What Will Your Word Be For 2026?

A brand-new year is upon us. And with it comes fresh opportunities, new lessons, and sacred invitations to grow into the women we are becoming. As we step into 2026, I want to share a simple yet deeply powerful practice, one that does not overwhelm, rush, or pressure you, but gently guides your steps throughout the year ahead. It is choosing a word for the year. One word. A word that becomes your anchor. Your reminder. Your compass. Your declaration. As you read this, I invite you to keep this question close to your heart: What will your word for 2026 be? Words carry weight. They shape how we think, how we speak, and how we show up in the world. Words are not just sounds we release into the air; they are seeds. They plant something in our spirit. They take root. And over time, they grow.

During one of our Season of Greatness gatherings, a membership community where women come together to support one another to grow, we reflected on the power of words. Women shared words they felt called to live by: Courage. Rest. Discipline. Faith. Joy. Clarity. Focus. Heal. What I love about choosing a word is that it does not overwhelm us the way long lists of resolutions often do. A word gives direction without pressure. It offers focus without rigidity. And it grounds us when life gets loud and unpredictable. Because if we are honest, when we are standing at a crossroad, navigating change, or carrying the weight of many responsibilities, sometimes all we need is a whisper. A reminder. A gentle nudge. Just one word.

For 2026, my word is WALK. Let me share how that word was placed on my heart. As many of you know, 2025 was a challenging year for me physically. It was marked by health issues, recovery periods, and moments when I was forced to slow down even when my mind wanted to move faster than my body allowed. In the stillness of that season, God whispered something simple yet profound: “Wendy, I want you to walk closer with Me.” That whisper became my word. WALK. And God revealed it to me for three very intentional reasons. First, a closer walk with Him. I sensed God inviting me into a deeper relationship not one marked by rushing, striving, or running ahead, but by walking beside Him. Walking implies intimacy. It requires trust in His pace, His timing, and His direction, even when the full path ahead is not clear.

Second, a physical walk toward healing. After a year of recovery, my body needs gentle movement, strength, and consistency. WALK reminds me that healing is not always dramatic or immediate. Sometimes healing looks like putting one foot in front of the other, day after day, choosing faithfulness over perfection. Third, being mindful that others are watching how you walk. People do not just listen to what we say, they watch how we live. They observe our actions, our choices, our integrity, and our faith in motion. WALK reminds me that my life is a message and that my steps should align with what I teach and what I believe. So yes, WALK is my word. But it is also my assignment.

Now, I want to gently turn the question toward you. What word is calling you? What word feels like it is whispering to your spirit? What word keeps surfacing in your prayers, your thoughts, or your conversations? Maybe your word is heal, because this is the year you finally tend to what hurts. Maybe it is courage, because you have been shrinking for too long. Maybe it is restoration, because something broken needs rebuilding. Maybe it is focus, because distractions have been pulling you off course. Or maybe it is believe, because deep down, you know it is time to trust yourself again. Whatever your word is, give yourself permission to let it rise naturally, without forcing it. Let your heart answer before your mind tries to overthink it. Once you choose your word, begin using it intentionally. Write it in your journal. Place it on your mirror. Make it the background on your phone. Say it out loud each morning. Let it guide your decisions by asking, does this align with my word? And when fear or doubt challenges you, whisper your word back to yourself. I would love to hear from you and learn what word is on your heart. #CoachWendy #thepurposepartner #WordFor2026

Wendy is the Purpose Partner helping women go from Crossroads to Confidence, from Shaken to Unshakable, from Purpose to Power. To learn more visit WendyGladney.com and ForgivingForLiving.org