My One Word 2015

In “long standing” blogging tradition, I’m choosing one word to represent my 2015.

Unlike resolutions or even goals which are easily broken, this is one word that I will keep coming back to as the mission or theme for the whole year. 

My word for 2015 popped into my head back in October, and it hasn’t let me go since.

To be honest, I don’t really like this word. I don’t feel at all capable to live it out this year…which probably makes it pretty clear that it’s exactly what I need.

It is going to be a big challenge!

My One Word 2014

First, a look back at my one word for 2014…

NOW.

word-2014-now

I intentionally didn’t look back at my post all year until just now, and I am amazed that I accomplished every one of the things I flippantly associated with the idea of Now. Here’s what I wrote a year ago about NOW.

“Enjoy my kids now.
Spend time with family and friends, now.
Exercise now.
Get out of debt now.
Write my next book, now?”

As you might know, we did get out of debt this year. By May, we had paid off $22,047 in just 9 months. At the time I wrote my One Word post, I never thought that we would finish paying off our debt IN 2014!

Maybe there’s something to this One Word thing?

We made the risky (aka expensive) but very rewarding move to live closer to family.

I did add one more book to my collection, and a new course, too, while avoiding the one that I know I’m really supposed to be writing.

I even got an unlikely opportunity that led me to do a small amount of consistent exercise every week.

Perhaps most important of all, I’ve been rediscovering the joy of motherhood and homemaking.

Here’s the thing, though. Terrified, I dug my heels in and resisted change at every turn this year. I came very close to saying no to almost every one of the opportunities that led to the blessing of reaching these goals.

No matter how I resisted, the word for 2014 was always NOW. Each change that came turned out to be so good.

Never easy; still scary; but living in the now moved us forward to some big milestones this year.

My One Word 2015

That word that started weighing on my heart and mind back in October?

GIVE.

One Word 2015: I'm choosing one word to represent my 2015. Unlike resolutions or even goals which are easily broken, this is one word that I will keep coming back to as the mission or theme for the whole year.

Give time.

Give energy.

Give finances.

Give hospitality.

Give love, encouragement, and friendship.

This year, I know I can do this because. Well I can’t, but there’s this:

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NASB)

Even in this season when it doesn’t seem like there’s enough of anything to meet just our basic needs, I hope to face this year with less fear and resistance and more cheerful generosity.

I don’t know what 2015 will bring. I have a few ideas how this word might play out, but I am more excited to see the surprising ways that GIVE becomes a part of our lives (and the blog, too) in the coming year!

I would love to hear what your big goals are for for 2015. Share yours in the comments!

 

 

 

 

shannon Clark, LIFE & FINANCIAL Coach

As a mom, I know what it's like to feel exhausted, overwhelmed by life, and inadequate to meet my children's needs. But I also know you don't have to stay there.

As an author and coach, I've had the joy of encouraging more than 9.1 million moms to find forward motion with their faith, family, and finances — without the frenzy.

Will you be next?