Now that one week of the New Year is gone I need to ask you a question. How many of your New Year’s resolutions remain intact? It’s just us. I won’t tell anyone. Be honest. How many unbroken resolutions remain? If you are like me the answer is ZERO.
You and I mean well. We really want to change. Experts tell us we must evaluate our life and make resolutions for the coming year. And yes, I have my own list of resolutions pinned in my Evernote files. Just a week into 2015 ALL my resolutions are broken. Busted. Caput.
It makes me wonder why I even try. Every year is the same. And when I get pumped up at the start of the year, but crash, I go into tailspin. Instead of the start of the year being exhilarating, it is another reminder my natural habitat borders on Loserville.
So here’s my new plan. I’ve adopted a word for the year. (This idea is not mine. I brazenly stole it from the internet.) Sometimes simple is superior. When it comes to simple, my success rate skyrockets.
I’m not claiming to be an expert on the psychology behind the “one word” concept. But I suspect adopting a word for 2015 plays on the phrase “self-talk.” You do talk to yourself, don’t you? Too often, when I engage in self-talk, it degenerates into a bash fest. Listen to the words you say to yourself during the day; those single words which you shout where no one can hear. Hear’s a small sample of my words: loser! dummy! stupid!
What if we throttled all negative talk and replaced it with a single positive word? What would happen in 2015 if we focused on one chosen positive word? I’m willing to give it a try. What do I have to lose? Surrounded by the shattered shards of broken resolutions I’m ready to try anything.
Okay. You think this is stupid. I get it. But humor me. Just pretend picking one positive word to feed your brain this year can change your life. What word would you choose? Think, but not too hard. Just breath. Ask yourself what word could change your life. And just listen.
When I did this, my word appeared much like Spock being beamed down to an alien planet. Here’s my word: BELIEVE.
Why that word? Not too long along I realized I am a skeptic. Many times I don’t believe in myself. Sometimes I wonder if God is going to come through. I doubt if I can make a difference in someone’s life. I’m skeptical of people’s motives. BELIEVE.
So that’s my word. When the negative voice inside starts to chatter, I plan on shutting it down and simply say “BELIEVE.” Will it make a difference? Will it make 2015 a better year? I don’t know. But I do know all my 2015 goals are adorning a trash heap of good intentions. I choose to BELIEVE this is a good thing!
Join those who posted their word for all the world to see in the comment section below.
So tell the world. What’s your word for 2015?
breathe
My One Word is LAUNCH!
Kind
Some really terrific words! I hope we get many more…
My word is aware
My word is: obedient
Faith
My word: “Unreal”
I’ve used this word before, but never said anything about it. Your mention of Mr Spock reminded me of it. This word comes directly from an episode of StarTrek-I forget the actual episode name, but Mr. Spock, Kirk, Dr. Mcoy are back in time at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. They are about ready to take place in a gunfight. Right before the fight, Mr. Spock figures out that the whole thing is actually an illusion, and the bullets from the gunslingers won’t hurt them, if they don’t believe they can. Since Spock has some kind of super brain, he knows that the whole thing is an illusion, and the bullets from the bad guys won’t hurt him, but what about Kirk and MCCoy? They don’t have the ability Spock does, so the men, guns, and bullets look very real to them, and they could die. OK , it’s time for Spock to help his friends with something called the “Vulcan Mind Mold” before the bad guys show up. I can still visualize Spock with all 10 of his fingers wrapped around his friends heads one at a time, and repeating severals words, one of which is “unreal”. I can still see the fight when the bad guys show up, with all of their bullets passing through Spock, Kirk, and McCoy . I can still remember close-ups of the bullets piercing the wood fence behind them.
“Unreal” I have actually repeated this word over and over in my mind. Why? Because all of my worries and fears and negative thinking really are “unreal”. Here are some Examples: ” Your wife is over an hour late and hasn’t called. She must have had an accident on the icy roads.”; “My boss is acting funny toward me lately. He won’t even look me in the eye. We have had some downsizing lately, I’m probably next.”; “I’ve been to the doctor a dozen times over the last 6 months, still with no answers-maybe I have cancer or a terminal illness”.
“Unreal”- many of my problems never esisted at all. Only in my mind that struggles to allow God to re-shape my thinking do they become real. This new year my word will once again be “unreal”
Wow. That is REALLY honest and powerful. Thanks for the courageous share!
Very powerful! I’m glad you explained your word choice. Much to think about.
Accepting!
Dream
Persevere
Really I want to say, “don’t quit,”but that’s too many words. When things get tough I have to make an effort to resist the temptation to quit.
Interestingly, I had a word last year. It was “intentional. ” Still waiting for this year’s word. I *think* I know what it is…just want to be sure.
FAITH
Yep. I am sure of it now. My word is PRAY.
This was a new concept to me this year also. I found it while reading a post on (in)courage, a women’s Internet Site. So I had been searching for my “word” for a few days before I read your Blog entry. For me it was difficult to come up with just a word…not even a phrase & to really have it challenge my heart for 12 months! My first word was “focus”…on God, on life in Christ, on a new “bonding with the babe”, Pastor Eric’s post Christmas message. My second word was “curious” …after God, to seek Him in the every day things in my life and in our world. After another day or two the word “renewal” came to my mind. It seemed to encompass both focusing on Jesus & being curious after God…so for 2015 my word is RENEWAL!
YIELD —verb (used with object)
1) to give forth or produce by a natural process or in return for cultivation: This farm yields enough fruit to meet all our needs.
2) to produce or furnish (payment, profit, or interest): a trust fund that yields ten percent interest annually; That investment will yield a handsome return.
3) to give up, as to superior power or authority: They yielded the fort to the enemy.
4) to give up or surrender (oneself): He yielded himself to temptation.
5) to give up or over; relinquish or resign: to yield the floor to the senator from Ohio.
6) to give as due or required: to yield obedience to one’s teachers.
7) to cause; give rise to: The play yielded only one good laugh.
****I know this word. I have, however, never pondered the versatily of it. A word of surrender and production at the same time. As I first read this challenge the word ‘steadfast’ kept coming to mind but it seemed to imply a standstill. YIELD it is! Knowing when to stop/surrender (…you yield to oncoming traffic, right?), knowing when to yield to authority, guidance and wisdom AND in the process growing/yielding a good crop……to produce a positive return,……not measured in wealth but by producing a positive difference in my life and in the lives of those around me.****
Thanks EVERYONE for sharing your word. I’m going to repost and see if we can make the list longer. Good luck on your word this year!
Consistent
My word is INTENTIONAL.
So many times in the last several years I’ve been caught up in the many troubles in my life. I’m always reactive, never ahead of the game, always catching up. So everything is done in response to something else. It’s exhausting and I end up feeling like life is just happening to me. Instead, this year I want to be intentional in my spiritual Life,my relationships, my everyday life.
Overcomer
My word is FAITH….faith In God when the new year has so many unknowns. Blind faith in knowing that God is right beside me every step of the way!!