Why Fear is My Word of the Year

Word of the Year is a totally new concept to me. Sure, like a decade ago I would pretend to set a resolution knowing I wouldn’t stick to it. It seemed like the second I set a resolution or insisted on living up to a big goal was the same second I totally started panicking. Wayne Dyer once said this about quitting alcohol for 20 years, “If I’d have said to myself 20 years ago, ‘Wayne, you’re going to quit drinking for the next 20 years.’ I would have gone immediately and had a drink. Because it’s just. too. big.” –Man, I gotta start listening to that guy again.

Anywho, I haven’t set an actual resolution for myself in years. But this year, on New Years Eve I decided to pick a Word of the Year. The word I chose was “fear” and I want to share with you a little bit about why.

Time for change

In 2018 I worked crazy hard to be a different person than I used to be. I changed in so many ways. But, like Wayne says, I didn’t do it all at once. It was a thousands tiny steps in the right direction.

“The journey of a 1,000 miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

By the end of the year I had established better work, fitness and home habits.

I started working out again consistently and insisted that working out be a part of my day…for my mental health.

Work/Life Balance

Even though I run the blog from home and homeschool, I started setting my alarm. There was no actual reason for me to get up at a certain time, but I chose to so that I could spend my morning accomplishing the things I wanted before I dove into what my kids needed for school that day.

I practiced living life on a schedule and that included self care, family time, blogging time, and dinner time.

As a person who organization doesn’t come natural to, this was a huge accomplishment for me.

Planning 2019

Since I knew I was going to be taking these good habits into 2019 with me, I knew it was time to start pushing my limits. Fear is a great way to do that.

Am I saying I want to be afraid all of 2019? Yeah. Kind of.

Often times we fear things because our brain is working to keep us “safe.” And what I mean by safe is…or brain is working to keep us in our comfort zone.

We’re safe here in our comfort zone.

I don’t know about you, but I want to see what is beyond the limits of my comfort zone.

My 2019 goals (some of them)

• Grow the blog
• Help others simplify their lives and finances
• Create another course
• Write an ebook

I know damn well I will not be reaching these goals if I keep doing the same things I’ve always done. Oh, no. It’s going to take some fear. Some pushing.

To grow the blog, I’m going to have to reach out to people I have never talked to. I am going to have to form relationships, or write posts for other blogs…and put myself out there.

Another part of that fear goal is staying consistent with my YouTube videos. Yup…I definitely feel awkward talking to the camera. I wonder who in the world will ever want to watch these? BUT I don’t care…because fear is not going to hold me back anymore.

Did you pick a word for your year? It’s not too late if you haven’t.