Every January, we’re told to dream big. Set ten goals. Transform everything. Be a new you. But what it, instead of an overwhelming list of resolutions that quietly fade by February, you chose just three words to guide your year?
Not rigid goals. Not pressure-filled promises. Just three simple, powerful words that gently steer you toward the life you want to create.
Why Three Words Work (When Resolutions Don’t)
Traditional goal-setting often sets us up for disappointment. We create specific, measurable outcomes—lose 20 pounds, save $10,000, run a marathon—and when life inevitably throws curveballs, we feel like we’ve failed.
Three guiding words work differently. They’re flexible enough to adapt as your life changes, yet clear enough to help you make aligned decisions throughout the year. They create a framework for growth without the suffocating pressure of perfection.
Think of them as your year’s north star—not a rigid destination, but a guiding light.
How to Choose Your Three Words
Step 1: Reflect on What You Need
Light your favorite incense or palo santo and create a quiet moment. Ask yourself:
•How do I want to feel this year?
•What does my energy need more of?
•What patterns am I ready to release?
•Where do I want to direct my attention?
Step 2: Brainstorm Freely
Write down any words that resonate. Don’t overthink it. Words like: rest, create, connect, play, release, simplify, explore, nourish, boundaries, courage, softness, abundance, presence.
Step 3: Choose Your Three
Look for words that:
•Feel energizing (not obligatory)
•Cover different areas of your life
•Leave room for interpretation
•Resonate deeply in your body when you say them aloud
Example combinations:
•Rest • Create • Connect
•Release • Nourish • Play
•Simplify • Explore • Trust
•Ground • Expand • Flow
Bringing Your Words to Life
Once you’ve chosen your three words, make them sacred through ritual:
Create a Physical Reminder
Write your words on beautiful paper. Place them where you’ll see them daily—your mirror, desk, or altar. Some people create vision boards, others engrave them on bracelets or stones.
Set an Herbal Incense Ritual
Light your herbal incense and speak your three words aloud. Let the smoke carry your intention into the universe. This doesn’t have to be elaborate—just a mindful moment of commitment to yourself.
Use Them as Decision Filters
Throughout the year, when faced with opportunities or choices, ask: “Does this align with my three words?”
•Invitation to a draining obligation? Check against your words.
•New project opportunity? Run it through your filter.
•How to spend your weekend? Let your words guide you.
The Beauty of Flexibility
Here’s the magic: your three words mean different things in different seasons.
If one of your words is “CREATE”:
•In winter, it might mean journaling and dreaming
•In spring, it could be planting a garden
•In summer, perhaps painting or crafting
•In fall, maybe cooking new recipes
The word stays constant, but how you express it adapts to where you are.
Monthly Check-Ins: Staying Connected to Your Words
Set a monthly reminder to revisit your three words. Light your incense, grab your journal, and reflect:
•How did I embody each word this month?
•Which word needs more attention?
•How can I honor these words in the month ahead?
This gentle practice keeps you aligned without the pressure of tracking metrics or hitting targets.
What This Isn’t
This practice isn’t about:
•Productivity optimization
•Doing more
•Being perfect
•Achieving specific outcomes
It’s about intentional living. It’s about creating a year that feels good, not just one that looks good on paper.
Your Three-Word Ritual
Ready to choose your words? Download our Intention Setting Worksheet below to guide you through the process with journaling prompts, word lists, and reflection questions.
Then create your own ritual:
1.Set aside 30 mindful minutes
2.Light your favorite incense or palo santo
3.Work through the worksheet
4.Choose your three words
5.Speak them aloud and let yourself feel them
Permission to Change Course
One final gift: you can change your words mid-year if needed. This isn’t a binding contract. If June arrives and you realize one of your words no longer serves you, release it with gratitude and choose a new one.
The goal isn’t rigidity—it’s conscious, compassionate living.
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What three words are calling to you? We’d love to hear them. Share in the comments or tag us @goodlivingisglam with your three words for the year ahead.
And remember: there’s no wrong way to do this. Trust your intuition. Trust your energy. Trust that you already know what you need
And remember: there’s no wrong way to do this. Trust your intuition. Trust your energy. Trust that you already know what you need
