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My 2018 word of the year. During the middle of this year I heard about assigning one word at the beginning of the year and focusing on growing in that word. I loved the concept because it gives you a center and something to back to and focus on when you’re feeling off kilter.

Over the past month or so, as this year comes to a close, I started to think about 2018 and what my word of the year should be. To do this, I reflected on 2017 and some of the things I went through. A lot of amazing things happened in 2017, which means a lot of things were on my to-do list.

My to-do list was full of good things, but things nonetheless. And it reminded me of a series at our church we went through called “Become.” It was all about knowing that who you’re becoming is so much more important than what you’re doing.

I often get caught up in the daily tasks and consumed by what all needs to get done so I wanted a word of the year that would center me in the “become” idea and help me find a place of peace and calm, no matter what my to-do list looks like.  I got to thinking about why the things I need to get done have such a strong hold in my life and I realized, I have a tendency to tie my self worth to what I produce.

Check out my 2017 reflections to see how last year ended.

There will always be things on my to-do list. There will never be enough hours in the day to complete every dream and thing I want to accomplish. But if I always tie my identify to how much I can get done or how much money I make or how many followers I have I’ll never feel good enough. Which led me to my word of the year: ENOUGH.

No matter what I accomplish (or don’t accomplish), I am enough.

Our culture is constantly putting pressure on us to do more and be more. From the moment we wake up and think “I didn’t get enough sleep” to the moment we go to bed and think “I didn’t accomplish enough today”, we’re constantly reminded we aren’t enough.

This year that changes.

This year my heart needs peace and stillness. It needs to rest in knowing I don’t have to get a promotion to be accepted, I don’t have to have 10k Instagram followers to feel loved, I don’t have to say the right things all the time or have the answers to every problem. We just have to be. That is enough.

2018 word of the year: enough. You are exactly enough.

On a random Tuesday I was walking down the hall of my old office. I was thinking about the presentation I was about to give, worried about what the client would think of me and if I’d done enough to prepare. In the back of my mind I knew I still needed to stop at the grocery store to pick up ingredients for a recipe and find 30 minutes to squeeze in my workout. I also hadn’t written my post for the next day and I needed to spend quality time with Zach. This all went through my head in less than 10 seconds.

Then I looked up and saw this memo that had been written by a friend and stuck to the grey walls on a yellow piece of paper with a push pin.  At the top of the memo it read “for: you” and “when: now” and underneath it said: “you are exactly enough.”

I felt relief rush over me. A sense of peace I didn’t know I needed.  It was a reminder that no matter where you are emotionally, physically, spiritually, or what you need to accomplish, you are enough.

You don’t need to be or do more. You don’t need to be or do less. You just need to be.

As I’ve grown in my faith I’ve learned and experienced one very important concept that’s a great reminder that we are enough. It’s this: we are so loved by God. The one that created us and numbered the hairs on our head. He made us with His perfect love and no one else is alike. And they aren’t supposed to be.

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” [Matthew 3:17]

When Jesus was getting baptized God made it clear that he was dearly loved and he brings Him great joy. He was a baby who had accomplished absolutely nothing in the world besides existing and God perfectly loved him.

The same thing God said about Jesus is true for you and I. He created you for this world and before you put that filter on your picture He loved you. And before you had a spotless kitchen He loved you.  And before (and after) you gave the big presentation at work He loved you. And before that boy texted you back He loved you. Before you did anything at all He loved you. We don’t have to prove ourselves to be completely loved. Ah, that’s a relief.

So rest in this: you don’t have to try to be perfect or check everything off your list to prove yourself because you are totally and completely loved just as you are.

You are enough.

I am enough.

That will be my mantra every morning. To live out this word of the year each day I’ve come up with some things I’m going to implement into my every day routine to really live this.

How I’m Going to Live this Word in 2018:

  1. It’s going to be a part of my morning routine. I’m going to say this during my affirmations each morning to set the intention for my day.
  2. Pray about it. I’m going to continue to ask God to help me truly feel this and remember I’m so loved every day.
  3. Read books that remind me of this. Some of the books on my list:
    1. A Life of Being, Doing and Having Enough
    2. Never Good Enough
    3. You’re Loved No Matter What (reading this for the 4th time!)
    4. You Are Enough
    5. Being Enough Now
  4. Help other people recognize they are enough too by sending simple texts to friends, writing more posts like this, giving people all the grace and just loving unconditionally.
  5. Write “I am Enough” everywhere I can: at the top of my to-do lists, as my phone background, as my computer desktop background, on my mirror with post-its.

And if I don’t remember to do these things all the time it’s okay. Because I am enough. And so are you.

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1 Comment

  1. Jess @choosingchia says:

    Such a great intention for the new year! I use the five-minute journal where I write down my positive affirmations in the morning. “I am enough” is a great one!