Word of the Year 2018: Manifest

If you really know me, I mean really know me, You know I have dreams!!

I’m always asking my friends to pray for my dreams, but I'm never really transparent about what those dreams are because I have a tendency to change my mind and not follow through. I have so many good ideas and goals for my life, I just sometimes talk myself out things before I can actually execute.

Well this year I told myself things would be different and this is the first step.

Background Story:

At the end of 2014, I was introduced to the Word of the Year concept to replace New Years Resolutions. I completed a devotion on the Bible app called "One Word that Will Change Your Life" and it literally changed my life. Instead of setting all these New Year's Resolutions that I would probably forget about by February 1st, the idea was to develop a one word theme to provide clarity and purpose for what I wanted to achieve for the upcoming year. The intent was to take time to reflect on my life and truly seek out what God wanted me to accomplish for the year, making sure that the word would be aligned with His plan and have impact in all areas of my life: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, relational, and financial. 

In 2015, my word for the year was Moderation. I had moved back to Chicago in September of 2013 and spent the rest of that year and all of 2014 catching up on the social life that I missed out on when I was in college and living in Green Bay post-graduation. Yes, Green Bay, Wisconsin. 2014 was all about reclaiming my happiness and just living a carefree life that I truly enjoyed. I kicked it hard and started to notice some poor habits that I didn't want to continue i.e. binge watching all 10 seasons of Grey's Anatomy and baking cookies every single night of the week. I had fitness goals and career goals, amongst other things, that required me to not just come home and sit on the couch for hours after work until it was time for bed. I realized that I lacked self-control in multiple areas of my life and wanted to find some balance between turning up and adulting. It took me almost the entire year to grasp the concept of moderation (and for some of my friends to understand that I wasn't trying to kick it every night lol), but once I began to understand that there was a time for everything it helped to focus my time on things that were a little more fulfilling.

'There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:' Ecclesiastes 3:1

In 2016, I chose the word Intentional. Moderation felt a little restrictive and that's probably why I struggled with it. I realized that I wanted to continue to do the things I loved to do and stop doing the things that I didn't. If I wanted to turn up with my friends all weekend that was cool as long as I was intentional about planning to do that. I had just gotten into yoga and loved the concept of setting the intention for your practice - consciously thinking about what you wanted to do and what outcome you wanted to get out of something. That was such a fulfilling year because I was so intentional about how I spent my time and who I spent it with. Although I was introduced to minimalism in 2012, it wasn't until 2016 when I truly started my minimalism journey. I got rid of so much stuff that no longer served a purpose in my life and was very intentional about what I brought into my life. I was even intentional with my prayers. I purchased a white board and began to document my prayers on my "Prayer Board". I was very specific and intentional with my requests to God and made sure to give Him thanks and praise every single time I was able to erase a prayer that He answered off the board. It also helped to spend more time with Him as there were things that stayed on my "Prayer Board" much longer than I expected. As I truly began to understand the power of intention, I slowly saw my life begin to transform.

"All things are working for my good. He's intentional, never failing" - Travis Greene, Intentional

2017 was a year of transition. I had been praying for some things to happen and was patiently (well, sometimes impatiently) waiting on God to answer my prayers. I chose Preparation as my word for the year. I was planning to move to St. Louis to be closer to my boyfriend and needed to get a new job to make that transition. I was discouraged that it was taking longer than expected and wanted to adjust my attitude. I wanted to create an attitude of expectancy and trust. I wanted to have faith that God would give me a job offer, but I also wanted to be prepared if it didn't happen when I thought it would happen, or maybe not at all. My theme song for the year was "I'm Gonna be Ready" by Yolanda Adams. In the song she says, "Prepare my mind, prepare my heart for whatever comes. I'm gone' be ready." I wanted to prepare myself for all of God's blessings, as well as the test and trials that may come my way.

'Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.' Proverbs 24:27

'Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.' 1 Peter 3:15

By mid 2017, I had moved to St. Louis, started a new job, and moved into my new apartment. My prayers had been answered. But at the end of that year, when I reviewed and reflected on the other goals I had set, I realized that there were a few things that I would put on the list year after year and never really make any progress on. I was letting fear and doubt keep me from truly achieving all the things God placed me on this Earth to achieve. So for 2018, my word for the year is Manifest. I want to pursue my passion and chase those dreams I've been asking my friends to pray for for years. I want to have it all, I want to live my best life, and this is the first step! On my 29th birthday, I'm taking the step to manifest all that God has for me on this Earth. Thanks for joining me on this journey and I'm excited to see what is to come from it!