2020 GOAL SETTING, Part 2: How to Choose a Word of the Year

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Hi, friends! Welcome back to Part 2 of the 2020 Goal Setting Series! If you’re new, I’m especially glad you’re here. Hop over to read Part 1 before digging in here or into Part 3, and Part 4.

Have you heard the news?! The 2020 One-Year PowerSheets are SOLD OUT for the year! The good news? You can still get the 2020 Six-Month Undated PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner and get started at any time of the year!

Want to listen to this post? You’ll love today’s new episode of the Cultivate Your Life Podcast—with bonus content!


Oooooh, this is getting good! As we talked about in Part 1, we’re doing this goal-setting thing differently.

You’re not choosing goals out of thin air, or because of comparison.
You’re not doing fleeting resolutions or quick fixes that don’t fix anything at all.
You are uncovering what matters—and I am so excited for you today!

This 4-part series is a taste of the PowerSheets® Prep Work. Your PowerSheets® have many more goal-uncovering insights and guided worksheets than I’ll include here. Your PowerSheets will guide you to take the goals you uncover and live them out in 2020—month by month and little by little. Setting great goals is one thing; living them out is another thing entirely. This series is a starting point to help you think differently. If you are ready to quit traditional goal setting, you are going to LOVE the PowerSheets. (15% off just for you today with code BESTYEAR2020!)

Let’s knock some barriers down today, shall we?

You know the feeling you get when your to-do list is overflowing?

You have so much to get done and there’s not enough time for the rest of life—the joy-filled living part. You can’t slow down, though, or let go of anything. Something might fall through the cracks if you do. You keep going, trying your best to get one more thing done and feeling like the only thing that’s done is you.

Have you felt that before?
I have, too!

Maybe you’re here searching for something that will make life easier because you feel like you’re MISSING YOUR LIFE. You think, “When will I start really living?”

Let me go ahead and share that conquering your to-do list once and for all won’t solve things.

So, what does solve this battle of Woman vs. To-Do List? It starts with what goes on that list in the first place. Maybe, just maybe, you could start doing less and making it mean more. It all starts with answering the one question that can change your life forever.

Before we get to that golden question, let me help you with something you may be feeling right now. Have you caught yourself feeling like your answers to Part 1 weren’t “enough?” Maybe you’re wondering if you did it “right?” Yes, my friend, you aren’t just doing this “right”—you’re rocking it! You are here for a reason and your answers to Part 1 were exactly what they were supposed to be. You are on your way to your best year!

I wrote the handwriting piece above (which has since been shared online tens of millions of times—so crazy) not about skydiving, traveling to a foreign country, or anything you might typically see on a bucket list. I wrote it late one night in my kitchen, after putting baby Grace to sleep, about wanting to finally read the Bible from start to finish. It felt like a daunting task, but I wanted to grow my faith. I was determined—this really mattered to me in the big picture!

When something matters to you in the big picture, how you do it doesn’t matter as much as why you do it. 

My why drove me forward, especially during the many times I fell behind or wanted to jump ship. (Have you ever felt that way?) Little by little, over the course of a year and a half, I did end up reading the Bible—and it changed everything. The little-by-little added up. (Listen to the whole story of these words here!)

Maybe you want to cultivate stronger friendships, grow a lasting legacy with your work, or make meaningful memories with your family. Maybe you want to pay down debt, be able to run outside with your grandkids when you’re 80, or finally do that thing that’s been on your list forever. Whatever it is, let’s talk about it!

Let’s plant the first seed right here, together!

ASK YOURSELF THE GOLDEN QUESTION

Ready for the one question you need to ask yourself to uncover your best goals? Here it is.

Where you want to be when you’re 80—or 90 or 100? What will be important to you then, and what won’t? The answer to this question is the secret to setting goals that matter—goals you can’t wait to get started on. This is the question at the heart of the PowerSheets Prep Work, and in your PowerSheets, you’ll get even more clear on your life vision through a series of additional exercises and questions!

Let’s see how this first question changes things, though. Have you heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals? S.M.A.R.T. is the “gold standard” in goal setting, and it stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals.

But, time and time again, despite their reputation of being foolproof, SMART goals fail. SMART goals are missing one key component (the secret sauce of our community’s success!): purpose.

