New Year Confessions

Hi guys! Hope you had a Merry & Happy everything! Welcome to 2015
Ok, Confession Time: Traditionally, this isn’t my favorite time of year. I don’t know about you, but the anticipation of the New Year can bring a lot of anxiety to me. As a slowly recovering perfectionist ;), sometimes goals, the idea of “re-inventing” myself and setting expectations for the coming year can stir up a lot of fear, even depression. While others are looking forward to the New Year, I have a tendency to get overwhelmed by the progress I want to make or wish I had made in the previous year, and I can shrink back.
I always thought there was something terribly wrong with me. Why should someone get depressed about a New Beginning? But then I realized, it wasn’t the New Beginning, it was the pressure I was putting on myself to “make the most” of this new beginning.When I took on that pressure, that’s when the lies would start. They would rush in as I allowed the enemy of my soul to stand guard at the flood gate. Lies like:
-“This year won’t be any different.”
-“Why should you even make goals, you know you’ll just be disappointed when they don’t come to pass.”
-“You’ll be at this same place next year and the year after that…”
Sound painfully familiar to anyone else?
We have 2 options when this kind of attack is unleashed against us.

1. Cower in fear. Believe the lies. Walk in shame. Don’t say anything because of course you’re the only person in the world feeling like this. Succumb to a Small Life.

2. Recognize that the God of the Universe, the one who created you with purpose and destiny would never have these thoughts toward you. Then get aggressive about replacing those lies with truths. (Read more about how to do that here.)

I sure hope you have the courage to pick #2. And here’s a little something to get you moving in the right direction. Thanks, Pinterest 😉

Knowing that I could easily default to buying the lies, this year I started a new tradition. On NYE morning I grabbed my 2014 calendar & my journal and began writing down all the good that had happened, all the ways I had seen God’s faithfulness and all the reasons I had to celebrate.
Reasons like:
Dates with our awesome niece

Having the opportunity to go to 2 marriage retreats. I can’t recommend A Weekend to Remember enough!
Getting to see the Blue Man Group! Crossed that one off the ol’ bucket list
Birthday Celebrations! Chris and I are big believers in birthdays.

Writing, Directing, & Acting along side my sister

The bittersweet-ness of passing the baton of youth ministry to an incredible couple
“Chopped” Dates with Chris where we made yummy food like this

and this. And all allergy free I might add 🙂

The birth of our nephew!

The Sand Dunes and our 1^st Vlog 🙂

Running my 1^st 10k alongside my sis & Kristen from ACoupleofCloyds. You should definitely check out her blog, she’s awesome. Having my Dad at the Finish Line was the icing on the cake.

Lots of Farmers Marketing

AND…The 1^st Pursuit of Love Conference! Check it out here & here.

This year, let’s celebrate our wins and not be so hard on ourselves.
This year, let’s enjoy our journey. As the old saying goes, life is what happens when you’re making other plans.
This year, let’s set goals and go after them with everything inside of us, but let’s also give ourselves grace and not throw in the towel when life inevitability happens.
This year, let’s remember that God is the one who puts dreams and vision in us. But, He doesn’t beat us up when we fall short. Instead, He spurs us on through the power of His love and reminds us of the truth that will lead us to freedom.
This year, instead of focusing on the all the would’ve, could’ve should’ve’s, lets focus on all of the “wins” from 2014 and all that we have to look forward to in the coming year.
I’ve got lots of new posts coming your way; lots of ways to insert a little hope and celebrate your No Small Life! But first, let’s focus on the wins from last year and I guarantee it will put you in a better frame of mind for 2015.

Until next time,

Meg