As I have shared in previous years, I generally like to start each year with some New Year “focuses” or “phrases” to capture what is on my heart in terms of what I want to think about and work on over the course of that year.
This year, I never ended up getting around to sharing my New Year focus, even though I actually came up with it in December… I like to think I got busy living it out, and that is as good a reason as any to have delayed writing about it. Honestly, it’s more likely a combination of a little bit of that plus just not being at a stage in my life where I’ve got things quite as nice and organized as I’d like…but thankfully, I can say that I’m okay with that now. (Seems like this last while I’m doing and writing about things a little out of order and out of “season,” so…why not in that same spirit write about New Year’s at the end of April?)
Anyhow, for 2016, I began thinking about my New Year’s focuses/goals back in December because I wanted to narrow down my usual “list” to ONE word. My list in 2015 included “a time to commit & focus” as the first of 3 goals/themes, so deciding on a list of ONE versus 3, and a SINGLE WORD versus a phrase seemed like a good way to close off my “commit & focus” project.
What’s My Word for 2016? IMPACT.
Impact, in terms of desiring to make some sort of difference, big or small, with whatever it is that God has given me… That I would invest well, steward well, and think and “look not only to [my] own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). That I might not be distracted or enticed by chasing after worldly gain for worldly, self-serving reasons (1 John 2:15-17), nor would I let myself grow complacent or lazy in a comfortable bubble simply because I am okay (Luke 12:13-21; James 4:13-17)…but that I would remember there are things worth sacrifice and discomfort and even persevering through pain that can come with choosing to care…
That I may also do the “work” I need to do to think through things I have experienced or learned such that I might know what’s worthwhile to communicate and then figure out how best to effectively share them with others who might benefit (or collaborate?). That I might search out what actually makes a difference in others’ lives–a difference for good, of significance, of lasting change–versus ever settling for what simply sounds or looks good to me. That I might remain humble, teachable, open to continued refining, such that I can grow more and more effective in working alongside other like-minded individuals–because I believe the impact of one person working alone can be multiplied exponentially if/when combined successfully with a team.
Interestingly, around that time I also found out that a side project my friend from university, Chris Pan, began a couple years ago had started really picking up in terms of business and publicity in the press–featured on the Today Show, on the wrist of Kayne West on the cover of Time Magazine, and even in The Oprah Magazine (if you recall from my November 2014 posts and my trip to her weekend conference in Seattle, I’m a big fan!).
Titled the “MyIntent Project,” Chris has been creating simple bracelets (or necklaces) based on a simple question, “What’s Your Word?” and engraving that word onto a washer meant to be worn for a season through which it acts as a reminder of and potential conversation starter for that word being activated in its wearer’s life…
As stated on the website, www.myintent.org, the “MyIntent Project is a catalyst for meaningful conversations and positive energy. We believe there is a purpose inside each of us and we want our efforts to encourage people to share more truth and inspiration with each other. We are not a jewelry company – we are an intentions project.”
This is not the first (or only) jewelry available out there where you can have a word engraved onto a trinket, but I love how the focus is much less on the jewelry itself–which is kept simple, non-fuss & unisex, but cool enough to appeal to pretty much anyone and everyone–and so much, much more on the thought and conversation around the words.
This had me thinking about the evolution of my “New Year’s Resolution” history, how it started as long random lists, turned into increasingly shorter lists of phrases over recent years, until this point of wanting just ONE WORD to capture and focus the sum of my main intent for any given year at a time. Because when it’s too much, or too many at once, or difficult to roll off my tongue, it’s just not as easy to remember and focus and talk about with the various people in my life whose help I can enlist for my journey(s) even as I seek to be a support to them on theirs…
This also had me thinking about how I saw my process of creating lists, and then phrases, and then just ONE WORD, as more than just a thought project, but as a very significant prayer process I set aside time each year to engage in, where I could seek God’s face about my life as honestly and openly as possible, in the safety and assurance of His loving Presence and promises to help me grow increasingly into His likeness as long as I desired that…and together we could assess where I was at, where I wanted to go in terms of my life and growth, what area(s) where I still fell short of where I hoped to be, yet somehow what previously had felt too intimidating or impossible now gave way to confidence in the possibility of growing, if only at least one small step at a time…
What excites me about Chris’s MyIntent Project is that while it is not a Christian project, I wonder if it nevertheless a means of encouraging people everywhere to pause a moment and search their hearts for whatever good intention God has nevertheless placed there, that He is nevertheless whispering to them to get them to the next step or place that would be good for them to go…and then drawing in the power of community through supportive, encouraging conversations about deeper matters of the heart the words on the bracelets are likely to initiate.
I wonder if, for all the words that express an intention or desire that is clearly in line with God’s will for humanity, if it doesn’t somehow also manifest as a prayer that our Heavenly Father can then get behind and back up and push through…or perhaps it can serve as a conversation starter with God Himself (or whomever God may send as a witness?), where He can nudge them and show them that and how He (and His plan for their salvation through faith in grace that Jesus provides) is truly what they desire and need after all…
Anyhow, I am encouraged by the Impact this project seems to have had thus far on the people who have been touched by it, and I am encouraged and inspired by the potential Impact it is likely to continue to have…
Next step for me? Besides continuing to seek God’s face and to just follow faithfully one day at a time, I would really like to order my 2016 word at some point soon…
(Perhaps if you are local and would like to come up with/share your own word as well, let me know and we can order together!)
What’s Your Word? for 2016? for your life or heart’s cry in this particular season of your life? for what expresses your values, what’s most important to you in your life?