My Big Word for 2018

Before I chose my big word for 2018, I have to confess that I didn’t know about this movement until recently. 

“This year I’m going to eat better and invest in my health.”

“I’m going to get up earlier and be more grateful.”

Every year at the end of December, we hear people around us and online proclaiming their New Year Resolutions for the upcoming year.

I’ve done it too, but I’ve most often not stuck it out past January 5th. I know, what an achievement!

Then I heard about the One Word Movement

If you’re unfamiliar with it like I was, it goes something like this: You pick one word to define, refine and apply to the upcoming year to better yourself and your life.

I love the idea: It’s simple, straight to the point and can be applied to all areas of life.

I love the inspiration and ideas that come out of them too.

I had never had a big word for the year

It was only about a year ago that I discovered people would choose a word to carry them into the new year. While initially I thought it was kind of silly (I have a weird sense of humor sometimes), as I was reading more about people’s experiences and reasons for doing so, it became clear that it could really make an impact if we allow it.

And so here we are, and now I’m joining the chorus of “this is my word” rhetoric on the internet.

Before I get to the nitty gritty, I wanted to share with you how I narrowed my words down to help me choose a finalist.

As I was pondering and researching words, I learned a few important points to help narrow it down if you’re struggling with your own sentiment:

• Choose something that’s not too specific. You want to be able to use this word to cover all aspects of your life you wish to impart this wisdom into.
• Choose something that will motivate you and push you into action.
• Don’t strive for perfection. If you take too long to choose something, often our brain gets overwhelmed and doesn’t want to think anymore.

I decided to prioritize in order to find my big word for 2018

I thought about what matters most to me. The things I wanted to cherish more and put my best into.

Once I had pondered it enough, I made my decision and chose a word.

A word that would touch the following areas of my life:

• Faith
• Marriage
• My Blog
• My Dreams

Invest. 

To invest in my faith, my marriage, my blog and dreams. To take risks and see what happens.

Faith

My walk with God has too often become distant. I become too busy, too obsessed with all the things I need to do. I’m ashamed of how I have allowed that to happen so easily. 

So I’ve decided I don’t want to feel distant from God. I never have. I want to move passed the “checklist” mentality and really dig deeper into God’s Word. He is the author of life, and I want to discover that in a deep and meaningful way for myself.  

How will I invest?
• Getting up earlier to read in the Bible
• Journaling my thoughts and prayers
• Memorizing verses
• Telling my husband to keep myself accountable

Investing in my faith is the best thing I could do for my life. It will not only make me stronger, it’s going to allow me to hear God’s voice more clearly. And that’s what it’s all about, a two way conversation between God and I. A real relationship where true faith is forged.

Marriage

Our marriage is good, but as the lyrics go, “I don’t wanna settle for good, not great.” There’s been many things that have unexpectedly come up that we weren’t prepared for. They have tested our patience and understanding, but God is faithful.

Marriage is our top priority and perhaps that’s why God allows things to come up. To test us, to see if we’re willing to not just talk the talk but walk the walk.

Most often it’s the small things. Like realizing the schedule is far too crammed and in order to actually bond and connect, other things have to be cut out in order to invest into our marriage in a meaningful way.

How to invest?

• Make God the center of your marriage. For real.
• Do little things for each other – like leaving a note
• Appreciate your partner for who they are
• Read the Bible and pray together
• Share your hopes and dreams
• Try something new together
• Make date night non-negotiable

If you’ve been married for any amount of time, you know it’s not always easy. But what we’ve discovered is that it’s always worth fighting for. Those hard uncomfortable talks are worth it if it means a deeper connection and happier marriage for both partners.

My Blog

My blogging journey has been a roller coaster. I could never have imagined the amount of work required to start a blog. You’re taking on 10 positions all at once and it’s been overwhelming most of the time.

I know if I don’t want to feel stuck forever, I need to make changes. I need to invest into my blog.

How will I do this?

• Finishing my Elite Blog Academy course
• Getting a newsletter up and running
• Spending less time on social media and more on the actual blog
• Learning everything there is to know about Pinterest
• Finding an accountability partner
• Not being afraid to spend money on a course if it’s truly valuable
• Putting in daily work

They said that starting a blog is not for the faint of heart, and I don’t question that statement anymore.

I do know, though, that if you have enough passion for it, nothing will stop you from starting. The key is to continue showing up. Because it’s in the day-to-day routine where the magic happens.

My Dreams

Dreams are fun, aren’t they? For one, they don’t cost a thing. Two, the possibilities are endless. You can create a massive library, build a new farmhouse or visit the inside of a Giza pyramid.

That last one actually came true for me.

I had wanted to go to Egypt since I was 11 years old and in April 2013 I finally made it happen.

I still take that passion and drive to make that trip happen with me for other big dreams.

And so I knew I wanted my big word to allow me to invest in my dreams.

What are some of these dreams?

• Repaint our kitchen cabinets
• Build a community of decor enthusiasts who want to be a light for Christ
• Make money on this blog eventually
• Become a brand rep for a small business or home decor shop

I have many more, but for the purposes of investing for this year, these are the ones that came to the forefront of my mind.

How am I going to invest in these dreams?

1. I’m going to research painting kitchen cabinets and buying all the paint and supplies needed to do the project.
2. Send out newsletters and share tips and inspiration to decorate and love your home. I’ll share my experiences that God has brought me to and through and provide encouragement for your daily life.
3. There are many ways to make money blogging, and I want to always be open and authentic with you guys. I wouldn’t recommend a product or company to you unless I personally loved their products and what they stood for. This includes things like affiliate links, ebooks and courses.
4. In order to become a brand rep, I’ll have to put myself out there. I’m on Instagram and will continue to share and connect with fellow home decor enthusiasts and be thankful for opportunities that may come up.

As you can see, investing into your year takes effort. It’s not just choosing a word, it’s having a strategy in order to apply this big word to your year.

If you want to eat healthier, invest in some meal prep planners. Plan your grocery list ahead of time, and look for recipes that will help you stay on track with your health goals.

If you want to tackle more projects around your home, start making a list. Which one is priority, and also fits with your budget right now? If your budget doesn’t allow for this project to happen, make a strategy to put aside some money every month to get closer to this goal.

The key is always to take small steps. And then to keep going, onto the next step.  And the next. That’s how progress happens.

Even though I know what I’m investing in this year, I know I can’t expect it all to happen overnight. Anything good takes time and effort.

And now that I know what the Big Word Movement is all about, I’m ready for the challenge. Are you?