Y'all, I've decided I'm a big fan of the New Year. It's never been a favorite holiday of mine, but it's slowly starting to climb the ranks. Right after Christmas and my birthday, that is. I think the best thing about a new year is that the slate is wiped clean. Everything that went wrong in 2015 is erased, the chalk is dusted off, and we get to start fresh. Fresh hope, fresh aspirations, fresh possibilities. Ahhh, a new year.
I was doing some deep thinking over a cup of coffee and my Power Sheets this morning and something hit me--if I'm hoping and praying for 2015 to be the best year yet and making big resolutions to back it up, I can't just make them and hope it all works out for good. I need to take a look back at last year and see what didn't work for me, what drained me of my joy, and what made those resolutions hard to keep. In order for progress to be made, change must happen.
If I want 2015 to be the year that I make my dreams happen, here are some things I am choosing to say "no" to in 2015. And I think these things are what will make all the difference!
Social Media Overload
I'm the first to tell you that I love some Instagram and Twitter. It's a normal thing for me to scroll through photos while I'm talking to Andrew, sitting at a restaurant, or waiting at a stoplight, most of the time without even realizing I'm doing it. Can you imagine how much we'd gain if we chose to fill some of those gaps with quality time with loved ones? Or time in our Bible? I'm choosing to spend more time with my phone OUT of my hand than in it this year. Sure, I'll get my fix every now and then, but when I'm home with Andrew or with loved ones, my phone will be put away.
Fad Diets and Scale Obsessions
Everywhere we turn, we're hearing about Whole30 or Atkins or the ItWorks! programs. This time of year is prime for self-improvement campaigns, and it starts to take over my mind and make me think that the only way I'll be happy is if I lose weight by buying this program or that program. Those things are great and fine for some people, just not for me and my mindset. I also won't be a slave to my scale. I've been there and done that--if I'm going to make progress, I need to look at this differently. 2015 is the year I WON'T be participating in a fad diet but rather, I'll just eat better overall. And if I want a cupcake or some french fries, I'm going to eat those too. Butter is happiness.
Chasing Perfection
As encouraging and uplifting as social media can be at times, it's also a breeding ground for insecurity and comparison. We see picture-perfect homes and families and feel the urge to compare ourselves to them, when in reality, we're just seeing what they choose to show us. We're seeing the best of the best in their day, fixed with IG filters and perfect lighting. 2015 is the year for us to break those chains and realize that chasing perfection isn't realistic, it just drains us of the joy in our own lives. I'd rather live my life accepting who I am, knowing I'm not perfect, than live my life pretending to be.
Feeling Guilt to Say Yes
Most of the time when I say "yes" to an obligation, it's because I feel too guilty to say no, not because I want to or need to. It's because I worry what that friend, that coworker, or that acquaintance may think of me; that I'll be letting them down otherwise. I'm here to tell you now, friend, that life is too short and time is too precious to say "yes" to every need that comes our way. And when we keep saying "yes," we leave a lot less of ourselves for the things that really matter. Let's make this year a year full of "yes," but only to those things that add to our lives, not take away. When you say yes to others, make sure you're not saying no to yourself!
Complaining
It seems that grumbles tend to fall off our lips so much easier than thanks these days, don't you agree? Everywhere I turn, we're complaining about work, traffic, laundry, kids, you name it. You know where complaining gets us? No where. It just puts us in a worse mood. Sure, it's okay to vent every now and then, but focusing on the positive sets us in the right direction. During these 12 months, I'm determined to either speak blessing and gratefulness or keep my mouth shut altogether.
Being Too Hard on Myself
Can you guess who your worst critic is? I can easily say that mine is myself. I'm quick to point out my flaws and draw attention to the areas I want to change. I'm too hard on myself on a daily basis, ashamed of the extra pounds I want to lose or the splotchy skin on my face. I wouldn't call myself beautiful on a normal day. I don't see beauty when I look in the mirror, but how wrong I am! I need to have confidence of the beauty and the body God gave me. We're made in His image. We are His creation, and He found it good. Who are we to say differently? 2015 will be the year I am finally confident in my own skin, and you should be too.
Staying in My Comfort Zone
Have you ever heard the phrase, "Life starts right outside of your comfort zone"? I believe that with all of my heart. All the best things that have ever happened to me happened because I decided to take a step out in the uncomfortable area. This year is the year for me to say no to those boundaries that hold us in that "safe" zone and branch out to that area that feels a little too dangerous, because that's when all the good stuff is going to happen. That's when dreams become realities. And I want 2015 to be the year when I'm living my dream!
Worrying
I saved the best for last--I wish I could list this one on here 5 times. Worry. The thing that gives me gray hair, premature wrinkles, and unneeded anxiety. Worrying will never change the outcome of our problems, no matter how hard we try. My grandmother always says, "Worrying doesn't take away tomorrow's troubles, it just takes away today's peace." And how right that is, friends! Instead of living in a state of worry and letting anxiety dictate our emotions, let's let go of it all and embrace leaning on faith. God has us taken care of, we just need to trust in His will.
What are you choosing to say "no" to this year? Let's make those changes and make all the good things happen in our lives. I believe 2015 is a year for progress, don't you? Xoxo