ERICA DUNOMES

Hi, Beautiful Friends! It’s 2026. Can you believe it? Happy New Year to you! As you know, here on this platform, there is a theme that we participate in every new year. That theme is called “One Word.” Today, I will be sharing with you my one word for 2026.

Where did “One Word” originate?

The concept was made popular by motivational speaker Jon Gordon, and co-authors Dan Britton and Jimmy Page. Their reason was to encourage people like you and me to choose a single word to focus on with the intent that the word would serve as a fundamental guide for an entire year. Its purpose is to replace New Year’s resolutions with a more convenient and effective focus.

How I got started with “One Word”

I have been participating in the “One Word” theme for many years now. I adopted this idea of selecting one word when I became a blogger for Compassion. Back in the day, some few years ago, Compassion gave the opportunity to a lot of people who wanted to use their platform to blog about their ministry and encourage people to become sponsors for children in poverty. Sponsoring children in poverty has always been near and dear to my heart. So, when I saw that I could bless children in poverty in that way, I jumped on the opportunity. We would receive a specific writing prompt each month. One of those writing prompts was about choosing one word. Let’s just say that I’ve been choosing one word ever since.

Take a look at words I’ve had in the past:

2025 – Focus

2024 – Committed

2023 – Different

2022 – Growth

So, what’s my “One Word” for 2026?

MOMENTUM. Momentum is my word for this year.

For those of you who follow this blog, you already know that I was late receiving and sharing my one word (focus) for 2025. However, though I have chosen a new word for 2026, last year’s word actually ties in with this one. It’s one of the reasons why I chose momentum.

Having focus is very important. It matters more than you know.

As a human being, even one who happens to be a Christian, you will have seasons in your life where your focus just isn’t there. You’ll be unsure of what to do. Where to go. Who to talk to. This can cause you to feel like you’re stuck, even to the point of slowing down forward movement in your life.

Thanks be unto God that it is only a season. In other words, it will not last always, and it’s not a place you where you have to stay. With God’s grace, His wisdom, guidance, and prayer, you can regain focus and gain momentum. We only have to ask the One who’s been sent to help us.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” ~James 1:5

Stuck is the season that I found myself in last year. God, revealed to me the reason why as well as showed me what I needed to do to help me overcome it. As a result, in the health area of my life, I gained the strength and focus to lose twenty pounds before the end of the year. I gained momentum. Glory be unto God!

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” ~Matthew 7:7,8

Momentum is now my focus.

Now can you see how the words focus and momentum tie in with each other? It was focus that helped me to gain the momentum I so desperately needed. Momentum is what I want to keep alive and going this year. All year long.

Let me point something out.

As you can see, each year my word of focus for the year has not been the same. Does it have to change every year? I believe that depends on the individual. The focus is not to have a word that changes each year. The focus is to have something that serves as an anchor for your most important life decisions. So, if you choose a word or a specific word chooses you, you may find that it may be your one word for more than a year. Friend, that is perfectly okay. There are no set rules that are written in stone for adopting this as a yearly practice for your life.

So, what’s a word that you have chosen, or are thinking of choosing? Share with me in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you as well as pray with you concerning your word.