This year, instead of making lists of things I want to accomplish, I’ve decided that this is the year to really work on ME. To purge myself of the negativity… to be set free from the chains that have literally bound me for years. The chains that say I’m not good enough. The chains that say I’m not lovable. The chains of that deep-seeded fear of being rejected… of not being wanted.

I’m done. I’m DONE letting these fears define who I am. I’m DONE letting these fears steal my peace and leave me feeling “less.” Last year I made a lot of progress… but this year… THIS year… I am going for it.

You know… I was made in HIS image. I am MADE for MORE… and you know what? So are you.

We get so caught up in the negativity around us… the failures… the gossip… the keeping up with the Jones’s… that we find ourselves focusing so much on SELF. And we STAY so focused on self, that we fail to see what’s right in front of us.

We fail to see the little blessings that come with each and every day. The tiny miracles that make up this LIFE that we were so blessed to live. As a result, we end up missing out on these precious moments with which we have been gifted!

So this year, I have made a list of resolutions. A list of the things that I will be working on. Areas that will help me to grow as a better parent… a better spouse… a better friend… a better leader… and I’d love to invite you to join me.

My list of resolutions:

I resolve to dream. To stop putting limits on myself. To stop looking to others to set my limits and my capabilities. To stop saying “I can’t” and to KNOW that I CAN and I WILL.

I resolve to smile more. To find the beauty in the moment. To CHOOSE to see the brighter side of things. To let go of the negativity and bring joy to those around me.

I resolve to be a better example to my children and my friends. To know that every action and every REACTION are watched closely and absorbed by those around me, and to CHOOSE to act accordingly.
#betheexample

I resolve to love harder. To stop worrying about what I have to lose by opening my heart, and to focus only on what I have to gain. To let down the walls that have been a barrier to those who are so precious to me.

I resolve to let go of the opinions of others. To realize that these opinions do not define me. To not let what others think of me or my decisions change who I am or what I do.

I resolve not to compare myself to others. To stop looking for my self-worth based on what those around me are doing or what those around me have or have accomplished. To see the good that I have accomplished. To truly do my best and forget the rest.

I resolve to count my blessings each and every day. To stop complaining about the things that go wrong or aren’t perfect, and to see through grateful eyes. To remind myself that I have been TRULY blessed, and there are many out there who are REALLY suffering.

I resolve to be more present to those around me. To put my phone and other distractions away when with another person. To remember to listen and absorb everything they are saying. To show them they are WORTH my time and attention by being truly present.

I resolve to control the controllable and let go of everything else. To take care of the things that are within my control, and to not let the things that I have no control over steal my peace.

I resolve to get rid of the junk in my life and to live more simply. To purge my house, my computer and my life of the things that don’t matter. To remove the things that clutter it up and steal my precious time and peace so I have room for more important things.

I resolve to build a deeper relationship with my God. To get to know the Maker and Creator of the Universe in a more intimate and passionate way. To rekindle the fire within.

Most of all, this year I resolve to STOP the voices of fear and doubt from telling me that I am not worth loving.

To FORGIVE the past memories that whisper those lies at perfect little moments trying steal my peace.

To SILENCE the voice of failure.

And finally… I resolve to NAME each of these lies. To lay them to rest along with all of the fears that have been stealing my peace year after year. I will let them go, one by one, and not look back.

Because this year… THIS YEAR… I CHOOSE to LIVE FEARLESSLY.