My Word of the Year for 2026: “Profound”

I need to confess I am not a big “word of the year” person. I also need to confess: I did not choose the word “profound.” It chose me. And honestly… at first, it annoyed me.

You know how people pick their “word of the year” with this serene, Pinterest-worthy glow? They light a candle, sip herbal tea, and whisper something like “flourish” or “intentional” into the universe. Meanwhile, I’m over here being stalked by a word that sounds like it belongs in a philosophy textbook or a college freshman’s overcaffeinated essay.

“Profound.” Really, that’s the word that kept popping up everywhere — in conversations, in books, in sermons, in random quotes on social media. It was like the universe was tapping me on the shoulder, saying, “Hey. You. Pay attention.”

And my response was basically, “Can I not just pick something cute like ‘cozy’ or ‘simplify’ like a normal person?”

But the word wouldn’t leave me alone.

The Annoyance Phase

Let’s be honest: “profound” is one of those words that feels a little… pretentious. Like it’s trying too hard. It’s the literary equivalent of someone wearing a turtleneck and quoting Kierkegaard at a dinner party.

Every time I heard it, I’d roll my eyes a little. Every time it showed up in a sentence, I’d think, Okay, calm down.

But then it kept showing up. And showing up. And showing up.

Finally, I gave in. If this word was going to haunt me, I might as well figure out why.

The Deep Dive (Because of Course I Had to Know)

So I did what any reasonable person does when a word becomes a personal nemesis: I looked up its etymology.

And that’s when everything shifted.

“Profound” comes from the Latin pro (“forward”) and fundus (“bottom”). It literally means “to go to the bottom of something.” To go deep. To get beneath the surface. To reach the foundation.

Suddenly the word wasn’t pretentious anymore. It was purposeful.

It wasn’t about sounding wise. It was about being willing to dig.

It wasn’t about lofty thoughts. It was about rooted living.

It wasn’t about being impressive. It was about being honest, grounded, and willing to explore what truly matters.

And just like that, the word that annoyed me became the word I needed.

Why “Profound” Is My Word for 2026

This year, I want to stop skimming the surface of things — conversations, decisions, spiritual life, relationships, even my own thoughts. I want to go deeper. I want to pay attention. I want to notice what’s beneath the obvious.

I want to ask better questions. I want to listen more carefully. I want to live with intention instead of autopilot.

Not in a heavy, dramatic way — but in a grounded, meaningful way.

“Profound” isn’t about being deep for the sake of depth. It’s about refusing to settle for shallow living.

It’s about digging into what matters. It’s about finding the bottom — the foundation — and building from there.

So Here We Go

2026 is my year of the profound. Not because I’m trying to sound enlightened, but because I’m finally ready to stop ignoring the word that’s been following me around like a persistent toddler tugging on my sleeve.

If this word keeps showing up, maybe it’s because something in me is ready to grow deeper roots.

And honestly That feels… well… Profound.