This Simple Texas Girl’s Vision 2020
January 14, 2020
I’ve looked back and honestly, enjoyed it. I got to see just HOW the word INTENTIONAL wove itself through my year. When I was thinking about what my word should be for THIS year, I wanted it to be like last year, a word that just came to me. Because it really did. I didn’t have to choose a word. That one just felt right. It was the RIGHT word for 2019.
As I looked at my vision board from last year, I realized that my 2019 visions weren’t done. Some don’t have a short end date. And some are just a challenge to try and put a completion date. I don’t want to give up on those goals. I want to keep working on them until they become a reality. I decided that I wanted to keep the word INTENTIONAL and add FOCUS. I want to be INTENTIONALLY FOCUSED on my goals.
Yet, something didn’t FEEL complete. I just felt like there was another word for this year. I continued my search. I did some of those quizzes to see what came up. Some didn’t feel like my word or vision, if you will. THEN, this word came up. BLOOM! I started thinking about what the word BLOOM means. The definition of it is a state or time of great activity, thriving or achievement. I can see how the year will have “great activity”. I plan on continuing to work towards the goals I set last year that haven’t been completed. Plus, I have a few other activities planned for myself. Thriving? Sure! I felt that way last year to a certain extent. I plan on making that happen even more. Achievement lines up with my business goals and if I’m honest, personal ones as well.
I’ve looked back and honestly, enjoyed it. I got to see just HOW the word INTENTIONAL wove itself through my year. When I was thinking about what my word should be for THIS year, I wanted it to be like last year, a word that just came to me. Because it really did. I didn’t have to choose a word. That one just felt right. It was the RIGHT word for 2019.
As I looked at my vision board from last year, I realized that my 2019 visions weren’t done. Some don’t have a short end date. And some are just a challenge to try and put a completion date. I don’t want to give up on those goals. I want to keep working on them until they become a reality. I decided that I wanted to keep the word INTENTIONAL and add FOCUS. I want to be INTENTIONALLY FOCUSED on my goals.
Yet, something didn’t FEEL complete. I just felt like there was another word for this year. I continued my search. I did some of those quizzes to see what came up. Some didn’t feel like my word or vision, if you will. THEN, this word came up. BLOOM! I started thinking about what the word BLOOM means. The definition of it is a state or time of great activity, thriving or achievement. I can see how the year will have “great activity”. I plan on continuing to work towards the goals I set last year that haven’t been completed. Plus, I have a few other activities planned for myself. Thriving? Sure! I felt that way last year to a certain extent. I plan on making that happen even more. Achievement lines up with my business goals and if I’m honest, personal ones as well.
One of the verses that was at the top of my vision board was Jeremiah 29:11. It is also a key verse for the word BLOOM. God’s plans for me, when I seek them, allow me to bloom into my purpose and thrive. I can choose to go through life ignoring the plans HE has for me and do my own things OR I can SEEK His plans and do my best to follow through. Why would anyone choose to do the latter? Simply put, because when you fully understand just how much He loves you and what He has done FOR you, it becomes something that can bring you great joy and peace each day.
I’ve always TRIED to have a morning quiet time, you know, putting God first in every day. It’s easier said than done. Why is that? Because we feel like we can put HIM on the back burner and just check in when WE have a spare second? Because He isn’t someone standing there MAKING you do it? Because you are so busy and just can’t spare fifteen minutes to read His Word and pray for those you care about? Let me tell you, it is MORE than worth the effort to find that time each and every morning. Last year I was finally able to do it so many times that it just comes naturally to me, just like breathing. I get up, get dressed, make a cup of coffee and sit down with my Bible app and my workbook. Some days I have more time than on other days. I might not be able to get up early enough to have it completely quiet. But I do my best to still focus on the verse the pastor has set up for us to read that day.
I’ve always TRIED to have a morning quiet time, you know, putting God first in every day. It’s easier said than done. Why is that? Because we feel like we can put HIM on the back burner and just check in when WE have a spare second? Because He isn’t someone standing there MAKING you do it? Because you are so busy and just can’t spare fifteen minutes to read His Word and pray for those you care about? Let me tell you, it is MORE than worth the effort to find that time each and every morning. Last year I was finally able to do it so many times that it just comes naturally to me, just like breathing. I get up, get dressed, make a cup of coffee and sit down with my Bible app and my workbook. Some days I have more time than on other days. I might not be able to get up early enough to have it completely quiet. But I do my best to still focus on the verse the pastor has set up for us to read that day.
I’ve got to stay connected to Him so that I can BLOOM. That will mean the fruit I produce is good fruit. As a follower of the Jesus Way, I believe I can do nothing without Him, nothing good. I can do plenty “bad” without Him. I can walk down the wrong path and totally mess up everything I’ve tried to do. I can allow negative thoughts and influences into my mind and my life that will drag me down. If I remain grounded in Him, I’ll be able to BLOOM.
