At the beginning of each year, the Change Matrix (CM) staff selects a word that sets our intentions for the year ahead. At the end of that year, we collectively reflect on how the word has guided or shaped our lives throughout the year before picking a new word in January. In 2022, we’ve had several new staff members join CM. Though they joined after we chose our words, they identified words that they felt guided their year as well. Read the reflections of our 2022 words below:
Alina | Embrace – I want to do more that is uninhibited by anxiety. I want to embrace opportunities that come my way and just say yes to the things that I want to do.
Reflection: I fluctuated in success in embracing things this year and that is ok. I am trying to be kind with myself about progress.
Angel | Change
Reflection: I feel like this word picked me. Some changes were planned and some were not. This year, I learned that there is only so much control over change and pace. I want to continue self-exploration around changes happening and my ability to be okay with changes.
Chyenne | Release — I want to work on releasing stress and things that are burdensome.
Reflection: I am someone who likes to be in control; this year I worked on releasing the need to be in control all the time or releasing the tension that comes with not being able to be in control. Releasing stress was also a big thing for me this year, health-wise, and I have been working on relaxing more.
Ciara | Understand
Reflection: I am learning to be more understanding of others, circumstances, desires, and passions. If I have an understanding of what I desire, what I need, where I am going, and who I am, I can exude that in my professional and personal encounters with others.
Elizabeth | Generosity — I intend to face 2022 with generosity, which includes wholeheartedness and humility.
Reflections: This year, I felt generosity from others and was reminded to offer generosity in return. I also focused on being generous to myself.
Eve | Rejuvenation — For me, 2022 will be healing-based and recovery-focused, as well as restorative.
Reflections: I did a lot of intentional rest and self-care in 2022. I made time to focus on not only my physical but my mental health as well. I built up a lot of great habits this year, and I intend to continue them throughout 2023.
Evelyn | Growth
Reflections: I grew both personally and professionally in 2022. With the support of others, I have grown in passion and non-passion areas. I realized that I could do a lot and I’ve been taking on new things and excelling.
Ghia | Patience — I want to practice patience with myself and others, within the process of change.
Reflections: This word never gets old with three children and working in systems change. I will always need more patience to stay committed to personal life and work.
Jenny | Flourish — This feels like a good word for me (professionally and non-professionally). I think about plants sitting on the windowsill that are flourishing despite a tough environment, and they’ve reminded me to look around at the environment that surrounds me and flourish.
Reflections: My word of the year, flourish, was a reminder to me of how we can find serenity despite feeling overwhelmed by life.
Lauren | Trust
Reflections: Throughout 2022 I experienced a lot of change — some of these life changes were intentionally sought out (like starting a new job and moving to a new state), but other changes were unexpected. No matter the reason, change can be challenging to adapt to. Throughout these transitions, my mantra became “trust the universe and yourself,” which to me means trust that everything would happen if and when it needed to, and that I could handle it!
London | Love — Love should embody what you want to be. Love should drive everything you do, what you say, and how you act. In 2022, I will also prioritize self-love.
Reflections: This word came up over and over again this year — it guided my interactions on a daily basis with colleagues, family, and friends. This word will stay with me beyond this year.
Nancy | Practice — I will be setting up more consistent and intentional daily practices to be mindful this year.
Reflections: 2022 has brought a lot of change and I am working on the things that help me stay true to myself. I have been able to set up practices that serve myself, like daily jogging.
Rachele | Centered — I will focus on grounding myself and staying focused on things that are important, with those who are important to me.
Reflections: Being centered has been challenging this year, but I have found moments to focus on the practice of centering myself. I have found that spending intentional time around breath has been helpful — it is something just to do during stressful or challenging times.
Sandra | Joy — In 2022, I intend to prioritize things that bring me joy.
Reflections: I bought a joy jar and wrote down joyful moments that I experienced to store in the jar. I will read them at the end of the year to remind me of the small and big things that brought me joy.
Scott | Consciousness
Reflections: I am working on reclaiming self and purpose, giving time to sit in deeper questions and raising my own consciousness. This year, I tried to spend more time in prayer and quiet.
Suganya | Renew — My 2022 will be focused on renewal — to be whole, to move from where we have been to a new state of being.
Reflections: In 2020 and 2021, I experienced a lot of loss and couldn’t be present. Renewal means coming out of that space and picking yourself up. I have gone back to flowers as a source of joy.
Tennille | Acceptance — This word is a remember to accept change and not stress when change can’t happen.
Reflections: I also added ‘thrive’ to my word this year and this year’s mission was to do more than survive — to thrive with passion. I came out of comfort zone in 2022 and thrived.
Tina | Transform — I intend to lean into transformation and change this year.
Reflections: Every aspect of my life has transformed in a good way this year. It is all new, and I am leaning into change and transformation as I evolve.
Tonicia | Resistance — I will be practicing resistance in the form of self care, love, rejuvenation, and being intentional about words and actions that I take in and deposit.
Reflections: This year, I focused on intentional self care and love. I was careful about who I surround myself with and how I surround myself with good work and laughter.
