Something I’ve done the past 6 years in January is pray and ask the Lord what word or theme I need to focus on in the new year. It’s been a sweet way to focus on one thing throughout the year that I want to grow in. Some years the words have not had a huge impact on me, but there are years that the words really came alive!
2013 MY WORD WAS GIVE.
2014 WE DID A WORD TOGETHER + IT WAS “LIVING ALIVE”.
OUR WORD FOR 2015 RECEIVE.
OUR FAMILY WORD FOR 2016 WAS THRIVE.
MY WORDS FOR 2016 WERE GATHER + BE.
MY WORDS FOR 2017 WERE LIFE + LAUGHTER.
This is the year of “paying attention”!
It all started when I was listening to a video from Edie Wadsworth (if yall don’t know her, go follow her NOW!) when she was talking about “listening to your life”. I took a day in December to drive to Austin by myself for some self care time, and used that time away to really process and think about what I wanted to focus on in 2018. at first I thought about “story”, because I want to be a better storyteller in my life. but then I kept hearing (and reading) the words PAY ATTENTION and I thought, YES! this is it!
I want to pay attention to why I feel the way I do.
I want to pay attention to my kids + husbands needs more
I want to pay attention to my needs more
I want to pay attention to the stories I tell myself
I want to pay attention to our finances….
and to analytics, and business decisions, and what’s working + whats not
I want to pay attention to how often my son has tantrums
and how often I am nursing, and eating, and sleeping, and sabathathing
I want to PAY ATTENTION to my life, and not just grow organically, but on purpose.
I ordered a few May Designs notebooks that I keep in various places with the words “pay attention” on top of them. I am purposefully keeping track of things, and it is good. it’s going to take discipline and consistency – but I AM CAPABLE (see what I did there? practicing affirmations with my words!) and if I miss a day, well then grace (see, self compassion!)
what about you? what is YOUR WORD(s) for the year?
if you don’t know yet – take the advice that was given to me, and listen to your life. take some time to be still, quiet, and contemplate. whether you need to go for a drive, listen to music, go for a run, or sit with a pen and your journal open- make the time to DO IT, and see what speaks to you.
I can’t wait to hear!
Hey, I'm Wynne!
Hi, friend! First, I truly am so giddy that you are here. I want you to know I believe in you and all the ways you are growing towards living a more intentional life. I genuinely hope you are encouraged from our time together here.
A little about me, I’m a type 7 on the enneagram, a total extrovert + people lover, entrepreneur, connector, storyteller, people gatherer, and passionate wife, mama + friend. I feel most alive when I’m exploring new places and surrounded by people I love. Give me a day in the outdoors disconnected from wifi, and I am a happy girl. I run on oat milk lattes, Jesus, gratitude journaling and kitchen dance parties with my four kids.
Welcome, come on in!
Great post babe!! Listen to your life!!! I love it!!
I’m working on my blog post about this very thing! Mine last year was “regardless…” and I was struggling not only with all that hastened last year, but how this year could change… and then I heard it clearly. Can’t wait to share 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
[…] it started in 2013 with give, then 2014 was living alive, 2015 was all about receiving, 2016 was gather+be, 2017 was life + laughter, then this last year was the year of paying attention. […]