As the Christmas season approaches, everywhere we look, we are enticed to want this new thing or that new invention. “Don’t you desire this for your home?” “Aren’t you longing for the newest _____(fill in the blank)?” “Unwrap this gift under your Christmas tree this year. She will love you for it.”
As I think about my vision for 2017, I have been pondering my desires and longings. These desires and longings are gifts within my soul that I can either experience or share with others. They aren’t about “things”. They are about who I want to “be” and how I want to “do” or serve others in my work and family and finally what I want to “have” for the new year. Everything starts with being first, rather than doing and having.
Want to Be
I think one of my strongest desires for the new year is to be still so I can hear the small, still voice of God. When I sit still, I can hear and feel loved. I also find peace and hope.
I also want to be fully present. I don’t want to miss moments in my day. In the past, my anxiety and depression clouded my thinking and now that I have my health back mostly, I want to be aware of the beauty, the relationships, and even the dailyness of my life and savor those moments. I am one to rush on to the next thing. I want to better pace my days by being fully present and enjoying my surroundings, my work and my family.
The third area I want to be is strongly connected to those around me, whether it be God, my husband and family, friends, church, neighborhood or the women I serve. Connection is so important to me and grounds me to health and vitality.
What about you? How do you want to be this next year? What are the desires and longings of your soul?
Want to Do
In the “do” area of my life. I long to do service that makes a difference in the lives of people with whom I am involved. I want to write encouragement to others. I want to create safe and beautiful spaces for women who want to make a change in their lives and find hope. I also want to make beautiful and loving places for my grandchildren to have fun with “grandma and papa” to help them feel special.
My want to do’s come out of my want to be’s connection desires.
How does your do and be fit together? What are your desires and longings that you want to bring to life for 2017?
Want to Have
When I get my want to be and want to do in alignment for 2017, I believe my desires and longings for my “haves” will fall into place. For my want to haves, I want to have gratitude and enjoy what I have currently. I want to have more gatherings and groups of women together – creating those safe spaces, and retreats. I want to enjoy those connections with others – online, in my neighborhood, my church and in the surrounding areas.
I want to have a beautiful backyard to enjoy. I want to have a screened-in area in order to enjoy the beauty of the trees, flowers and nature as well as share it with others. Getting outdoors is an important component of my health so creating a space where I have access to enjoy it will make a difference. Again, that is in congruence with my be still desires, and my want to do longing to connect with God, others and creation.
How will your want to have support your be and do?
Gifts to Unwrap
Of course, I have other be, do, have desires and longings I could share. These are just a few of the gifts in my life I hope to unwrap in 2017. I hope it’s given you a glimpse of how you might make a gift list for 2017 for yourself. Take time for yourself and listen to your heart. I want to create safe spaces for you to explore the dreams and possibilities in your life and find hope. That’s my biggest desire for 2017. Let’s unwrap your gifts for 2017 together.
Nancy Booth is a certified life coach and certified brain-based coach. She loves creating safe spaces for women going through life’s transitions to discover and support their visions for health and well-being in an overwhelming world, explore possibilities for next steps and find hope. She writes about taming the overwhelm and reducing stress, looking for ways to motivate, energize and inspire you! You can sign up to receive her weekly blog or contact her to find out ways you can begin to shed overwhelm and stress. It’s time to explore possibilities of new relationships, better life pacing and gain hope and peace.