What are you leaving behind in 2016?
Are you ready for a New Year?
Last year I stopped making resolutions and I started making Goals. I found myself doing things year after year without purpose or intentionality. I was going through the motions aimlessly. I had lost sight of my creativity and direction. I had stopped dreaming. I’d set unrealistic expectations for myself and felt burdened by them! So I set out to utilize goals to find focus, get organized and reprioritize. I wanted to stop adding more, doing more, being more. Instead I set out to refocus on the things that matter the most. I spent this year diving into community and have been filled up, encouraged and revitalized through cherishing and building up relationships!
With a new year ahead I’m already dreaming big. I’m seriously super excited for this new year. Of course you can set goals at any time, but don’t we all feel a little extra motivated at the beginning of the year? My friends Livingston + McKay shared this fabulous quote, this week,
“Catch on fire if you must, sometimes everything needs to burn to the ground so that we may grow.” A.J. Lawless.
They then asked this question:
What are you leaving behind in 2016?
This question really started me thinking, what can I leave behind in 2016? Are there things that are keeping me from moving forward, from living freely, from the kind of unfettered joy I want to live my life enveloped in? And there my answer was. I want to leave behind the focus on myself. I want to leave all negative self doubt behind me in 2016. I want to enter the New Year with a passion to pursue life confidently with the gifts I’ve been given. I want to leave fear behind. I no longer want to give it a place in my life. What are you leaving behind in 2016? Tell me in the comments below!
In so many ways as I reflect on 2016 I feel as though this has been one of my most growing years ever. I’ve spent so much of my life worrying about what others might think of me and my decisions. Little by little I find freedom from this need for others approval, to be who I think someone else wants me to be. In 2017 instead of focusing on myself and worrying over whether I’m enough (because I am!!!) I want to shift that focus outward. I want to empower and uplift others. I want to use my gifts to help others find their creativity and live out their passions!
There it is, my BIG 2017 Goal: To empower and uplift others so that they may live full lives in pursuit of passionate creativity!
I’ve chosen the word: PURSUE for my word for 2017. Pursue God first and foremost, pursue living out a life with the talents He’s blessed me with and to pursue others with selfless passion!
Part of looking forward to a new year is recapping the past year. Here are a few of my favorite posts and moments of 2016!
January
+ I started the year strong with an awesome three part series on How to set and accomplish goals, with fellow creative Julia Mary! Together we dished out on the WHY, HOW and WHAT of our Goal Setting strategies.
February
+ Had this fun photo shoot with the bestie, Hannah, and shared this perfect and Oh So Lovely DIY Valentine’s Day Updo! Isn’t she GORGEOUS!
March
+ I divulged my eight top tips you need to know about, my not so secret obsession with, succulents.
April
+ I broke goal setting down with this post on setting mini – achievable – goals!
June
+ I love fresh flowers in my home and shared 5 Pro Tips to Make Your Flowers Last Longer.
+ I also shared 10 Travel Essentials you won’t want to forget to pack! in preparation for my trip to Paris!
July
+ I finally made it to Paris, France. Oh là là! C’est une belle vie. I also spent a weekend in Prague, something I have wanted to do from the first time I saw Mission Impossible.
August
+ I love to host people in my home and wrote this post with Five Fabulous Tips to being the Hostess with the Mostest.
+ Two of my favorite people in this whole world got married and I was honored to be a Bridesmaid!
September
+ I turned 33!
+ My friend and fashion blogger Debora and I took a fun day trip to Hollywood and hit a few of the most iconic and Instagrammable Walls!
October
+ I participated in Write 31 Days! I made it about 14 projects in and just couldn’t keep up! I did however make some awesome projects. Several of which included Spray Paint (of course)!
November
+ I joined a new company called Mary & Martha as a seller and am already in love with it! I love to create and home-make. I’m passionate about community. I truly love to not only celebrate creativity, but inspire it in others as well. I’m looking forward to the coming year and diving in with a company that fits me and my passions so well.
December
+ I’m ending the year with 7 Ways to Start the New Year Organized!
I’m spending the end of the year in Minnesota with friends and family. It’s been a good year and so fun to look back and see where my blog has merged with my life. I’m so thankful for every person who visits, read, and interacts with me here!
Want to connect more? Find me on social media here: Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter and say hello!
Wishing you an absolutely Happy New Year!
xoxo Naomi
