goal setting // part 2: get fired up!

"let the beauty of what you love 

be what you do"

[rumi]

What fires you up? What inspires you to move, whether its moving towards serving others, moving towards getting healthier, moving towards building strong friendships? What lights a lasting flicker in your heart and stamps a big sloppy smile on your face that you can't seem to wipe off?

what fires you up?

This was a large portion of Lara Casey's second post on goal-setting. Because, really, it is hard to start to make goals for a new year if you don't first start with what propels you forward and gets your feet ready to run forward. And though it is taking me longer than most to realize my goals for 2014, I love this series because it deals with 2013 before diving into 2014. What worked and what did not work in the past year were examined (as well as why they did or did not work) because if these lessons are not remembered, they are bound to be repeated in the new year (which isn't so bad for the things that worked, but can be disastrous for the things that did not work last year). See my first post that deals with a few of these.

If I were to have a word that defines the goal of 2014, it would be
d   e  l   i   g   h   t

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." [Psalm 37:4]

God is a God who delights. Just look around you at unspoiled nature or the canvas of bright stars that sparkle on a clear night. He is a God of creativity and beauty, which are two forms of delight. And if His loved ones are to image Him [Gen. 1:26-27], we are made to delight as well. He first is the truest and eternal delight for those who look to Him as their Father.

And from the delight we experience in Him, others flow out.

These are extensions of the original and strongest delight found in God and should not overshadow or overpower the joy and fulfillment He gives, for then our earthly delights all tend to fizzle and wane.

But when He is rejoiced in most, we experience that spark of delight, or as fitting to this post, a get-me-fired-up! attitude that leads to change. And what better time for positive change than in the new year? Not the quit-after-the-first-week "change", nor the focus-only-on-my-needs "change", but a soul-searching, life-altering, others-focused change that ripples its effects in the years to come. I want a year of delight!

Therefore, I would like to share some of the random things that fire me up, in hopes that they may help spark something new in my life in 2014 as well in others' as well!

[moving from right to left]

1. Traveling & experiencing new sights, smells, textures, tastes, sounds.

2. Reveling in the beauty of nature, preferably for a long duration of time

3. Fresh-cut flower [ranunculus, peonies, and tulips]  are my favorites

4. Impressionist art for its bright, vibrant colors that use light to capture the beauties in life.

5. Writing and receiving mail from close friends and family

6. Teacups, tea kettles, tea pots, and all the tea bags in the world . . . you get the point.

7. Cooking for others

8. A comfy bed, pjs, and a good book in hand.

9. Anything French!

10. Humble, wise, strong Christian women, most notably Elisabeth Elliot.

11. Unspoiled natural beauty of God's masterpiece

12. Music that gives hope and/or is calming to the soul.

13. Encouraging others and reminding them they are loved and special

14. Libraries, books, bookshops . . . the world is an endless adventure with a good book!

15. Journaling, especially about what Jesus is teaching me

16. Those who work with the lost, forgotten, and broken [such as Katie Davis, Amy Carmichael, Gladys Aylward, Lottie Moon]

A few others that did not get pictured include movies with a good message [I just watched the Secret Life of Walter Mitty and LOVED it!!], accomplishing goals [I love checking off boxes on a list], hearing that something I said or did helped someone [I recently received flowers from a sweet mom whose child I treated], Bible-centered theology that teaches me about God's faithfulness and goodness, and countless friends who have encouraged me and held me up in prayers [thank you!].

In addition, there have been many inspiring posts I have read recently about goals, resolutions, words for the year, and other similar articles that have further sparked my resolve to make 2014 the best year yet. Check them out!
>> Amber's 2013 review and 2014 goals are big winner in my book.
>> Kiki wants to live 2014 to it's fullest
>> Nicole from Bloom has intentional, life-giving January goals
>> Miss Amy has adventurous goals that would fire anyone up! You go, girl!
>> Natalie's posts always inspire and encourage me, but I especially love her reading list for 2014!
>> The adventourous, selfless 2013 of Katie from Hope Engaged. Brings a smile to my face!!
>> Bailey Jean is a constant inspiration and her 2014 game plan is a reminder of this!

So, I shall ask my aforementioned question once again:

What fires you up? What do you take delight in? What inspires you to change for the better?

 Let these things help drive you towards having an adventurous 2014.

[p.s. do you like my new header? My lovely blog friend, Kiki from In Its Time designed it and I am so thankful for her creativity and willingness to partner with me to change up a bit of the blog. I should have put a picture of her on my collage because she is one of the people that truly inspire me!]