My friend Connie persuaded me to to choose a word for last year that would guide my thinking and behavior, and although I was reluctant to do so at first (there are so many words!), I finally settled on YES. Isn’t that a great word? Earlier this week she reminded me that it was time to choose a new word and told me that her word for 2008 is COURAGE. “What’s yours?” she asked…and then asked again. After reading the query for the third time, I’ve settled on one.
It’s BELIEVE. I had been toying with courage, but I didn’t want to steal Connie’s word. Faith seemed good, and so did peace, love, and persistence. Then a couple of seemingly insignificant things happened that helped me zero in on believe. I gave a friend the choice of which scented coaster he wanted as a belated Christmas gift, and he said something like, “Oh, definitely the one that has “Believe” on it. As I handed it over, the word struck me with its power. Then this morning, I took the wrapping off of my new gratitude journal, and inside of it were written the words “imagine, believe, create, and inspire,” and that did it. Believe became my word right then.
Why is it so important? Because we must believe that we can make things happen. We must have confidence and courage to make our dreams become reality, and believing in ourselves is essential. We must also believe that we have a loving Heavenly Father who cares about us and wants us to succeed. We must believe that He is always a whisper away and will help us in all worthy endeavors.
I hope Connie likes my word and that I can use it as a mantra of sorts this year. What about you? What’s a word you can adopt to help you live a more effective life this year?
Categories: LDS · faith · lessons · life · thoughts · words
Today I’m wearing a little bracelet from American Eagle that says PEACE. It has narrow green leather straps attached to a small rectangular piece of silver. I bought it as a gift from me to me during the 2006 holiday season because (1) I liked it and (2) I thought it would be a nice reminder that of the importance of peace: peace within one’s heart and mind, peace between and among family and friends, “peace on earth and good will towards men,” and the Prince of Peace.
Yesterday I wore a similar bracelet, one with burgandy straps, that said simply, “Live your life.” My son gave it to me as a Christmas present last year after a BIG HINT from yours truly. I loved the bracelet because of its reminder to truly live one’s life to the utmost and to experience all that life and love have to offer. As I took it off last night, however, I thought about the other two words: your & life.
So many people live their lives to make others happy that they do themselves a disservice. They dress to please others, choose careers to gain approval, stay in dead relationships to make others happy, live in areas they barely tolerate to appease others, and the list goes on and on and on. Sure, we need to think about others in our lives and all of the implications of our choices, but it is YOUR life. Oh, and as I was reminded, it’s not a dress rehearsal.
And speaking of life, the other word. It’s such a gift, and most of us go through our days not even thinking about it, much less appreciating it. The fact that we can breathe and move and see and sing and dance and speak and savor delicious food….ah, life! Are you living YOUR LIFE to the fullest?
Categories: lessons · life · psychology · thoughts · values · words
