How to Really Set Your New Year Off Right

Doesn't everyone just love New Year's Eve?

I look forward to New Year’s Eve every year. Not because of the parties, or anticipation of a kiss, but with the impending magic that looms. I skip around to all my friends, eager to hear what they learned from this year and to celebrate both their accomplished goals, and their intentions for the year to come.

My husband is in private security and a first responder, so I can count on one hand how many holidays we have actually been able to spend together. Nevertheless, I enjoy New Year's Eve because it gives me time to reflect and set goals. It is a grand opportunity to set myself up for success, and leave a lasting legacy for my boys. My sparkling new life begins tomorrow! Right?!

Then January happens, and work, and life, and the glorious complications that come with each of those. My beloved list of goals eventually turns into reminders and sweet suggestions that I will get to after feeding the baby, meeting this deadline, doing the groceries, and showing up for my family. Before I know it, I am watching the countdown of yet another December 31.

Most New Year’s resolutions fail because they are too pretentious or not tied to a meaningful goal to begin with. This is why I prefer to set intentions. This gives me a chance to really tune in to what worked this year, and what didn’t, and focus on what I want to get out of the year to come.

Resolutions, goals and intentions all have one thing in common though…they all need to be poked and prodded, to be poured over and dug into. We have to take time to get to the bottom of why we give weight to any particular goal. We have to be brave and push through the familiar and the comfortable in order to get to the new and the necessary.

One of the biggest things that have helped me stay on track as the year progresses is asking God to give me a word to sum up my goals for the year. For example, in 2017, my word was Restore. I begged God to bring me to a place where I felt like myself again, where I knew who I was and what I liked. I wanted to get to a place where I liked myself, where I knew the strengths and gifts that He had given to me, and aligned myself only with what He showed me. I wanted to see myself as He sees me, as He made me to be.

It also happened to be the year that God restored my marriage, so that word ended up having a lot of extra weight by the end of the year.

In 2018, my word was Inspire. Having found fresh direction for my passions, business and skill sets, I set out to inspire others to do the same. I wanted women to find confidence and freedom and strength from their faith, their choices and in their lives—just as I had. After some of the sweet notes I have received recently, I would say that I have had the honor to do just that. I am so very grateful.

People always seem to ask how I go about choosing an anchor word each year. If you are one of those curious individuals looking to breathe some new life into your New Year intentions, let’s do it together!

1. Reflect

I like to look back over the year and break it down a bit by asking a few probing questions

(no self- editing allowed!)

What could I use more/less of in my life?

What character traits would I like to develop/have?

By the end of the day, I feel _______.

How do I want to look/feel each day?

Asking questions like these allows me to take inventory of where I am, and where I would like to be. This also gives me a good sense of direction when narrowing down my anchor words.

2. Pray

Unless you live under a rock somewhere, I am sure by now that you have heard of praying. Wether or not you believe in God, taking time to pause, reflect and listen will always be beneficial. Ask God to show you what He wants your life to look like, to show you what He created you to do. It may sound strange to you, but I invite you to try it. It is one of the most peaceful practices you could ever adopt. If you would like to learn more or need help in this area, please message me!

I like to do this in the morning when my house is quiet and I am free of interruptions, because let’s be real, I am a mom of four boys and can barely make a trip to the bathroom without interruption! If you’re like me and interruption is inevitable, maybe carve out some time and go for a walk. Getting outside and connecting with nature can be both revitalizing and inspiring!

3. Write it Down

There is something powerful and even therapeutic about writing things down. The things we write down are more likely to be committed to memory, and more likely for our brains to help us set into motion.

I like to sit after my time of prayer and write down all the words that come to mind. Just write them down as you think of them, no self-editing. When you are done, set your list aside and walk away for a bit. This will help prevent any obsessive tendencies and self-imposing a word out of turn.

4. Fine Tune

When you return to the list, pray again and ask God to confirm or direct you to the word He would have for you. Take your list and take some time to pray or meditate over the words and the year ahead. When ready, circle your favorites. I would try to keep it simple by circling only 3-5 words. Take time to look at the ones you’ve circled. How do they make you feel? From my own experience, often the words that scare me slightly, or get me super excited are the ones that tell me I am on to something. Trust your heart, pray it over as you narrow things down. Try them on as you go, and see what feels right.

Trust the process. When you finally find your word, you will feel a great deal of peace and empowerment.

5. Cool or Committed?

Finally, I like to take the time to really do some inner inventory and consider if I am choosing a word(s) because it's cool, or because I am really committed to it. Remember before how I mentioned that my word this year was Inspire? That meant that every project I said yes to, everything that demanded my time and/or attention had to either be inspiring/life-giving to me, or through my actions to someone else. I like to make sure I am making choices that are best for me and the direction God gave me, and not just because my word looks really cool stamped on a key hanging around my neck.

Did you do it? What did you come up with? Once you have chosen the word that you can wholeheartedly commit to, write it down everywhere! Seriously, write it down on your bathroom mirror, your car dashboard, your journal, your Bible, your computer, your phone lock screen, wherever you will see it regularly. This will keep it fresh on your mind and help you visualize your goals more clearly.

I hope this helped you as you prepare to start a new year all shiny and new.

I’d love to hear what your words are! Comment below or tag me on IG and show me what you came up with.