Why Ignite is My Word for 2025
Jan 01, 2025
Welcome to the first blog of 2025!
I am so excited to kickstart this year by sharing something that I stumbled upon nine years ago.
A tradition of choosing a word to guide and support me throughout the year. This simple yet profound practice has guided me through some of the most beautiful and challenging moments of life, changing the way I approach life.
Rather than setting rigid goals this practice is about creating an intentional focus and flow—by choosing a single word, just one, to guide and support me throughout the year.
This word becomes a gentle whisper in the background, a lighthouse during storms and a reminder of what I choose to embody. A gentle nudge to stay aligned with my intentions and dreams. It is all about intention rather than perfection.
Before I dive into what ignite means, I invite you to a quick walk down memory lane.
Each year, a new word has found its way to me, guiding me with its own unique lessons and insights:
In 2022, my word was surrender. It invited me to let go of control and trust in the flow of life.
In 2023, my word was magic. It taught me to see life through a lens of wonder, possibility and belief in the unseen.
Last year, in 2024, my word was courage. Wowsers, this word sure did stretch me. It encouraged me to boldly step out of my comfort zone into the unknown and face challenges with an open and courageous heart.
Each word has built on the one before it, like stepping stones preparing me for each new chapter. Together, they have created a mosaic of growth, resilience and transformation.
Here I am in 2025, and the word that has chosen me is Ignite.
I am absolutely thrilled to share what this word means to me, how it found me and what it is already sparking in my life. More importantly, I hope this inspires you to reflect on what you want to ignite this year.
Let me take a moment to talk about this word.
Ignite.
I am sure hearing the world makes you feel alive?
Like the enticing flicker of a flame, the warmth of a bonfire or the spark of inspiration striking at just the right time.
If you have ever chosen a word of the year, you know it is not something you force. It is almost as if the word chooses you. Choosing a word is more like a feeling, a quiet nudge that keeps showing up until we say, “Okay, I hear you, I feel you, I see you.”
As I reflected on what I desire this year to feel like, the word ignite kept popping into my mind.
I saw it in moments of reflection, felt it during meditations, felt it while running and even heard it in conversations. It was like the universe was tapping me on the shoulder, saying, this is your year to ignite —to light the flame and let it burn brightly.
I kept returning to images of light and fire; flames, a candle flickering, a bonfire surrounded by connection and warmth, a wildfire and the first spark of an idea catching and growing into something unstoppable—symbols of light, warmth and connection.
It was more than just about dreaming big for myself. It was about igniting creativity, hope, love and courage in those around me. This word felt alive, buzzing with energy and potential, like a match waiting to be struck.
You might be thinking to yourself— ignite what, exactly?
This word feels so alive—like a crackling fire on a cold night, a spark catching dry wood or the glow of a single candle in the dark.
Choosing ignite felt like a natural progression from courage.
Last year, I found the courage to take bold steps, and I am now ready to ignite those steps—to turn dreams into action, passion into purpose and sparks into fabulously flickering flames.
The word ignite is rich with meaning.
At its core, it means:
š„ To set something on fire.
š„ To spark energy or arouse passion.
š„ To bring life or energy to something.
For me Ignite is about so much more than flames or fire. It is about honouring the flicker of light within—and using that light to inspire, connect and create positive change in myself and the world around me.
It’s about lighting up from the inside out:
Ignite my dreams to dream even bigger and imagine without limits.
Ignite my passion to do more of what makes me feel alive.
Ignite love, hope, creativity, and connection, not just for me, but for others too.
It is about honouring the flicker of light within me. The flicker that sometimes feels small but is always there, waiting to be nurtured.
Internally, ignite is about nurturing my inner spark—the intuition, passion and hope that guide me.
Externally, ignite is about sparking creativity, connection and change in the world around me.
Have you ever had those moments when you feel truly alive?
The moments where your whole body is buzzing with energy, your heart is wide open and everything just feels right?
That is exactly what ignite is all about for me this year.
Ignite isn’t just about external flames; it’s about the internal spark that fuels us. Following that flicker of inspiration and letting it grow into a full-blown flame that spreads like wildfire, while also about tending to that flame—making sure it continues to burn brightly rather than burn out.
Each of us carries an inner light—a unique combination of passion, purpose, love and intuition. Sometimes that light shines brightly; other times, it flickers quietly, waiting to be rekindled.
This year, in 2025, I am embracing ignite as a reminder to:
Ignite Connection: There is nothing more beautiful than sharing your light and watching it spark something in someone else.
Ignite Creativity: Using my light to inspire others, creating a ripple effect of positivity and growth.
Ignite Passion: Leaning into the projects, relationships and experiences that make me feel lit up and alive.
