A few weeks ago, I went to a workshop that focused on better seeing and hearing people. At the end of the day, they asked us to visualize ourselves at 95. I pictured myself in a rocking chair, holding hands with Chris. I pictured wrinkly hands and eyes, marked from years of smiling and loving. I pictured full hearts and relaxed bodies.
Since leaving the workshop, I've thought a lot about that visual. What do I want to happen between now and then? What do I want the next 10, 20 and 70 years to look like? What do I want to retire from? What do I want to pour my energy into? How can I make 2016 a step toward those dreams and not a step away from them?
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I've wrestled with tagging these posts with "more joy" because 2015 was really joyful. It was one of my favorite years ever and it feels greedy to act like I deserve more joy. But, my thinking is that the more we focus on the things that really matter and say no to the things that zap our energy, the more our joy will continue to exponentially grow.
Last week, I told you what 2016 will not include for me. Today? I'm sharing what I hope to focus on this year. Here's what's on my yes list:
1. Coaching clients. I'm focusing on things that drive client relationships. From speaking at events to blogging to spending evenings and weekends with amazing 20-somethings and little ones, I'm dedicating 2016 to growing my business.
2. Chris. I want the first half of the year to be about preparing to be his wife and the second half to be about becoming it. I want to make our marriage a priority. I want to pour as much energy into preparing my heart to marry him as I spend preparing for the wedding.
3. Reading. I am embarrassed to admit how little I read in 2015. I spent my periphery hours, when I could have been reading, online. I pinned wedding stuff and read articles about startups and watched Scandal on my ipad. I didn't read enough. I want to grow and stretch my brain with books in 2016.
4. Grace. I want to give myself permission to go all in on building a business, which means there will be mistakes. I want to give myself permission to make those mistakes. I also want to give myself the grace it takes to skip a workout, let go of my to do list and opt for sleep instead of productivity. I want to cover this year in grace and trust that the Lord will do the same.
So. That's what 2016 will be all about for me.
What will 2016 hold for you?