2014 Goals

I shared already how 2013 was a year of personal growth for me. And I know we're into February already, but I also have some goals for 2014. In an attempt to get them written down and hold myself accountable, I'm going to share them here today.

1. Expand My Yoga Practice
Building on the last year, my first goal is to expand my yoga practice and to challenge myself more. I love the Sunday morning Hatha class that I go to and I will never give it up, but I've decided to add a more challenging class to my week as well. I have started taking a Slow Flow class on Thursday nights. Slow Flow is a class kind of between a Hatha and a Vinyasa class. It is more challenging and a faster pace, but not quite as challenging as a Vinyasa class.

This class is a workout! It also has a completely different feel than the Hatha class I take. A year ago, I probably wouldn't have gone back for a second class. But the challenge and opportunity to push myself excites me now. So I dropped my expectations, adjusted my attitude, and opened up my heart and mind to what this instructor and class can offer me.

2. Let Go
One of my favorites Bible verses is Jeremiah 29:11.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I believe with all of my heart that God has a plan for me. This verse has brought me indescribable comfort in very difficult times. But despite that, and despite wanting to let go of control, I never fully put my problems in God's hands.

We are only a month and a half into 2014, and it has already been a trying year for me. But somehow, something clicked in my heart and in my mind. I have let go. I have not put my problems in God's hands, but I have finally realized that they are already there. I'll say that again: they are already there! What a revelation! I don't have to do anything. He has a plan and He has control. All I have to do is let go and trust in Him and what I already believe. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I believe that sometimes we have to feel pain and struggle in order to learn and grow. I have let go of what other people think or may think of me. It doesn't matter. What they think might be the truth and it might not. But it doesn't matter. Because I am not living my life for them.

I can't tell you how liberating this has been for me. Habit pokes at me to try to control things still, but I am resisting and I hope to continue to.

3. "Live More From Intention And Less From Habit"
I read this somewhere, hence the quotes, but I didn't write it down and I can't remember where. Forgive me! But it really resonated within me. I am most definitely a creature of habit. But I have discovered over the last year that when I step outside my comfort zone and take a leap of faith, I am more often than not pleasantly surprised with what I am capable of. So I am consciously reminding myself daily to "live from intention." And that reminder seems to lessen the fear of the unknown.

4. "Inspire, Don't Demand"
Here I go again, not writing things down. But even though I can't remember where it came from, I haven't been able to forget those three words. I am really trying to take this to heart in my parenting. I'm human, and I get frustrated just like everyone does. When I get frustrated, I tend to demand things in my parenting instead of inspiring or teaching like I intend to.

So when I start to get frustrated, I tell myself, "Live more from intention, Sara. Inspire. Don't demand." I'm not perfect. And this is one of my goals I will need to put the most effort into. But I know it will be worth it, not only for Audrey, but for me as well.

Those are my four main goals. I also have goals financially and for my marriage. In the past, I would have felt overwhelmed by these goals. I would have failed before I even began. But I have released myself from the burden of potential failure. I will fail at some things. But great rewards require great risk. And if I don't even try, I have failed already.

I am incredibly grateful to be in this place emotionally. I have tried for years to force myself here, but I wasn't ready. Finally, I have let go. It was a conscious decision and at the same time it wasn't. And the pieces just fell into place. I am expecting big things from myself this year, but there is no pressure. Even the tiniest step forward is progress.