Sunday, January 13, 2013

2013. COURAGE.

For the past few years I have followed a couple of my sisters in law’s blogs.  Every year they have a theme for their new year’s resolutions, and they report on their blogs weekly as a way to motivate and remind themselves of the their goals.   I have always thought it a great idea, but have never done it because, well, I didn’t think of it myself.  A little speck of pride within me has stopped me from doing it the past.  But, I actually love the idea. So this year I am going to try it, even though the idea is not my own. I am letting go of that pride.

I have chosen one word that I want to work on, and incorporate into all of the goals that I set.  That word is COURAGE.  I chose this word because I feel like it is a quality that I am desperately seeking right now.  In fact, all too often I find that its opposite -discourage- is something that is infiltrating itself into my life.  And I don’t like it. I miss out on so many things because of fear, and I am ready to change that.

I want courage.  Courage to stand up for what is right.  Courage to let myself get out of my comfort zone.  Courage to make new friends.  Courage to trust in my abilities.  Courage to love.  Courage to learn.  Courage to fail.  Courage to teach my children truth.  Courage to change.  Courage to let go and forgive.  Courage to speak out.  Courage to ask questions.  Courage to face challenges. Courage to try again.

Thomas S. Monson said that “Courage becomes a worthwhile and meaningful virtue when it is regarded not so much as a willingness to die manfully but as a determination to live decently.” I love that.  That is what courage is. Deciding to live according to what you believe is true and right, no matter what the opposition is.  

Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide on, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”

While trying to have courage I want to always remember this Scripture from Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
It is hard not to have courage when I remember that the Lord is with me.

With a little bit of courage I am going to divulge what my goals are this year.


2013 - The Year of Courage

This year I will have the:

Courage to do what’s right.

  • Go to the temple once a month
  • STUDY my scriptures.  Take 10 minutes everyday to read, and then another 10 minutes to ask questions and find answers about whatever I feel like I need to, based on what I just read or whatever else is going on in my life.
  • Daily prayer.
  • Be open and honest.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions or let people know that I don’t know everything. Let other people help me.
  • Say yes to service opportunities
  • Listen. I know what I mean.

Courage to learn new things and skills.
  • Pick one thing per month to work on and then set a goal for that at the first of each month. For e
    xample, photography, gardening, computers, sewing....anything I want.
  • Read 2 books per month
  • Listen.

Courage to teach my children.
  • Every Sunday Plan out our week.  Plan learning and play activities for both kiddos.
  • Look for teaching moments.  Record teaching moments and what went well and what
    didn’t.
  • Be patient.  Make sure that love is my first reaction to any situation.
  • Pray for each child daily.  Ask to be able to see what they need individually and to understand their dispositions.
  • Listen.

Courage to make new friends.
  • Meet one new person a week.  This could be at church, in our neighborhood, at the park
  • Have at least one family/person over for dinner per month.  Family not included.
  • Take the initiative.  Plan activities myself rather than waiting for someone else to put something together.
  • Listen.

Courage to be happy.
  • Let go. Don’t dwell on the things that cause  unhappiness.
  • Don’t live in absolutes.  Just because I feel a certain way doesn’t mean that is an inherent
quality in me. Instead of saying to myself, I am unhappy , Say I feel unhappy because....
  • Write in my gratitude journal daily to remind myself that I have so much to be thankful for. Recognize where all of it comes from and give thanks where thanks is due.
  • Listen.

I want every Sunday to be a day where I reflect on the goals that I have set and to remind myself to take courage.
 
It can be quite discouraging at the new year when we reflect on all the things we want to change.  I tried to make my goals simple this year, so that I can find the courage I need to improve myself.  I don’t have every detail filled in yet.  I know that I won’t be perfect.  I know that certain things might change throughout the year.  Things may be added, deleted, simplified, and made more specific depending on my needs.  But I hope to follow this saying:

“Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”

And I WILL try again tomorrow.

3 comments:

  1. I LOVE your word and how you broke it down. It's going to be a great year. xo
    E

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  2. Christa this is fantastic! I'm so excited to see how your year of courage plays out. Wonderful choice, and your goals are awesome! I miss you!

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