Living Healthfully: Why Resolutions Fail {And it's NOT why you think}

This isn't about will power alone.

Resolutions don't fail because the vast majority of us don't have enough self-control or motivation to succeed; resolutions fail because at the root of it, they aren't deeply planted in our hearts.

Sometimes we think we want things a whole lot more than we actually do; even harder to consider but also brimming with truth -- sometimes we think we value certain things when we actually hold them as ideals.

To read about how to make and keep a solid resolution, click HERE.

Beyond Resolutions: Rejoice! {#OneWord365}

For me, 2012 was particularly heavy.

{She types as she giggles at the use of the word heavy, recalling the famous "Back to the Future" line from Dr. Brown: "There's that word again. 'Heavy.' Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the Earth's gravitational pull?"}

And I had a sneaking suspicion it would be at the end of 2011 when I felt the overwhelming conviction to pick the word patience as my word for 2012, though I desperately wanted to pick any other word that would signify light and fluffy.

{Also: no one picks "puppies and rainbows" as their word for the year, so there is that.}

At the end of 2012, though, I see how patience permeated our entire year:

Patience in Healing 

Patience in Waiting for a baby 

Patience in Mothering 

Patience with myself 

Patience with grief 

Patience in marriage

And though John joked with me that I'd have to own it again this year if I couldn't get a handle of waiting well, I knew that was NOT what God was whispering to me heart.

In fact, during the past week, I've known a lot of what God wasn't whispering to me, but I was having such a hard time nailing down which word He was speaking to my heart as I pondered peace, joy, abide and grace without really totally feeling any of them in my core.

It was only after two hours of quiet time today that my 2013 emerged.

And when it did -- goosebumps, friends. Goosebumps.

I was reading what has become my life verse in Philippians 4 out of The Message Bible when it struck me:

"Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry.  

Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."

Celebrate. Revel.

Normally, in this life verse of mine, I key in on the part about not worrying but instead through praying and thanksgiving making my requests known to God.

And, honestly, I still love that part.

But this celebrate, this reveling stood out to me this read around.

So I started digging into the word and found rejoice, and I dug even deeper and found the greek word, chairos, translates closely to "calm cheer."

When I prayed and asked God what gift I could best give Him, my family and myself this coming year after a long, growing, character-building year, this word of rejoice, this "calm cheer" seemed perfect.

When I think of rejoice I think of joy wrapped in peace, hope and harmony.

And when I think of what I hope will fill our hearts and overflow from our lips in 2013, I can't think anything better than joy wrapped peace, hope and harmony -- in the good times and in the inevitable challenges. 

Welcome, 2013, I'm so glad you're here.

But even more-so, welcome, spirit of rejoicing; we're so glad you'll be joining us.

Visual prayer by Michelle. Contact her to do your word for 2013!

2012 Patience

2011 Being

I'm joining with a group of writers to go beyond making resolutions and instead picking a word to live by during the coming year!

Beyond Resolutions: Patience {#OneWord365}

About this time last year, I chose to focus for an entire year on being rather than doing.

Building character rather than building my resume.

Becoming more of the me God intended me to be rather than more of the me I intended me to be.

Had I known last year what being results in, I might have been too nervous to choose such a powerful word to commit to focusing on.

Because the word being is actually a more subdued version of the word grow.

And, boy, has it been a year of growth -- spiritual, emotional and mental growth.

While my body actually shrank -- which last year I wasn't sure I would be able to make and keep such a resolution -- the other parts of me have been stretched and opened and grown through thanksgiving, through grief and through choosing joy.

It's been a ride ... a ride I'm glad to have taken but am now ready to exit.

I readily admit that I'm ready to usher in a new year with its freshness and possibility and newness.

And in that newness stretched out like the deep dawning of a new day, I'm embracing a new word for 2012:

Patient -- embracing a wait, contentedness, willing to choose joy despite circumstances, tolerant

"God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. 
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind." Isaiah 40: 28-31

So I will wait upon God. 

I will be patient with myself -- with the healing of my scars, with the limits of being human, with what is out of my control, with the time structures in which I live, with the expectations I set for myself.

And I will pray for patience to run deep and wide enough to spill over my heart and flow from my tongue.

Patience enough to allow for the space it takes for passion to burn.

And burn well.

A group of writers have come together to take a step beyond standing in stalled resolutions instead vowing to pick one word that will help guide them through the year. I'm joining formally this year after having had such a wonderful experience of focusing on one word during 2011. #OneWord365

2011: Be