Creating the Best Year (& You) Yet

Creating the Best Year (& You) Yet

There are so many New Year’s Resolutions we as a society fall prey to— the most common ones related to health, appearance, and finances.

But what do you really want this year?

Do you want that six-pack, or do you simply want to be able to keep up with your kids when they’re running around without huffing and puffing?

Do you want a specific amount of money in your banking account, or do you want to simply be able to be more generous in supporting a cause that matters to you?

I try to build my own goals around who I want to be, not what I want to do or have. It’s a tricky balance, because those things are often intertwined. What it really comes down to is the why, the reason we’re chasing a particular dream or goal.

So why do you want what you want?

Who do you want to be and why?

Maybe you want to be a strong person.

Maybe you want to be a cheerful person.

Maybe you want to be the kind of person who shops at farmer’s markets and buys local.

Maybe you want to be the mom who packs her kids’ lunches the night before instead of rushing in the morning.

Maybe you want to start leading your family in prayer before dinner.

Maybe you want to have family traditions like pizza and movie Fridays or slow Sunday afternoons.

Who do you want to be? What do you want your life and your family’s life to look like on a regular basis?

I find these kinds of goals are more sustainable because they’re more connected to our hearts and values, not just outward appearances and comparison.

We are our best selves when we’re motivated to reach for things that really matter, causes that touch our heart, issues that speak to us, and changes that can truly be transformational at a heart level.

Now, of course, those goals and dreams can be accomplished by smaller, more ordinary goals.

For instance, I want to work on building a family culture of sitting around the dinner table together more days than not, reading a little family devotion, and even working together to make the food sometimes.

That means looking through my cookbooks that I have because loving family and friends have given them to me, and there’s something special about using them instead of just food blogs (which I also love).

It means committing myself to meal plan on a regular basis so everyone knows what the plan is for the week, reducing miscommunication.

It means taking better inventory of what’s in the kitchen so I don’t miss things I needed to get at the store.

It means joyfully coming home and working on dinner (by myself or with company) and serving it with grace, not perfection. It also means intentionally planning nights out as a much-needed breather.

Who do you want to be this year? And what does that mean for your everyday habits and choices? I’d love to hear from you!