One Word Challenge 2013
By Jandi Theis
With a new year comes new resolutions… or at least a lot of people talking about their new resolutions. Many times, there is talk about the resolutions that were made last year at this time that were never accomplished… and should we set those same resolutions again this year or should we go for something different? Or maybe, we’ll just skip setting goals or making any New Year’s Resolutions because “they never happen anyway.”
That was kind of the direction I was leaning… here I am again, another year has gone by and I am still in the same shape I was in a year ago when I said I was going to lose weight and get into shape and be healthy. I still want that and I say I’m going to work for it, but am I really? What’s different than a year ago when I said I wanted it? Did I change anything?
Over the last few days of 2012, I had been thinking about these things (and other changes and goals I’d like to accomplish in my life) and whether or not to set some resolutions for myself. And then I received a message from a friend explaining the “One Word Challenge” that she and some friends had started one New Year’s Eve. It seemed like a simple idea but was very intriguing to me.
Well, maybe a simple idea, but maybe not so simple to do…
All you have to do is take a variety of dreams and goals and positive expectancies of good things in 2013 and narrow that all down into just ONE word… that’s all!
There are SO many words a person might come up with…
Peace. Grow. Change. Dream. Freedom. More. Dream. Passion. Success. Balance. Health. Lead. Love. Joy. Consistent. Commitment. Focus. Live. Prepare. Expect. Power. Favor. Inspire. Serve. Momentum. Abundance. Create. Fearless.
I’m already thinking about this “One Word Challenge” when I get this text message from a friend (literally within minutes of reading about the challenge): “Success is the theme for the new year for you.” I had also been remembering a recent conversation with another friend in which we discussed the coming year and it being “A year of change” for me.
So, now I have TWO words going through my mind… SUCCESS and CHANGE…
Setting goals has always been hard for me, which was very frustrating for me… why in the world should that be such a difficult thing to do when people all around me seemed to be setting, striving for, and reaching their goals?!? In the last few years, I have learned why that’s so hard for some of us and the answer is FEAR.
Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear of things staying the same. Fear of change. Fear of what others would think. All of these things are connected to each other…
“What if I set goals and then fail? What will people think? What if I want it but nothing changes – can I live with the disappointment?”
Or…
“What if I succeed? What if I get what I want and everything changes? Am I ready to deal with those changes that will come with success?”
With the help of some amazing friends and awesome coaching over the past few years, I have learned a lot about the fear I carried with me (that I didn’t even realize was in my head most of the time). Fear keeps us from dreaming and setting goals. That fear holds us back and keeps us from living the lives we were intended to live… and instead, we just exist.
Proverbs 29:18 says “Without a vision, my people perish.” We all need a vision, or a picture, of where we want to go and of what we want our life to be and look like. I believe God has a plan and a purpose for each and every one of us. Perhaps that is why resolutions and goals are so important… because we NEED them to live the lives God has intended for us!
So, I have decided that my word for 2013 is “Success”!
Success with my diet and health. Success in my business. Success in relationships. Success with all of the change coming my way this year. Success with my website and blog. Success as a certified health coach. And one of the reasons I do the things I do (nursing, Juice Plus+ Wellness Educator, and soon-to-be certified health coach) is to help others live healthy and happy lives, so most of all, I want success for the people whose lives I am blessed to touch this year… I want success in helping and inspiring more people to change their lives!
Through all of this, I have realized that the thinking “Why make a resolution because they never happen anyway?” that I started this message out with is all wrong. We make resolutions or set goals (or whatever else you would like to call them) because we need a vision for our lives and our futures in order to change and grow. Thankfully, we are given many new beginnings… new year, new month, new week, new day, new hour, new minute… to start new things or even start things over (that workout plan or healthy diet) with picture of a new and even better outcome, so we can do this at any time. With a New Year comes new opportunities and new beginnings, so this is a perfect time for new pictures and new visions!
And besides, where you end up at the end of the year isn’t what’s most important. What is most important, is who you become along the journey!
So, if you are still working on your goals and New Year’s Resolutions, or even if you have them down in writing already, I am inviting you to join me in this “One Word 2013” challenge.
One Word.
One simple, powerful word that resonates in your heart.
There are thousands to choose from.
When you picture what you want your year to look like, what comes to mind?
How many people’s lives do you want to impact?
What do you want to focus on in 2013?
Who do you want to become?
You can do this!
You were meant for this!
Make this your year to truly start living!
Be happy! Grow healthy!
Jandi
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