Strength in 2015

I’m changing it up this year, and have decided to place my primary emphasis on one word – strength – and thematic elements of goal setting rather than a set of specific goals. Often, annual goals tend to be so far fetched that it’s easy to push them off again and again.

Instead, I’ll create a quarterly Action Plan for myself personally and for my business ventures. I may or may not break that down into monthly SMART goals that fit within the theme of the year.

Somewhere in the last few years, I lost sight of who I am. I lost focus on the strengths that make me me, and make me unique. I’ve changed, and it’s not all good. I have put way too much weight on the opinions of other (mostly well-intentioned) people, to my own detriment. (I also just plain put on too much weight – and that can only be blamed on pregnancy for so long.)

For 2015, my one word is:

STRENGTH

Why Strength?

I’d really like to say that I have some great planning process where I came up with a list of options that fit various criteria, and narrowed them down and finally landed on the best one. Because I really like process and things that are repeatable. But, it just kind of hit me one day. If I were to put a process to it, it’s that I spend a lot of time thinking in general about goals and direction and priorities, so I’m ready when inspiration strikes.

What am I looking for Strength in?

• Strength to rest in Jesus
• Strength to be ME, not who I think I *should* be (and strength to figure out who that is again)
• Strength to not be a people pleaser
• Strength to thrive in the roles God has given me, particularly being Mom to my two wonderful boys
• …and so much more

I’ve got a few guiding inspirations to go along with my one word: a Bible passage, a quote and a song. Here they are:

Strength Bible Passage of the Year

Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Quote of the Year

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

― Steve Jobs

Song of the Year

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
…
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

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