The last couple years have set me up for this word. For most of my life, things have changed around me every year or so, giving me the opportunity to form a new routine and a whole new set of habits. But as my life begins to look similar each day, it’s allowed me the space to step back and think about how I’m living my life, and how I wish I were living it.
For example – I want to love on my husband well, I want to do my job well, and I want to steward my time well. Sure I’m already doing these things, but am I doing them well? This year has come down to a page full of questions like these that have required me to ask myself if I’m thriving or just surviving.
Based on the content of this post, I trust you’ve figured out the answer.
For the first time, I made the choice to be more intentional about goal setting as opposed to making a list of things about myself that I wanted to change and then hoping to be able to check them off by the end of the year. I asked for Lara Casey’s Powersheets for Christmas and they have truly been a goal-setting game changer.
As I looked at the sheets, I realized that I’m headed in the right direction when it comes to getting where I want to be when I’m 80 – a sassy, strong-willed woman who’s complete being trusts Jesus and the hope of salvation, with a lifetime full of adventures and memories of loving others well and putting family first. I (and oftentimes, we) are making progress in so many ways – we’re chipping away at our debt, we’ve found a church we love, and we’re being intentional with each other and our friendships – so for the first new year in my life, I don’t have a list of new big goals. I have a list of intentions and action items that will act as a shovel to get me just a little bit deeper and closer to where I want to be.
It feels delightful – relaxing and powerful all at the same time.
Thrive first came to me in March of last year as I was working on my collage for a One Little Word prompt. God also whispered it in my ear again in September when I confidently agreed to a task completely out of my comfort zone at work. I have a feeling that thriving is going to have to be a little uncomfortable and leave me feeling a little uneasy, but just like that opportunity in September, I’m going to take it as it comes so I can be ready and available for the next big thing God has in store for me.
This year, I’m choosing to thrive.