At the beginning of each year, our Change Matrix staff selects a word that embodies how we plan to approach the next 12 months. These words not only set our intentions, but they help guide how we approach our work and personal lives as well. What’s your word for 2023?
Alina | Datsuzoku: This Japanese word means breaking from the everyday routine. I want to seek adventure and push myself into a discomfort zone. I feel like I’ve been cruising and letting things happen to me. I want to push myself into the discomfort rather than ending up there and feeling uncomfortable. It’s also a chance to break from the norm and not be complacent and okay with things just being the way that they are, but challenging my surroundings and others to do the same.
Angel | Present: Part of this is that I think there are a lot of potential changes coming up this year (pertaining to where I’m living and what I’m doing) and a lot of goals coming up. This can cause a lot of stress personally and professionally, which can cause anxiety and chaos. I want to be present in these times. I also want to be a present to the team and work toward our goals without overextending myself.
Chyenne | Yes: I want to say “yes” to more things this year. I’ve become such a homebody, and I want to start taking advantage of more opportunities and adventures.
Ciara | Faith: In 2023, I want faith that I have more persuasion, credence, and conviction. I want to learn to have more complete trust and confidence in what I hope for and assurance about what I do not see.
Elizabeth | Impermanence: 2022 was a hard year, but it brought up this thinking that what we do and who we are is impermanent – but in a way, this is freeing. It frees us to explore and to be. I want to think about what this means for me, my work, and how I stay in community.
Eve | Zest: Last year was a time of healing and reflection for me. In 2023, I want to approach things with energy and enthusiasm — and it’s a win-win because I also love citrus.
Evelyn | Mindfulness: For me, this applies to both my personal and professional life. I use post-its to remind myself of things throughout the day. One I have says to remember to be mindful and present. Letting things flow and not worrying about schedules or content (for presentations) allows people to learn more – presence over presentation. Mindfulness rewires our brains and helps us to do things differently.
Ghia | Relish: I want to relish every moment. We don’t always enjoy our moments, whether with family or in our work. I also think about this in terms of the condiment: I want to add flavor to everything I do, whether it’s my equity work or preaching on Sundays. I want to add a little relish to everything!
Jenny | Magical: This is about being part of a moment. It is expansive.
Lauren | Grounded: I want to be more present in moments in my life rather than wondering what is coming next. I also want to do more things outside and be grounded in nature.
London | Wabi-sabi: I wanted my word to remind me to set boundaries for myself and learn to say no. I also want to learn to release control. I want to explore more deeply what it means to fail; there is a lot to learn from failure and that’s where growth and innovation happen. I wanted a word that meant imperfection and beauty – the beauty in imperfection. There is no English word to encapsulate all of this, but the Japanese word (wabi-sabi) means to bring together balance and beauty.
Nancy | Water: There is lots of water in the Bay area (where I currently live)! There is also a Bruce Lee quote that I think of that means that you’re able to adapt to whatever’s thrown at you; it’s such an essential resource and necessity on this Earth. This kept sticking out to me for this year and what it means for my own health and wellbeing.
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee
Rachele | Shoshin: This is a word I use when facilitating groups. This is a term from a Buddhist concept that means having a beginner’s mind. I want to shed the preconceptions I have and approach things with eagerness. 2023 brings a lot of changes and I want to remind myself to sit in that space.
Sandra | Creativity: At the end of 2022, I was doing a creative project, and I was so engrossed in it. I had forgotten how happy that makes me. I’ve heard creativity described as a spiritual practice, and it’s a practice that has dropped off for me. In 2023, I want to do some more creative projects.
Scott | Impact: At this point in my life and career, I feel a sense of urgency to help change things, whether it’s for people or systems. Sometimes, this means being quiet through prayer, self-reflection; sometimes, it’s direct in how I partner with people and the work I do. For me, that impact means using my skills and privileges to uplift underserved voices.
Tennille | Amendable: I wanted something to represent that you can go with the flow and go with change. I also wanted something that says I can change my mind. I’m at a point in my life where I’m at multiple crossroads. I can change my decisions if I feel like I didn’t make the right one and be okay with that.
Tina | Health: I want to focus on every aspect of health in my life — physical, mental, spiritual. We also talk about the social determinants of health a lot, and I want to focus on checking in on my health every day.
Tonicia | Decolonizing: We have to work on decolonizing in order for families and communities to thrive. We need to decolonize our work, our content, and how we approach things. I am also working on showing up unapologetically, which is an act of decolonization itself.
Read our reflections on our words from 2022 here.
