Before you set your New Year’s Resolutions, consider choosing a focus word of the year. What is your focus? What have you learned from the past year that you want to take into the next?

LOOKING BACK OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS

The past five years of my life have looked dramatically different from one year to the next. But one thing I learned was to set a focus for myself. A word I could continue to go back to time and time again to reset my priorities.

If you’re overwhelmed by goal setting and New Year’s Resolutions, then start small. Start simple. Find a word that speaks to you and claim it for the year. Here are a few of my words and why I chose them.

HOW I CHOSE A WORD OF THE YEAR

TRUST (2017)

In 2017, I was diagnosed with Late Stage Lyme Disease and was absolutely living in survival mode. I had spent a few years prior watching my own health decline and in constant fear. That was the year I decided to trust the Lord instead of trying to control my own situation.

INTENTIONAL (2018)

The following year was a lesson in mental health. I saw the toll my mind took on my body’s physical pain and dove deep into researching how others worked through their own crisis. I realized if I wanted any type of healing, it had to start with me.

PERSEVERE (2019)

While 2018 was looking up, 2019 gave me a few more tough flareups that sent me spiraling back into worry. I found myself slipping back into old patterns and had to get back on track to who I wanted to be and how I was going to get there. I started this blog and reclaimed my own creativity and identity once again.

BE PRESENT (2020)

I had big plans for this year. Ones that certainly didn’t include a global pandemic and homeschooling. But this year happened, and it’s over now, and I refuse to let it have been a waste of time. This year, I learned the importance of being still, staying present in the moment and the discipline of gratitude.

PATIENCE (2021)

Last year we all hoped that the start of 2021 meant the cure to this virus and no more fighting in the streets. We survived a crazy year, and if there’s anything that life has taught me, it’s that hardships hardly ever end with a nice and tidy bow.

There is growth, change and messes to clean up. I don’t want this year to be another disappointment if we still spend the majority of it in our homes and canceling get-togethers. This was supposed to be my first year with my children in school full-time and the possibility of my own career again. But life seldom follows the plans that we give it.

So I’m making this year’s word, patience. Patience to see things through, and not to put them on hold any longer. Patience for our leaders, my family, myself, for day to day living.

PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION

I will fail again. I will get upset and lose my temper. I’ll pout in my room when I’m fed up with all the shutdowns. But I won’t give up. And neither should you.

Don’t let perfection keep you from moving forward. Focus on progress—any form of it—and not perfection.

We may have to be a little more creative this year in how we accomplish our goals, but don’t put them on hold! These days count just as much as the ones in the past and the ones in the future.

So what’s your focus going to be this year?

CHOOSE YOUR WORD OF THE YEAR

PRINT YOUR WORD HERE

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Ready to start on your goal setting? Then check out this NEW Workbook I created just for you! You can find it in my shop here:

Now that you’ve chosen your word of the year, check out more posts on goal setting:

You’ve got this!

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