What type of person are you when bringing in the New Year? Do you review everything the previous year held, analyzing what went well and what didn’t? Do you make a list of ins and outs? Vision board? Or do you pick a phrase or word to focus on?
Back in 2019, I started picking a phrase for myself and my family—one that I had a sense God was whispering to me.
2020 brought ENJOY THE SLOW. A few months later, COVID-19 appeared, and that phrase felt almost prophetic.
Then, in 2021, I heard TEAR DOWN TO REBUILD. I felt I needed to let go of many beliefs I held onto about my faith and theology and build up stronger truths. That was also the year our rental property came to an end. That devastated me because we couldn’t buy or rent in the housing market. I had to start from scratch and rebuild a home that felt cozy regardless of what it lacked functionally for us.
2022 brought, BREAK EVERY CHAIN. That one stuck until this year. I have done a lot of unpacking of past traumas and disillusionment through professional counselling and through a program called Freedom Sessions. After two years, it was time to focus on something else in my life.
When December rolled around, I began reflecting on 2024 and wanted to sift out any patterns I could find. What I discovered was that fear held me back from a lot of things. That dang fear always shows up when you don’t want it to. It’s great when you are in the forest, and there’s a bear around or when you are walking at night, and a stranger looks a bit questionable, but that’s not the fear I experience.
It’s a fear that calls me a failure, keeps me feeling small and insignificant, and screams in my ear, “YOU DON’T DESERVE TO SUCCEED!!!”
Well, buckle up because this year’s phrase is………
LET GO OF FEAR
As soon as I knew this was what God was speaking over my life this year, it felt like freedom. I went on a walk in the evening on my own. That is something that I have not done in a very long time. Please don’t worry because we are talking about getting rid of the fear that holds us back, not the fear that protects us from physical and emotional damage. This blog is even a result. My passion for writing has been burning away, but I was too afraid to start again. After some encouragement from my husband, the resurrection of this space commenced.
Oh, and I applied to be on the TV show, Survivor!!! It is rare that you get cast on your first try, but I won’t give up. I WILL be on that show. The time to train is now!! I’ll be expanding on this soon.
Well, that’s it. Here is my first post after many years of silence. I’m not 100% sure where this will go, but I’m excited to be writing again. Being creative fuels me like nothing else does.
Yours Kindly,
Shannon
