Here we are in the new year – 2017!     

There is a preponderance of expectancy, hope, dreams, and reflections that abound on most peoples’ minds when a new year comes around. There also may be regrets and disappointments thrown in. For me personally, I intentionally try to keep my focus on the former rather than the latter negatives. Why? Because as most know, when we allow ourselves to stew and grovel in the ills of the past year, we can impede on the potential possibilities that lie before us in…

• Making progress
• Moving forward!
• Facilitating change to make our world a better place for me & others

So….. what does this look like?

For me, it comes in the form of a word (or rather, a phrase) to help define and color my decisions, thought processes, etc. so that no matter how small, another leaf was turned. A stone was moved. A bridge was forged. A door was open or closed. A mountain was climbed. And so on and so forth….

The inspiration for this years’ word hit me right on the eve of New Year’s like a sudden light bulb moment. I was quietly surprised. Usually, one of two things happen.                                                                                  I, a) do not have a specific word speak to me, or b) it comes much later…. like months later.  Last year was a good example of a year when I didn’t have one particular word but looking back there was definitely a theme. Overall, it was upheld. It was to reduce the busy, the clutter, the excess of living a more effective, quality life.

To say that word we dread to say to things and others – “NO”.

And, oh, all the prunings were not pretty, people.

It was a hot mess. It almost made things come undone. Like, irreparable come apart….. okay, maybe not quite that bad but seemed like it.

It caused some misunderstandings, emotional distance but it was a definite necessity in order to move forward, to reach another threshold of growth and development. To be still in a world of calamity, chaos, and crazy is a vital step to reach the efficacy of impacting the world around you and effectively accomplishing your goals.

Listen, you will do nobody (least of all yourself) any favors if you don’t care for yourself properly (not just physically but emotionally,mentally, & spiritually too!) and that may take longer than some of you would like. Yeah, here’s talking to you, oh impatient, restless, antsy, overly ambitious, type A. extroverted one!
Did I use enough adjectives?!

???

I’m happy to report…. that we are stronger and more intact for all the tribulation we went through this past year. We’ve *hopefully* learned a few valuable lessons along the way AND progress HAS been made!

                                                                 So…… about the word of the year for me is this: 

                                                                                Intentionally Fearless                                                                                                    

 

I tend to always want to control things & people (don’t we all? but some more than others). Because of that obsessive need to be in control, I often find myself criticizing how others do things then try to correct them. That it has to be my particular way or it’s not done right (I’m an idealist by nature). Feeling so pressured that I project extreme agitation over small inconveniences. Because of this feeling of needing to control and be in control, I in turn give in to fear.

• Fear of being truly real
• Fear of what others may think, say, or do
• Fear of failure
• Fear of showing vulnerability
• Fear that I’m too sensitive
• Fear that I’m too cruel
• Fear of saying or doing the wrong thing which may (and often does!) land me in hot water
• Fearing the worst in many situations
• Fearing for my kids
• Fear from media-induced neurosis [hard NOT to get sucked into that vacuum!]     
• Fear of loss of control    
• Fear that it’s not perfect enough [this really relates to one of the main reasons I haven’t been active on my blog; this needs to change ?]              

Instead of allowing fear to dominate my life and thoughts, I will be intentional in NOT giving those fears a foothold to keep me in shackles. I will deliberately move forward through the fear and in spite of the fear.     This may be painful at times but like Rachel Platten sings in her song “Nothing Ever Happens”, we need to get out of our own way.                                                                                                                     Dreams and visions can’t become reality by playing it safe and giving in to our fears, big or small.                                                                     Yikes. Did I just say in essence to take a deep breath and jump??!  
  Yeah.

I think I did! 

Oh man, what did I just get myself into? 

That is why I juxtaposed the word “intentionally” with FEARLESS – because the fear may still be present but you can consciously choose to not let it cripple your potential or keep you from a call to action.

So this year, I purpose to “lighten up” a bit and choose to make the best of a less than ideal (in my mind) situation. Even if my posts aren’t what I think they should be, just publish them anyway;so at least there will be some consistency.                                                                                To let go (a little, haha….. baby steps, y’all) of trying to micro-manage every tiny detail of all the joint projects we need to accomplish.                  To be okay with not-quite-perfect (bear with me, those of you who just want to grunt impatiently because you think it’s just fine and go “next!”).                                                                                                                                                  
Below is a free printable I decided to make for all of you to remind ourselves that we do not have to live by fear.                    

This is actually a photo my husband, Michael, took on one of his snowboard trips out west (I think this is Utah?). He is an example of not letting fear stand in the way of enjoying life to full capacity as he plunges down those formidable depths!

  

 

Here’s an original song that fits well with this post- written and sung by my sister, Graceanne ~

– Oh, and this post only took a month (singular) instead of month(s) to put out to pasture! I think I’m making progress already in putting my word into action! Yay! ?

Have a fantastic week! I hope you leave feeling inspired in some way!