83 Power Words for Military Spouses in the New Year

An entire new year. What possibilities will the next 365 days bring? The next 10 years?

The new year always fills me with possibility… and a little bit of dread and pragmatism. After all, I’m not new to this rodeo. There’s the initial excitement of planning all of the new things that I’ll do and be in the new year. I’ve made resolutions. Chosen words that are supposed to define and center my year. But I rarely follow through with them after a few days or a few weeks. Life gets in the way and I end up being the same person with the same habits and flaws in the new year that I was in the last.

Maybe you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Something always comes up. The resolutions go by the wayside. The words go out the window. The intentionality that we start the year seems to fade away by February. A PCS or deployment happens. A kid ends up in the hospital. There are permission forms to sign and rent checks to send and suddenly it’s June and the new year doesn’t feel so new. It feels worn in and we feel worn down. And there are birthday presents to buy and vacations to plan and jobs to interview for and then it’s October.

And November.

And December.

And it seems like nothing has changed from year to year.

Bu I think that there really is power in choosing a word (and maybe even a resolution, too). Even if it’s hard to stay focused the whole year. Even if that resolution doesn’t seem to be practical by March

This year, I’m going to be optimistic and plan my resolutions and my words and my habits and really try this time around. Because it is a new year. And what do we have if we are not optimistic and hoping for something better? We need the new year and a clean slate, even if we know it won’t stay so new and shiny and produce a brand new us.

If you’re thinking about having a word for this brand new year, here are a few examples to get you reflecting on the past year and thinking forward:

1. Love
2. Hope
3. Peace
4. Joy
5. Discipline
6. Abundance
7. Help
8. Support
9. Focus
10. Energy
11. Health
12. Wellness
13. Mercy
14. Kindness
15. Optimism
16. Knowledge
17. Enjoyment
18. Grace
19. Purpose
20. Listen
21. Integrity
22. Forgive
23. Release
24. Flexibility
25. Understanding
26. Patience
27. Intentional
28. Authentic
29. Story
30. Ethical
31. Bold
32. Dare
33. Gratitude
34. Contentment
35. Connection
36. Stillness
37. Strength
38. Surrender
39. Family
40. Friends
41. Consistent
42. Confidence
43. Loyalty
44. Healing
45. Home
46. Courage
47. Empower
48. Truth
49. Thankful
50. Unconditional
51. Fearless
52. Build
53. Blessed
54. Communication
55. Gentleness
56. Potential
57. Rest
58. Usefulness
59. Distance
60. Progress
61. Intention
62. Start
63. Perseverance
64. Adventure
65. Accomplish
66. Celebrate
67. Direction
68. Challenge
69. Balance
70. Revisit
71. Better
72. Delight
73. Sacred
74. Improve
75. Creative
76. Align
77. Embrace
78. Mindfulness
79. Exuberance
80. Life
81. Thoughtful
82. Pause
83. Brave

Start your new year off right:

• 5 Ways to Make Your Military Life Better in the New Year
• Powerful Resolutions for Military Spouses (That Will Last Past January 1!)
• 46 Deployment Bucket List Goals for the New Year
• 5 Things Military Spouses Are Not Doing This Year