By Guest Contributor extrodinaire Alece Ronzino, a great idea as we enter the New Year!

I’ve been should-ing on myself most of my life.

Growing up, I was the all-American good girl. I did well in school. I went on mission trips. I moved to Africa as a missionary when I was 19. I did everything “right”. By the book. The way I was supposed to, expected to, told to. The way I should.

But I quickly discovered that the treadmill of striving is exhausting. For every should I manage to check off, more get added to the list. I need to do more… I need to do better…  It’s a vicious cycle of defeat.

In my painful journey over the past few years, I realized how badly I needed to stop should–ing on myself. And I discovered how challenging it can be to get off that treadmill.

One of the ways I’ve found some freedom from the shoulds has been by ditching New Year’s Resolutions. I used to make a long list of goals I wanted to achieve in the new year, but never managed to live up to them (or—let’s be honest—even remember what they were). It only left me feeling like a failure.

So I began choosing just one word as I step into a new year.

One word that sums up who I want to be or an attribute I want to intentionally add to my life. And since it’s just one word, it’s easy to remember. I place reminders of it around my home and workspace, and I inevitably start seeing and hearing it everywhere, which helps me stay mindful of it. My one word isn’t another to-do list. It’s simply a guide as I make decisions, set plans, and go about my every day.

My word becomes the filter through which I made decisions, the lens through which I choose to see myself and others, and the compass pointing me to True North.

It’s not about something I want to do; it’s about who I want to become.

Since I began this practice, my words have taken me on quite a journey—exciting at times, and terrifying at others.

Risk.

Look.

Choose.

Enough.

Brave.

Wholehearted.

I’ve seen these words shape not only my years, but also myself. They’ve challenged me, inspired me, changed me. Such is the power of intentionality.

I’ve chosen badassery as my word for 2016, and with equal parts trepidation and curiosity, I am anxious to see how it will grow me this coming year.

Will you join me in choosing one word?

You’ll probably have a love/hate relationship with your word. That’s okay. If it doesn’t scare you at least a little bit, it’s probably not the right one. So… Together, let’s stop should-ing on ourselves. And let’s instead choose what we want to add to our lives this year.

What do you want to focus on in 2016? Who do you want to be? Join the global One Word 365 community.

From Reba: My One Word for 2016 is SURRENDER. I want to let go of striving and learn what it truly means to rest, trusting that all things are held together by a Power much greater than my own. I love Alece’s community of support. What will your word be?

After pioneering a nonprofit in South Africa for 13 years, Alece Ronzino now lives in Nashville, TN. She’s a nonprofit communications strategist, freelance copywriter/editor, and the founder of One Word 365. More importantly, she dances in the car, talks with her hands, and makes a mean guacamole. She blogs occasionally but candidly about searching for God in the question marks of life and faith. Follow Alece on Instagram and visit her blog, Grit and Glory.