Igniting Dreams. This year, I am giving myself permission to dream free from limits and imagine the unimaginable.
Ignite Intuition: Trusting the small flickers of insight and following where they lead.
Igniting even more Passion: Whether it’s through my work, relationships, or creative projects, I want to lean into what lights me up.
Ignite is about tending to the flame rather than just feeling lit up all the time. Life isn’t always easy, and there are times when the fire feels dim. Sometimes, life throws storms our way, and our light can feel dimmed. I have learned that it is in those moments we have to protect and nurture our spark, even if it feels like a small flicker.
This year, I am committed to protecting and nurturing that light, no matter what.
When I think about ignite, I think about possibility.
What could life look like if I gave myself permission to dream without limits?
One of the most exciting aspects of ignite is its call to dream without limits.
This year, I am challenging myself to:
š„Lean into bold and brilliant ideas.
š„Envision possibilities beyond what feels comfortable or safe.
š„Use both synthetic and creative imagination to bring dreams to life (yes, imagination has styles!).
š„Give myself permission to experiment, expand and explore paths I am yet to walk.
Ignite is a reminder that even the smallest spark can grow into a roaring fire when nurtured with intention, because the thing about ignite is that it does not need or desire to wait for perfect conditions. It starts with the tiniest spark and grows as you nurture it.
Let’s get real for a moment: life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
Sometimes, life is walking through fires.
Life has its challenges and I have walked through my share of fires in the jungle of life.
The fires we walk through test us, change us and ultimately shape us.
In my own journey, I have walked through many fires:
š„Fires of self-doubt.
š„Fires of loss and grief.
š„Fires of uncertainty and fear.
These moments—though painful—have been some of my greatest teachers. They have shown me resilience, courage and the power of transformation.
Each fire I have walked through has ignited something new within me:
A deeper understanding of myself.
A greater capacity for empathy and deeper connection.
A courage to keep moving forward.
A renewed sense of purpose.
A newfound wisdom to know when to let go and when to fight for what truly matters.
Every fire has taught me something valuable. Each one has been an opportunity to rise stronger, brighter and more resilient.
This year ignite is a reminder to honour these lessons while encouraging me to use them as fuel to move forward boldly. The fires of life are not just about destruction, they are also about transformation. An opportunity to rise, to grow and to ignite something new within myself.
One of the most beautiful aspects of ignite is its contagious energy. The energy of sparking inspiration in others.
When we light our own flames, we naturally inspire others to do the same.
This year, I am committed to:
š„Sparking creativity, hope and passion in myself those around me, amplifying their energy and creativity.
š„Creating spaces for deeper connection and collaboration where people feel safe to share their light, and where ideas can ignite and grow.
š„Sharing my journey to spark hope and courage in others, even when it feels vulnerable.
When we share our light, it doesn’t diminish—it multiplies.
Ignition isn’t just personal—it’s relational.
It’s about building a world where we all feel lit up and alive, because when we come together our flames burn a whole lot brighter.
Choosing a word of the year isn’t always easy. Sometimes the right word doesn’t come immediately, and that is more than okay.
Finding your word of the year isn’t about forcing it; it’s about listening and allowing it to come naturally.
Here are a few simple steps on how you can invite your word to find you:
Reflect on What you Desire: What do you want more of in your life? Peace? Courage? Joy? Love? Confidence? Adventure? Clarity?
Pay attention to patterns: Notice if certain words, themes or feelings keep appearing in your journaling, conversations or thoughts.
Journal Freely: Write about your hopes and intentions for the year, and see which words or themes resonate most deeply.
Simplify: Your word doesn’t have to be perfect—it just needs to feel right for you.
When the right word comes, you will feel it.
When your word finds you, you will know.
It will light a spark of excitement or calm within you, signaling that it is the one, it is the word for you.
Have you chosen your word for 2025? I would love to hear it!
Share it in the comments or share your story to ignite a conversation about connection, dreams and inspiration.
If you have never chosen a word of the year, consider this your sign to start. Who knows?It might just change your life.
Your word doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to resonate with who you are, where you are and where you are going.
For me, ignite is more than just a word—it’s a way of being. It is about fanning the flames of passion, purpose and possibility. It is about walking through the fires of life with courage and using them to fuel growth. It is about setting my soul on fire, dreaming bigger, feeling more alive and sharing that energy with the world.
This year, I choose to ignite my heart, my dreams, my creativity and my connection with others.
I choose to rise, to create, to connect and to light the way for a bold, brilliant, wild and wonderful future.
Are you ready to ignite your year?
What will you ignite this year?
May we rise together, as we burn brightly, and make 2025 a year to thrive as we shine brighter than ever before.
