Sovereign – Our Word of the Year 2025

Each year, we have a guiding word; our word of the year 2025 is sovereign.

After a year of challenges and growth, we’ve both decided to lean into the word sovereign. We want to share why this word feels like the perfect guiding principle for us and how it’s going to shape the way we move forward in the new year.

In a previous podcast episode, we discuss this process in more depth: Setting Intentions, Rather Than Resolutions. We’ve also talked about Why Your Year Didn’t Have to Be Perfect.

We create a word of the year as a couple because we are going through this life together. We may have different ways of approaching the word as a guide, but we agree on it nonetheless.

It also allows for accountability. According to a study at Michigan State University, people who create action plans and provide progress updates to a friend or partner achieve their desired goal or intention 76% of the time.

Word of the Year 2025: What Sovereign Means to Us

Sovereign means being the ruler of your own peace, energy, and life decisions.

We brainstormed several words that led us to sovereign: serenity, unbothered, calm, peace, steady, bliss, meditative, ease, gentleness, and contentment, just to name a few.

Sovereign seemed to tie it all together while leaving room for our personal journey.

For Shannon: sovereign means owning my peace, my time, and my energy. After everything that happened in 2024, I realized I needed to stop letting the world and other people dictate how I feel. It’s about having control over my reactions and boundaries and choosing calm over chaos.

For Gerry: For me, it’s about being grounded in my own choices. I want to step into the new year with confidence, not being swayed by outside noise or negativity. It’s about taking full responsibility for my own well-being and not letting anyone or anything shake that.

How to Embrace Sovereign

If you want to know more about how to embrace sovereign, or if you are curious about how we will use it as a guide throughout the year, we will tell you.

1. Define Your Boundaries

Make sovereignty a practice of saying “no” to things (and people) that don’t align with your peace. Be clear about your boundaries, and make it a priority to protect your time, energy, and emotional space.

This could mean cutting out negative influences or distractions that bring unnecessary drama into your life.

2. Cultivate Inner Calm

Sovereignty isn’t just about external control but also about mastering your own emotional state. Practice meditation, mindfulness, or journaling to stay connected to your inner peace.

When challenges arise, take a moment to breathe, regain your composure, and remind yourself that you are in control of how you respond.

3. Stand in Your Power

Take ownership of your choices, your actions, and your future. Make decisions based on what serves your highest good, not out of fear or external pressure.

You’re the ruler of your own life, so move forward with confidence and trust yourself.

4. Set Goals Around Self-Reliance

As a sovereign being, focus on your personal growth and self-sufficiency. What areas of your life need more attention or development?

Whether it’s emotional resilience, financial stability, or self-care, set goals that empower you to grow stronger and more independent.

5. Maintain Emotional Detachment

A key aspect of sovereignty is emotional detachment from drama or negativity. You can still be compassionate and engaged, but you don’t need to internalize other people’s issues or take on their emotional weight.

Remain rooted in your peace, and recognize when it’s time to step away from situations or people that threaten your calm.

6. Embody Calm Leadership

Sovereign doesn’t just mean internal peace—it’s also about being a strong, calm leader in your own life and for others.

Lead by example: show others that you can be grounded, unshaken, and thoughtful in difficult times. This could mean being more assertive about your needs or offering others the space to lead without taking on unnecessary drama yourself.

Daily Reminders for Your Word of the Year

Mantra: Create a mantra or affirmation to remind you of your word of the year. For us, sovereign, we would have something like, “I am the ruler of my peace, and I choose calm, strength, and clarity every day.”

Visual Cues: Surround yourself with reminders of your word, whether it’s a piece of art, a word, or a daily ritual that signals your commitment to owning your peace and life.

Reflection: Regularly reflect on your emotional state. Are you feeling swayed by external drama or staying centered in your calm? Use journaling or quiet time to check in with yourself and reinforce your mindset for your word of the year.

Sovereign “Ins and Outs” for the Year

We broke down the ins and outs for our word of the year 2025: sovereign.

Here’s What’s IN for 2025:

• Peaceful environments.
• Saying “no” unapologetically.
• Protecting our boundaries.
• Mindful decision-making.
• Self-care is a priority.
  Surrounding ourselves with uplifting people.
• Emotional resilience.
• Less is more: simplicity over excess.

Here’s What’s OUT for 2025:

• Drama and negativity.
• People-pleasing.
• Overcommitting.
• Toxic relationships and one-sided connections.
• Allowing others to drain our energy.
• Reacting emotionally instead of responding calmly.
• Feeling obligated to maintain relationships out of guilt.
• Comparing ourselves to others.
• Overwhelm from saying “yes” to everything.
• Clutter—mental, physical, or emotional.

Set an Intention For Yourself

So, in 2025, we’re taking control, keeping the peace, and living sovereignly. We encourage you to choose a word that resonates with you—something that will guide you through the year with intention.

We’d love to hear your word of the year 2025! Reach out, and let’s support each other on this journey toward a more peaceful, empowered life.

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions