Can you believe it’s already 2017?! A new year is like a fresh start. It gives you the feeling that anything is possible. Like many, I began thinking of all the things I could do this year and the many changes and improvements I could make in my life. New Year’s resolutions help us to dream big, and I would like to accomplish big things this year. As I was thinking through the goals I have for 2017, I also thought of a word or phrase that would best sum up my hopes for this year. Choosing my one word provides a focal point for my year.
My one word for 2016 was “Purpose.” I needed to find some direction for my life after a time of many transitions. 2016 was also an incredibly difficult year. I have mentioned before that my stepson struggles with PTSD. This past year was our most difficult yet as we sought the best ways to help him. So, while I did spend much time thinking about what my purpose should be, I was too overwhelmed by all that we were going through to act on it. I felt stagnant.
As I reflected over these feelings, my one word for 2017 was clear: “Move.” Water becomes stagnant because it isn’t able to move. My life has felt much the same. While I was full of ideas and dreams, I was simply unable to act on them. Fears and doubts were constantly creeping in.
What if I fail?
What if this isn’t really what I should be doing?
It’s going to be too hard.
But it’s a new year. A fresh start. And I am ready to move. For me “Move” means actively working towards my goals. It means planning my days and evaluating my progress. It means replacing my negative thoughts with words of affirmation.
One of my main goals is to get this blog going again. I have so many things planned for this year. I will be focusing on a specific topic each month and will have a mini-series of sorts for posts on that topic. January’s topic is “Goals,” a very fitting way to start the new year. Watch for these posts coming on Tuesdays and Thursdays this month.
Tomorrow, I have a big announcement about the direction of the blog and a new aspect that I will be adding. I hope you’ll come back and check it out!
Have you chosen one word or phrase to focus on for your year? I would love to hear what ideas you have come up with and your reason for choosing!