Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed a meaningful Christmas season with the people you love. I’m excited to return today after a few weeks away hanging out with my precious family. Time off is so important, but I must admit to greatly missing you and this space.
I want to share three incredible lessons that were truly life changing for me this year. They each created habits which I have no doubt will continue to serve me for years to come. I hope you find them helpful as well.
1. Using a one word theme instead of goals for the year will release a monumental amount of guilt in your life.
My one word for 2015 was Health. In years past, I would have health as one of around 10 areas I wanted to improve for the year. Under the health category, several concrete goals were always listed, including a specific number of pounds I needed to lose for a successful year.
These overwhelming and inflexible plans always caused an obscene amount of guilt every December as I reflected on the many unmet goals on my crazy, impossible list. I would be heartbroken as I rewrote each item as an expectation for the upcoming year.
This year was different. I didn’t lose a pound. I actually maybe even gained a few. Thankfully, that wasn’t my goal. Focusing on the word health helped me see all the gains I’ve made in this area, without being trapped in specific numbers and statistics.
I started training as a health coach in September, with plans to use myself as my first client. I’m so excited about this new education I’m receiving and the 97 I just got on my first test! Stay tuned to the monthly Turning to Food updates for my future coaching plans. The series will return this month.
A love of fasting also developed from my Health focus in 2015. I’m looking forward to continuing learning about and practicing this incredible tool and sharing it here throughout the coming year.
Stop in next week for my one word focus for 2016.
2. Other people are the best accountability tool ever.
You and this little space on the internet have changed my life. Before I started blogging, I was a complete introvert. I never imagined how important other people are to following through with personal projects.
Since I started sharing my life here with you, I completed both a 31-day and 21-day detox program. This is something I’ve wanted to do for many years, but it took committing to each program here in this space to make me finally follow through.
I’ve also finished books from my rapidly growing to be read pile. The amount of books laying around my house is overwhelming. I absolutely love to read, but it gets pushed down on my to do list far too often. Thanks to the accountability of my 2015 TBR Pile and now the upcoming 2016 List, I actually read at least one entire book a month to share with you.
I plan to start some group challenges this year so we can help each other on our life journeys. Please be sure to join me on my new Facebook page which is where these will take place. Hopefully the extra support and fun prizes will bless you as much as you continue to bless me. Thank you!
3. The entire day is completely transformed when the first few moments are spent with God.
Earlier this year, I started beginning each day with God through a Hello Mornings group. This helped me first learn the benefits of reading the Word before any other daily task. I ended up leaving this group after a few months in order to unplug for the summer.
After returning online, I received an email invitation to a new app from Proverbs 31 Ministries called First 5. I’ve been hooked on this one ever since. The app sets off 2 alarms for me, one in the morning to wake up and one at 3pm. At those times, I read the short devotion they share and the corresponding scriptures.
Through these small daily breaks, the entire Bible will be read in 4 years. I know that sounds like a long time, but it works out to about a chapter a day with weekends off to meditate on the week’s readings. It’s named the First 5 to represent spending the first 5 minutes with God before anything else—checking social media, email… Having the app and readings on my phone allow me to not even need to lift my head from my pillow to get started with Him each morning.
I hope these lessons will serve you as they have me this year. I would love to hear what you learned in 2015 in the comments below!
In the past few months of 2015, I focused on the word HEALTH too An injury prevented me from working out for several months and I remember thinking: “I just want to be healthy.” I’ve also recently started a morning prayer journal. We have much in common!
We do have a lot in common, Barbara! I’m sorry to hear about your injury. I hope you are all healed soon. Wanting to be healthy has been so much better for me than setting the concrete goals I used to. I’m looking forward to continuing my health journey this year as well. Many blessings to you in 2016!
Candace,
Sweet friend always so happy to receive your posts. I’m happy you’ve granted yourself some grace as you walk the ever changing road of being a disciple. Congrats on becoming a health coach. I join you in looking forward to what 2016 will bring.
Happy New Year, Tyra! You are an inspiration in the area of health, my friend. I’m so glad to finally allow some grace in my life. I was rigid with unattainable goals for far too long. This one word theme concept really works for me :).
Perfect, Candace! Loving your thoughts here… Thank you for the insight and wisdom.
Each of the three —so important.
As for #3 I’m taking your advice and not rushing fast forward into each day. …..will be joining your fb discussion ( I did not know you had a page for your blog until now! sorry!)
