Get Organized This Year
How to Plan Your Life
How to Stop Procrastinating and Start Doing
Your Best Year Ever
2015: The Year of Simplicity
I've been working on this post in my head for days and days. I even made a video for it - to invite you to join me for a year of organizational greatness and personal fulfillment. I mapped out an editorial calendar that would take posts through May, and all that was left to do was type up this post and figure out a title.
Home Sanctuary - Make it Happen in 2015? Nah.
Nothing seemed to work, because as I looked over the next five months of blog post ideas (which I'm really excited about!) I realized something important. I realized that no matter what I talk about, or what kind of tip, trick or bit of encouragement I share, none of it will make an ounce of difference to you....if you are stuck in fear.
I know this, because I've been there.
I've been afraid...and always, it seems, for good reason.
Afraid to set a goal, because I'll fail once again.
Afraid to let go of clutter, because I might need that (fill in the blank) some day.
Afraid to enjoy my kids, in case they turn out rebellious and awful because I didn't spank enough.
Afraid to pick a paint color, because I might end up hating it.
Afraid to love someone fully, because I know I'll be disappointed or hurt by them.
Afraid to trust God, because I know He'll require me to move to Africa to be a missionary or something.
Afraid to use the good china, because someone might break a dish.
Afraid to brush up on my job skills because....I'll never get hired anyway.
Afraid of the future because the world is about to end.
Afraid of, well...you name it.
Afraid, afraid. The list of things to fear, and the perfectly "logical" reasons to fear them, just goes on and on. I still fight it.
But this should be our year.
This should be our year to be the opposite of afraid: we should be unafraid. Brave, even.
We can be brave.
We can choose to stop letting fear be the determining factor in our decision-making. We can swallow hard, square our shoulders, and step forward into the light.
You see, fear keeps us in the shadows. It keeps us messy and disorganized. It keeps us apologetic and regretful. It keeps us mediocre, and unimaginative, and uncreative, and unexcited about the future. It keeps us from trying. It keeps us from becoming all God wants us to be. It keeps us stuck.
So this year, 2015, let's get unstuck.
"Perfect love expels all fear," says 1 John 4:18 NLT. You are loved, no matter what.
You are loved when you fail.
You are loved when you disappoint yourself.
You are loved - exactly where you are.
And that love will follow you, enfold you, and envelop you each time you step forward into the unknown.
It will propel you.
It will keep you from falling.
This year, let love make you brave enough to change. Let that love help you work toward creating a sanctuary for yourself and for the people in your life. Love yourself enough to become a little bit more organized, more intentional, and more inspired. Love your surroundings enough to make them beautiful. Love your dreams enough to nurture them. Love the life you have...enough to live openly, with kindness and generosity.
This is what I'll be talking about this year. I'll be talking making small changes, and about sanctuary, and parenting (especially teens and young adults), and getting organized and whether or not leggings should be worn by women of a certain age. (ahem). I'll encourage you to take some chances, try some new things, and look for the beauty that's around you.
Take a deep breath, and let's jump in together. 2015, here we come.
My question for you: What ONE FEAR will you let go of this year?
