it align with what you want to achieve, and can you be consistent in doing it?
- Do a visualization: Close your eyes and imagine yourself at the end of the year. Is the behaviour/attitude ingrained in your nervous system? Rewind back and see the journey from the end of the year to today. How was the experience? Was it rewarding?
- Now create posters, stickers, post-it notes, alarms/wall-papers on your phone with the word
- Daily look at it, make the intention to live the word.
Conclusion
In summary, cognitive semiotics provides a framework for understanding how we construct meaning and navigate the world through metaphorical thinking. This field underscores the importance of metaphors in shaping our cognitive processes and highlights the brain's remarkable adaptability.
Therefore, selecting a word of the year is more than just a trend; it is a powerful tool rooted in neuroscience, psychology, and corporate strategy. A word of the year can enhance cognitive function, promote psychological well-being, and drive organisational success by providing a focal point for attention and action.
I advise picking a word of the year to maximise leadership synergy if you have not already done it. You can improve your chances of effectively living that word by taking the time to consider what you want to focus on this year and then purposefully surrounding yourself with it. In Sha Allah, I will do another article to guide you in setting a word of the year.
References
- Bargh, J. A., & Chartrand, T. L. (2000). The mind in the middle: A practical guide to priming and automaticity research. In H. Reis & C. Judd (Eds.), Handbook of Research Methods in Social and Personality Psychology (pp. 253-285). Cambridge University Press.
- Collins, J., & Porras, J. I. (1994). Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. HarperBusiness.
- Davidson, R. J., & McEwen, B. S. (2012). Social influences on neuroplasticity: Stress and interventions to promote well-being. Nature Neuroscience, 15(5), 689-695. doi:10.1038/nn.3093
- Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of Gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377-389. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.377
- Gibbs, R. W. (1994). The poetics of mind: Figurative thought, language, and understanding. Cambridge University Press.
- Hannah, S. T., Waldman, D. A., Balthazard, P. A., Jennings, P. L., & Thatcher, R. W. (2013). The Psychological and Neurological Bases of Leader Self-Complexity and Effects on Adaptive Decision-Making. American Psychologist, 98(3), 393-411. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032257
- Harter, J. K., Schmidt, F. L., & Hayes, T. L. (2002). Business-unit-level relationship between employee satisfaction, employee engagement, and business outcomes: a meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(2), 268-279. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.87.2.268
- Kotler, S. (2014). The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance. New Harvest.
- Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. University of Chicago Press.
- Mateos-Aparicio, P., & Rodríguez-Moreno, A. (2019). The Impact of Studying Brain Plasticity. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 13(66). https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2019.00066
- Rose, R. (2025). Get in the Flow: What's Your Word for 2025? Retrieved from Content Marketing Institute: https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/articles/word-new-year/
- Schwartz, B., & Sharpe, K. E. (2006). Practical Wisdom: Aristotle Meets Positive Psychology. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7, 377-395. doi:10.1007/s10902-005-3651-y
- Sivalingam, S., Thomas, P., & Karthikeyan, C. (2017). A Conceptual Study on Application Of Neuro Plasticity for Leadership Development: A Leadership Perspective. International Journal of Management, IT & Engineering, 7(7), 103-133. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10472.19200
- Voss, P., Thomas, M. E., Cisneros-Franco, J. M., & Villers-Sidani, É. (2017). Dynamic Brains and the Changing Rules of Neuroplasticity: Implications for Learning and Recovery. Frontiers in Psychology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01657
- Zlatev, J. (2012). Cognitive semiotics: An emerging field for the transdisciplinary study of meaning. Public Journal of Semiotics.