Candace…..happy new year 2016 to you and your family….I look fwd to connecting this year in the blogosphere and fb!
xoxoxo
Chris
Hi Chris! I look forward to hanging out with you this year too, my friend. I just added my Facebook blog page a couple of months ago. I’ve avoided it for the entire time I’ve been writing here, but it was time to add it. I’ll make sure I’m following your page as well. I forgot to follow some people that I’m personal friends with there (like you 🙂 ). I guess when I see blog stuff in my feed from personal accounts, I accidentally thought I was following the blog page too. Anyway, I’ve been on a social media break over the past couple of weeks. When I get back on FB this weekend, I’ll definitely stop by and fix that!
Welcome back, Candace! It’s so good to see you again!
And thanks for sharing your learnings with us. I leave here feeling inspired by your forward looking attitude and plans to succeed. Love this … even though I’ll be the first to admit that I have very little direction for 2016 on paper right about now.
But stuff is floating around in my head and heart … and at least that’s a start, right?
;-}
Hugs!
It’s so good to see you again too, Linda! I think entering 2016 with no direction on paper is a beautiful idea. That’s probably exactly where you’re supposed to be, my friend :). Hugs to you!
Welcome back, Candace! I love that you share what you learned this year. I’m so glad you can see the gains you have made. 🙂 #3 is so important for our physical, emotional, and spiritual health, isn’t it? I’m looking forward to your One Word for this year. Have a Blessed 2016!
Hi Trudy! #3 is the most important by far. It has been so life changing for me. I can’t say I do this perfectly or even consistently, but when I start my day with God, my day is always better. Many blessings to you in 2016 as well, my friend!
Excellent things to learn!
Thank you! I’m looking forward to seeing what lessons 2016 brings :).
Hello my dear friend!! I pray you had a wonderful Christmas and here’s to a New Year full of BLESSINGS to be had! I love each one of these lessons you learned- they make so much sense. I have truly enjoyed walking alongside you through each one of them too…learning so much with you about all these things. <3
I need to get that app. STAT. And I think my word for the year will be "WORTHY"… I'm still pondering on it and praying about it though. It just keeps popping in my head… I believe God keeps placing it there for many reasons. 🙂
Worthy, I LOVE it, Chris. I may have to steal that one for a future year. I’ve adored having you alongside me as well, my friend. Definitely grab the First 5 app. It’s awesome and free so there’s nothing to lose :). Looking forward to hanging out with you more throughout 2016!
Health is the one precious gift which we have to treasure.
Praying for you. God bless.
I can’t agree more with what a precious gift our health is, Victor. It took me being in a bad place with it to truly appreciate the importance. Thanks so much for the prayers. Many blessings to you!
Happy New Year, Candace! So happy to have you back with us! I had to take a few weeks off as well, but it’s such a joy to be back and have the sweet privilege of communing with you all again. Wonderful post you’ve shared here, Love! Thank you and may THE LORD bless you now and always, beautiful friend! 🙂
Thanks so much, Tai! I’m happy to have you back from your break as well. They really are so necessary sometimes. Many blessings to you in 2016, my friend!
Oh Candace what a beautiful post. Well said my friend. Happy 2016 to you. I hope it is a good one.
Thanks, Jen! Happy 2016 :). I hope yours is fantastic as well, my friend.
The First 5 app sounds wonderful. One of my goals this year is to read the entire New Testament using the bible app. I usually try to read the entire bible and I always get behind and give up. So hopefully this will be easier to accomplish.
Good luck with your health coach endeavor ☺
It’s a great app, Sonya. I always have given up trying to read the whole Bible as well. It’s something I’ve never been able to accomplish. I love your idea about just focusing on the New Testament for the year. Thank you for the well wishes on my health coaching. I’m really excited about it :).
What a great idea, to focus on a one-word theme rather than a bunch of goals that are unlikely to be achieved! I love that. Thanks for the inspiration!
This is definitely something I will be sticking with for many years to come, Ashley. The one word focus felt so much better in December than having to look at a list of unmet goals. I hope it works for you if you decide to try it out :). Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve chosen “Organization” again this year, to see if it comes out better this time around.
Hi LuAnn! I desperately need to organize. I think my word for one of the next few years will be LESS :). I’m such a hoarder. My house would be impossible to organize in its current state. So good to see you!
Hi Candace! What a great idea to pick ‘health’. It completely is your theme here! And congrats on going back to school too. You are really motivated! It’s a great inspiration to me.
I love the idea of starting the day with God. I do have prayer time in the mornings, and I love it. It really centers me and provides peace…so needed!
Blessings of good health in 2016! Can’t wait to see what God has in store for you!
Ceil
Thank you, Ceil! School has been an interesting addition to my life. I’m loving the classes but still trying to learn how to schedule my life properly.
