Christmas has come and gone. Here in south Louisiana, the countdown to Mardi Gras has begun. Every year around this time, my timeline is full of those New Year, New Me posts. I know I am not alone. Let me be clear, I have nothing against people changing or bettering themselves, but what I have come to notice is that the same people are making these posts year after year. In the past, I have made vision boards and resolutions. A lot of those resolutions I kept, but a lot I did not. This year I have decided not to make any resolutions or vision boards. Instead, I am revisiting and setting some simple principles in my life. I am sharing them with you in the hopes that you will do the same.
Choose You
Make yourself a priority. As moms and wives, we are constantly giving our time and talents to others. We are always prioritizing the needs of our families, marriage, and friendships. But when do we prioritize ourselves? Sadly, we are often an afterthought. We give ourselves the bare minimum while giving everyone else the world. In the new year, make yourself and your needs a priority. How you choose yourself is up to you; it can be as simple as going for a run or getting a workout in, sitting in your driveway for a few moments before going in the house, or planning a self-care day. Or it can be as big as quitting the job, writing the book, ending the relationship, or starting the business. Fight the guilt, and take the leap. Just put yourself first!
Invest in Yourself
Often times we as women put our aspirations, hobbies, and goals on the shelf for the needs of our families. This is the year to dust one of them off and get it started. Investing time into something you love will make you a better spouse and mom. You will be more fulfilled and the joy you get from investing in yourself will benefit your family as well.
Just Say No
Just say it! No! Feels good, doesn’t it? Learn to say no to anyone and anything that does not bring you joy or serves a purpose in your life. Marie Kondo your life! While it is way easier said than done, it is extremely beneficial to your life. By unapologetically saying no, you give space to the things you really need to do or enjoy doing. During COVID, my family and I spent so much quality time together. It was then that I realized that it was
because we were involved in too much. And that is when I knew that I needed to learn to say no. At first, the no was always followed by an excuse or reason. But now, the answer is just no. Prioritize who and what brings joy to you and your family and say no to the rest. Get into the habit of asking yourself honestly, “does this support the life I am trying to create?” If not, release it.
Choose Your Word
Recently I saw a post about choosing a word or phrase to focus on for the year. Now you must be intentional about the word you choose. This word should resonate in every aspect of your life. It should serve you physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually. Once you find that word, write it down, define it, and find scripture and/or quotes that coincide with that word. Place this word everywhere! Your bathroom mirror, car, desk, closet anywhere you frequent. By keeping this word in the forefront of your mind, you use it as a guide to frame all the events, activities, and decisions you make.
I hope this helps you in the new year. Choose, invest, and love yourself and your family at all costs. In the new year, I pray you all have health, wealth, grace, prosperity, and joy. Unspeakable Joy!
