OUTFIT DETAILS: Sweater (sold out) Similar here and here and here | Boots
Happy New Year beautiful people! I just want to celebrate you for surviving 2020, congratulations! It’s important to celebrate all of your victories no matter how small or how large they may be.
As I was reflecting on the last year and thinking about what I wanted this year to look like, I started to think of what word would be a great foundation for the year ahead. A lot of different words swirled through my head, but there were a few that really stood out to me. I tried to narrow it down to just one, but I felt like only having one word for the year would be a disservice to me.
I finally settled and decided that there were three words that really defined where I am in my journey and I felt that sharing them with you guys would also help you in your journey as well.
My three words for the year are COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, and CONTENTMENT.
I have struggled with each one of these things in some way, so I know that these are areas of growth necessary for my success in the future. I am excited because just spotlighting these few words have already clarified so many areas of my life.
So let’s break down these words and go into more detail about what each one means and how it is significant to me:
Courage. Defined as the ability to do something that frightens you. Someone who is bold and brave, unafraid to face tough challenges.
This was one of the first words that came to me and it is something that I feel I have struggled with for most of my life. I do believe that I am a courageous person, but it hasn’t always come naturally to me. I am not sure that it comes naturally to anyone. I would say that until recently if there was a point that I acted courageously it was sort of forced. I don’t mean that in a bad way, I just mean that life has a way of making you tougher and stronger and sometimes you are required to face challenging things that you wouldn’t usually volunteer for.
Where I am in my journey now is more of a willingness to take on tough situations and do things that would be considered scary. I guess I am at a point where I am voluntarily going after things that scare me and require me to be intentional as it pertains to developing that courage. This is why I felt so strongly that this had to be one of my words for 2021. One of the ways I am currently applying this is on my journey as an influencer/blogger. This business has challenged me in more ways than I ever imagined it would. The more I do it though, the stronger and better I get. It’s really amazing what lives on the other side of our fears.
Confidence. Defined as the state of feeling certain about the truth of something; a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities.
I am going to be totally honest with you guys, this is probably one of the biggest overall struggles in my life, although I’m not really sure why. Walking in confidence on a daily basis is something that I have to be very intentional about and work on every single day. I am not gonna sit here and preach to you guys about how important it is to have confidence in yourselves and in God or whatever your source of belief may be. I’m sure you all know how important it is and how you can’t do much without it. What I will say is for me, I have to give myself grace and be honest and patient with myself. Every day look at where I am and what I am struggling with. It helps so much when you are feeling down and second-guessing yourself, to take those moments and fill yourself with truths to combat all the lies that try to attack that confidence. This is one of the things that I plan on implementing a lot more this year. Some days you will feel strong and confident, some days not so much. I have learned that it’s ok to have those moments as long as you don’t stay there. Now you guys can understand why I couldn’t do just one word this year.
Contentment. Defined as a state of satisfaction that can be seen as a mental state, maybe drawn from being at ease in one’s situation, body, mind. Peaceful ease of mind and being satisfied with what you have, whatever that is.
I am kind of smiling as I am writing this post because I must have a whole lot to do in this life. These aren’t just some cute words, they are serious areas of character development and soul strengthening. I have been challenged with this for a long time. Getting to a place where I am simply satisfied with where I am in my life. I am sure it has a lot to do with the fact that I am such a dreamer and I see certain things that I want to attain. What I am learning about contentment is, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you stop working hard to achieve the things that you want. It doesn’t mean that you can’t dream and set goals. I think that contentment is more about a sense of peace and rest that no matter what happens you are going to be alright. There is a scripture in the bible ( Phillipians 4:11) that says, not that I speak from any personal need, for I have learned to be content and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy regardless of my circumstances.
This verse speaks to the very essence of what contentment is. You see at the beginning the writer clearly states that they aren’t speaking from a place of personal need. This helps me see that contentment isn’t about not having the things you need or the things you want. It’s about being in a place where those things don’t dictate your mood or behavior. That should be a goal we all work to attain.
If I had to grow in any of these areas on my own it would be a hopeless case. I think that I would stop before I even got started. Having a relationship with God is my solace, I know that I can’t do it without Him. When I am tired and weak or feel like giving up on myself He gives me the strength to keep going. That’s just an extra tip to add to whatever you are wanting to focus on or accomplish in 2021. Make sure you aren’t trying to do it alone. Having help and accountability is a key component in seeing those things come to fruition in your life. Whether it’s your faith, a community group, a mentor or a friend having that support system is a must. I pray that this year you become all the things you see for yourself and that it is your best year yet. Whatever your word is this year, keep it in front of you, and don’t let it go!
What is your word for 2021 and why did you pick that word? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