God in the morning really does center us. I couldn’t agree more. I’m looking forward to seeing what He has in store for both of us in 2016 :). So glad to be journeying together!
Hey there, enjoyed reading your list. Funny your word was health – it was not mine, but it was a huge focus of 2015. My word for this year is “faithful” – simply being found faithful in the small things: daily routine, relationships, whatever is put in front of me.
I love the word faithful to focus on, Michaela! That is going to lead you to some amazing places :). Many blessings for you in 2016 on this beautiful journey.
Thank you for visiting my Blog.
God bless.
No problem, Victor! It’s so nice to meet you today :).
I love having a one word focus and I talk about mine on the blog today. It is so good to see you here. Stepping away is good for the soul and your family but getting back into community is such a blessing. I look forward to hearing more about your one word and hope we are meeting on Friday.
I can’t wait to see what you will be up to this year with your new word, Mary. I’m glad to see you as well! It’s nice to be back :). I’m looking forward to hanging out Friday, my friend!
Welcome back after your break, Candace! You’ve got 3 great lessons here. I couldn’t agree more about One Word and starting off the day with God’s Word! Life-changing!
Thank you, Betsy! I’m looking forward to seeing what lessons He will bring my way in 2016 :). I love your word for this year. Wonder is something we could all use more of. The one word focus idea has been an amazing new concept for me. I will never go back to a resolutions list!
Dear Candace, I’m so happy to “see you” again. It’s been a long while since I’ve been here. Life has been hectic, but I just wanted to say congratulations on everything you have accomplished. I pray the Holy Spirit continues to guide your path and that all your projects may bring honor to the King. I love the blog and all you’ve done. Congratulations again! Big hugs!
Thanks so much for your sweet encouragement, Gisela. I’m so happy to reconnect with you. I completely understand a hectic life. I’m right there with you, my friend. Hugs to you!
Hey girlie! I’m so glad we’re neighbors today at Kristin’s. Can’t wait to see your oneword2016!
Hi Susan! I’m glad we were neighbor’s too. It’s so great to see you :).
Thank you for sharing this, Candace. I love that you’re looking back right now as well as forward. It’s so encouraging to think of a one-word FOCUS rather than a list of goals for the year. I’m thinking of using seasonal goals this year, rather than yearly. I had 5 goals last year, and I met one of them and made progress on 2 others. I’m considering that a success. Also, I agree that the first few minutes change the day. I’m not perfect at putting time in the Word first, but I’m hoping to improve on that this year! Blessings to you, your neighbor at Coffee for Your Heart today
I would definitely consider that a success as well, Angela. Goals really should be more guides than hard rules :). I love your idea about seasonal goals. I just read an article about making a goal a month. I thought that was really interesting. It may be something I try out with my focus word this year. Having one goal related to it every month seems like it would really help guide me. Blessings to you!
I tweeted all three of your points. I’m starting this year off with a fast as I have done for the past three. It always bring me closer to God and further from the things that destroy me. Thank you for sharing. I connected on Facebook as well.
Thanks for all the tweets, my new friend :). I’m so glad to be connected with you now, Jenny. I love the idea of starting the year off with a fast! I’m new to fasting and have really enjoyed my research into it so far. A Hunger For God by John Piper was one of my favorite books I read this year.
This is so lovely to read, Candace! I’m focusing on one-word this year and replacing my resolutions with it. I agree, it gives you so much more motivation and a lot less guilt when you reflect upon what you’ve done. I also love #2. It’s so true that simply talking about a challenge or writing about it, gives you that much more accountability for it. If that’s not one the biggest motivation to complete a task, then I don’t know what is.
Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful piece with us on #SHINEbloghop today. We’re so happy you were able to join us this week.
I hope to never go back to resolutions again, Maria. December was so much more pleasant this year without all of that heavy guilt from the previous January’s goal setting session :). Thanks so much for the party. It’s always a pleasure to join you.
This is awesome stuff! I’m trying the one word for the first time this year and I’ve already noticed a difference in attitude and expectation with the one word instead of having a list of resolutions. Really great lessons from 2015.
Thank you, Samantha! You will love the one word concept and will probably never return to a long list of goals again :). Many blessings to you in 2016!
Hope your 2016 is off to a wonderful start!
It’s pretty good so far, Akaleistar. I hope yours is wonderful as well!
The best thing I have ever done was to give God a few minutes of my life everyday. Hubby and I have started taking communion at home for our health and I haven’t felt this good in a long while. Loved this post and Happy 2016 to you!!
Happy 2016, Tammy! I love the idea of taking communion at home. I would really like to start doing that. We have missed church a lot lately, and I really miss that part. I’m so glad to hear you are feeling good these days, my friend!