“If you don’t have clarity of ideas, you’re just communicating sheer sound.” —Yo-Yo Ma
Today marks the first Monday of the start of a new decade, 2020.
Let’s be our best selves this year!
Some of you may read those words and instantly beat yourself up because your best self may be a laundry list of words that overwhelm you, and please continue reading because I have an easy practice to do with you that I truly believe will leave you feeling uplifted and encouraged.
At the beginning of a new year, I like creating anchors in my life that help me ground myself in intention and action which results to transformation. I don’t mean that I buy literal anchors that get tossed on the side of boats to keep it from drifting. I am talking about 3 powerful and life changing words that act as anchors that ground you to the promises you make to yourself. We are only going to be choosing 3 words and grace ourselves for the rest of the words that may be on the list.
I want you to take the time to identify 3 words that describe the best you for 2020. I want you to take the time to brainstorm what those words are and feel the weight of them. The more meaningful these words are, the more transformational this practice will be.
My 3 words for 2020 that describe the best me are healthy, brave, and responsible.
In the season that I am in right now, I felt that this is what I want to be in connection to what I am facing in my current reality. I am a wife, writer, Vice Principal, daughter, sister, friend, church member, and many other roles, and I know I need to be at my optimal health to be able to be all that I am called to be. I want to be healthy in my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I want to be healthy in my heart by making sure I am taking the time for self-care, slowing down, giving myself permission to rest, and do what I love and enjoy. I want my heart to be healthy emotionally when it comes to how I relate to others and in my relationships by creating healthy boundaries where I am empowering and not enabling. I want my soul to be healthy by prioritizing my quiet time with God, entering into stillness, meditation, and prayer. I want my mind to be healthy by choosing to fill my mind with positive outlets such as empowering books, uplifting music, and soul-filling media. Lastly, I want my body to be healthy by taking the time to exercise 5-6 times a week and nurturing a healthier relationship with food where I choose to love my body enough to make better choices. For my 2020, I will be healthy.
In my current season, I want to be brave. Last year’s word that I choose was inspired, and my commitment was to write once a week on my Steeplife blog, and I was able to keep that promise. Now, I want to put my inspiration to action by being unapologetically myself on social media platforms to promote and share my writing in a more personal way. This year, I am challenging myself with starting something called Tea Time Thursdays where I will upload a video of myself doing a mid-week inspirational post where I will breakdown more of Monday’s blog. This is how I plan to build my bravery by taking risks, getting out of my comfort zone, and taking a leap of faith. For my 2020, I will be brave.
“Leap, and the net will appear” (John Burroughs).
This year, my best me will be responsible with how I manage my time, money, resources, and energy. As much as I don’t like using the word responsible because it feels harsh, but at the same time, it causes a reaction in me that beckons accountability. I want to be more intentional with how I plan my weeks, what I spend my money on, where I spend my time, and how I use my energy. The question I plan to ask myself is this: “Is this a good time?” We are always considerate with other people’s time, why not our own? For my 2020, I will be responsible.
Take the time, right now to get clear on your 3 words. Once you have them, give them weight and power. Allow them to be guides of the decisions that you make or according to Brendan Burchard “clarity check points”.
“Be more intentional about who you want to become. Have vision beyond your current circumstances. Imagine your best future self, and start acting like that person today.”