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!]

Comments

  1. thank you for the shout out! i love your word. i haven't seen anyone pick that word, so i'm excited to see how you expand from it! have a great weekend, sweet girl!

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    1. thank you, amber! i love it too... I had been praying for a word to define my 2014 and while I was writing this post it just flowed right out and I had that "aha!" moment where I thought, THAT'S my word! Gotta love those moments, right?!

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  2. Ahhh thanks sweet girl for sharing my post in your blog!!! I seriously LOVE you and am SO SO thankful for you!!! Have a beautiful January, and I REALLY hope that I get to see you soon in southern California!! And I love your new blog logo:) xxoo Katie

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    1. Awww, thank you, Katie! Right back atchya, sista! You are a blessing and I am soooo excited to hopefully see you next month!

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  3. i love the look of your blog! it is my first time here and i am now following you - yayyy! your post is inspiring me to get back into traveling. (it's all about saving money, haha). love it!
    ciao from taylor

    bloganticipation.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you SO much, Taylor!! Yes.. do it! TRAVEL!! If you need a bit more inspiration, check out my "travel" tab! I had a blast in 2013 visiting NYC, London, Paris, and Nice! So FUN! I learn so much when I travel, both about the culture and history of the place I visit but also I learn more about me.

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  4. Mmm...delight is a perfect word. Perfect for you and a perfect word to start the year and continue this year, too. So excited to see what this year brings for you!

    And thank you for the shoutouts, too! It is such an honor to help you with blog design (especially since you're so patient!). :) Excited to see it all come together!!

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    1. Yes and Yes! Thank you, dear friend! I am getting lots of raves for the logo .... You are TALENTED! And yes, I agree... I am excited for what 2014 has in store. I am trusting it will be a great year!

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  5. Love the photo collage and this goal setting series. I definitely need to sit down and do the same

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    1. Thank you, Pristine! If you're looking for inspiration or a good series on goal-setting, check out the link for Lara Casey's series. I am loving it and learning so much!

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  6. #1 I LOVE your new header, so clean and beautiful! Kiki is so dang talented!
    #2 "delight" is the exact word, from the exact verse, tattooed on my foot in Hebrew. it is my "life word"...and holds so much meaning and love within my spirit. I LOVE the way you explained it, how it echos within you, and resonates into a position of overflow - which is exactly what delighting in God should do!
    #3 your list - lovely! (and I love that you used pictures too, so unique!!) so many things I kept nodding my head in agreement!
    #4 thank you for that shoutout! you are too sweet! lets live an adventurous 2014!

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    1. #1. I love it too! Kiki is so awesome for creating it for me!!
      #2. THAT IS AWESOME!! You should post a photo of it or email it to me! Is that weird? haha. I love foot tattoos, especially when they signify something so meaningful.
      #3. Thanks!! I am a visual person, so it was fun scouring pinterest after I brainstormed what fires me up.
      #4. You are SO welcome! HECK YES, ADVENTUROUS 2014 indeed!

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  7. Love the word you picked for this year! Praying you'll delight in much in the coming year, and just as equally you'll feel the delight you bring to our Father in heaven. The new header is lovely, and thank you for the shout-out in your post. I've been thinking, and no pressure, but I think it would be cool to try and Skype sometime.

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    1. Thank you so much, Natalie! "The delight you bring to our Father ..." Those words entered my heart at just the right time. Thank you for speaking Truth! I have had a lifelong struggle with understanding the Father's love for me personally. I always trusted in His eternal love for US, but when it came to believing He loved ME, it just would not sink in. But God is so lovingly showing me that He does love me and He delights in me, which even today is still so difficult to read and believe. That the God of the Universe would delight in ME? Sinful, pitiful, prideful, selfish ME? It doesn't make sense. But that is exactly why its Grace, right?? Because I DO NOT deserve it. It DOES NOT sound right, and yet IT IS. It so TOTALLY is, not because of who I am, but because of WHOSE I am! So, thank you again for that reminder because it seems to be two steps forward and one step back learning this life lesson of God's amazing love.

      And YES!! I would love to Skype! Email me and let's find a good time! (elena62286@hotmail.com)

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  8. I'm LOVING your new header as well! Kiki is for sure very talented!
    For some reason I am really looking forward to 2014. Usually, whenever it's time for the new year, I just kind of think it is going to be like the last. Well, this year already feels different. Maybe because the Lord did some crazy incredible things I would have never thought of in 2013. So, I can only imagine what He holds for 2014!

    Loved this quote: "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!"

    Happy New Year! :)

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    1. Yes she is!! She is a such a huge blessing!
      I agree... I am really looking forward to 2014! I am trusting in awesome things to unfold.
      AND YES! May He uncover His amazing and beautiful plan He has for you, Jess! May you delight in His ways and see the many gifts He has placed in you and around you. 2014 will rock!

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  9. I love thinking about things that fire me up, especially in the dead of winter when I need a boost. A few things for me are: daily devotions, making something every day, music and taking pictures.

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    1. That is SO true, Chantel . . . The winter-time can be such a downer, but remembering the things that inspire, encourage, and fire us up bring a little warmness to our dreary days and flickers hope for the rest of the year! I love the things you mentioned, especially making something everyday!

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Elle Alice