I don’t know if you struggle with those doubts and negative thoughts that can tear down any dream you might have, but I sure do. I have been fighting those my whole life. I didn’t know what they were but I sure do now. Once I realize what I’m hearing and how wrong it is, I do my best to tell it to STOP and go away! You can be caught quite off guard by it and allow it to take you so far from the truth that you don’t even recognize your true goals and desires when those voices are done with you. I’m one of those people who THOUGHT I had that figured out. I read the book and listened to the sermon series from Elevation Church. Steven Furtick is a great pastor. He is great for young people, too. I KNOW there is a liar telling me things to cause me to stumble and to doubt what I am supposed to be doing and the ability to do it through HIM.
Why would I bring this sermon series and book up right now as I’m writing a post about my word and vision for 2020? Because I got caught up in the lies the chatterbox told me last year and didn’t even realize it! I got tons of things done but I have allowed the lies to hold me back for more than just last year.
I was told that I lived in a dream world because I was working towards things on my vision board. This was coming from someone I have deep respect and love for. Someone extremely important to me and whose opinion matters greatly. Doesn’t mean they are always right but I heard and allowed the chatterbox to latch on to it. Guess what I did. I took things OFF my vision board that were BIG goals. I allowed those words to fill my head and my heart. I told myself, “you know, maybe he’s right. How could someone like ME reach that much success anyway? I really am living in a dream world. Better put all those “dreams” where they belong, in the trash.” I began trying to make myself believe that because I wanted those things that it meant I wasn’t thankful or grateful for what I already had. I should just sit back and be happy living the rest of my life right where I am doing the same thing I am doing right now, forever.
I’m NOT saying you shouldn’t be thankful where you are. Paul tells us over and over again how he learned to find joy in good times and bad, when he had much and when he had little. I AM saying that it is OKAY to work for more. It is OKAY to want to live in a better neighborhood. It is OKAY to want to better your life and enjoy more of the things you love to do. I am finding joy in life where I am now WHILE I am working towards those goals.
When my eyes were open to that truth, I put the things back on my vision board. Sadly, I hung on to the belief that I wasn’t good enough to make it happen despite that fact, until yesterday. I attended one of the quarterly events the company that I want to advance in. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew instantly WHAT I wanted and WHY I wasn’t really putting in the effort to make it happen. I was doing my best to find OTHER ways to get the end results, trying to make it seem enough. Even though it was settling for something less than what I really want.
So get ready world, because this is my year to BLOOM and I am going to. My goals will take some time, more than a year. All good things take time. I’m willing to put in the work and see it through. One day at a time is how I like to take things. 2019 was filled with so much good. 2020 is just waiting for it’s story to be written but will pass in the blink of an eye and I will be sitting here writing a look back on it before I know it. I’m going to make it grand!
What is YOUR word for 2020? Do you have one? Do you make a vision board? How do you mark the passing of time in a positive way?
Why would I bring this sermon series and book up right now as I’m writing a post about my word and vision for 2020? Because I got caught up in the lies the chatterbox told me last year and didn’t even realize it! I got tons of things done but I have allowed the lies to hold me back for more than just last year.
I was told that I lived in a dream world because I was working towards things on my vision board. This was coming from someone I have deep respect and love for. Someone extremely important to me and whose opinion matters greatly. Doesn’t mean they are always right but I heard and allowed the chatterbox to latch on to it. Guess what I did. I took things OFF my vision board that were BIG goals. I allowed those words to fill my head and my heart. I told myself, “you know, maybe he’s right. How could someone like ME reach that much success anyway? I really am living in a dream world. Better put all those “dreams” where they belong, in the trash.” I began trying to make myself believe that because I wanted those things that it meant I wasn’t thankful or grateful for what I already had. I should just sit back and be happy living the rest of my life right where I am doing the same thing I am doing right now, forever.
I’m NOT saying you shouldn’t be thankful where you are. Paul tells us over and over again how he learned to find joy in good times and bad, when he had much and when he had little. I AM saying that it is OKAY to work for more. It is OKAY to want to live in a better neighborhood. It is OKAY to want to better your life and enjoy more of the things you love to do. I am finding joy in life where I am now WHILE I am working towards those goals.
When my eyes were open to that truth, I put the things back on my vision board. Sadly, I hung on to the belief that I wasn’t good enough to make it happen despite that fact, until yesterday. I attended one of the quarterly events the company that I want to advance in. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew instantly WHAT I wanted and WHY I wasn’t really putting in the effort to make it happen. I was doing my best to find OTHER ways to get the end results, trying to make it seem enough. Even though it was settling for something less than what I really want.
So get ready world, because this is my year to BLOOM and I am going to. My goals will take some time, more than a year. All good things take time. I’m willing to put in the work and see it through. One day at a time is how I like to take things. 2019 was filled with so much good. 2020 is just waiting for it’s story to be written but will pass in the blink of an eye and I will be sitting here writing a look back on it before I know it. I’m going to make it grand!
What is YOUR word for 2020? Do you have one? Do you make a vision board? How do you mark the passing of time in a positive way?
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