When the goal you want to achieve matters to you in the big picture, you will follow through. No matter how many times you mess up along the way, you’ll get back up—because you care! How perfectly you get there doesn’t matter as much as why. And the why behind your goals is what keeps you from jumping ship at the first sign of imperfection.

If you don’t first uncover what matters, even your goals achieved will lack meaning. Doesn’t that make you stop and think for a minute? We get this one life and only the Lord knows how long or short it will be. I don’t know about you, but that gets me all sorts of motivated to use it well. I quite literally don’t have time to waste, because I don’t know how much of it there will be!

Are you feeling this, too? This urgency to double-down on what’s important in life? (I know how you feel and I am so excited for you! I wish we were in the same room right now! Imagine me giving you a huge high five—plus high fives from all the ladies I’m so grateful to work alongside each day. We’re with you each step of the way and we are praying for you throughout this series!

You are in the process of uncovering purpose-filled goals and it starts with the big picture—the vital step most people miss!

What will matter to you in the big picture and what won’t? I’ve asked this question of thousands of women and the answers tend to be centered on relationships and growing what lasts longer than us. What won’t matter to you? How many likes you had on an Instagram post, how much other people approved of you, or having a perfectly clean house or organized pantry, perhaps?

There’s nothing wrong with any of those things, by the way—if having an organized pantry helps you love your people in the big picture, organize your heart out! And social media can be a wonderful tool to help others when used well. It tends to be more of a distraction many times, though, right?

Your answers here matter. The good you do today has the potential to change generationsthat’s why uncovering good goals and having a clear focus is so important.

The alternative to focusing on what matters in the big picture? Spending your time lost in distractions. Lost in Instagram. Lost in the chase for perfection, or significance, or approval, or whatever it is that has been holding you back from really living. You’ll find yourself restless, knowing that there’s more to this life. If that’s you right now, you are in the right place! I know that feeling well, and this is your chance to choose change as you answer this question:

To get uncomfortable.  
To think bigger than you and beyond your current circumstances.
To press into fear and give it the boot!

Write out your thoughts about where you want to be (or don’t want to be) when you’re 80—and remember, make a mess. No perfect answers or handwriting needed. Write what’s true for you.

Psst—about that to-do list: knowing where you want to be in the big picture helps you simplify your life—and your list—TODAY. If there are things on your list that aren’t pointing to what matters in the big picture, it’s possible they don’t need to be there! (Take that, to-do list!)

MAKE YOUR YES AND NO LIST

Now that you can see the big picture a little more clearly, what are you going to need to say YES to in order to live it out—and what are you saying NO to? Saying no to one thing means you have the opportunity (space, time, patience, focus, resources) to say yes to something better. You’ll answer this question every month of 2020 in your PowerSheets, because it’s a powerful way to refocus on what matters throughout the year, not just at the beginning.

Write your list of what you are saying YES to in 2020 and what you’re saying NO to. Look back through everything you’ve written in your PowerSheets so far, and making your lists will be simple!

Here’s a peek at what I’m saying yes and no to from my PowerSheets:

Download my free Intentional Year List printable below (instant download) to keep your list in clear view all year long. This is a great printable to put on your fridge, on your bulletin board, or wherever you’ll see it most!

You may find some of your 2020 goals coming to the surface in these lists, because they are a powerful summary of where you’re going and where you DON’T want to go in the year ahead. 

Doesn’t that feel so good to write those things out? 

Clarity on what matters—and what doesn’t—is energizing! I’m excited for you!

MARK WHAT’S IMPORTANT

In our PowerSheets and in this series, we’ve uncovered a lot together so far! Now, read over all you’ve written so far and circle, mark, or sticker things that stand out to you. Look for common threads or themes in what you’ve written. Add or cross out as needed. Add to your lists of what did and didn’t work (I added a ton to mine!). Add more to your YES and NO lists. Use those stickers to mark what matters. Uncovering good goals is like a treasure hunt—get messy and dig a little deeper. Get out a highlighter or a big bold pen and get messy here!

Listen in to the podcast for more on uncovering threads!

This step took me about 20 minutes: I went back and read every word I wrote in my PowerSheets prep and highlighted, circled, and stickered things that stood out—things that really mattered to me and things that kept coming up.

(Side note: lots of you have asked what pens and highlighters we love. I use these, these, and these. I also use our Goal Setting Sticker Book—my favorite!)

The threads point to places that are craving cultivation—forgotten patches of your life that are waiting to be transformed.

The threads are little golden strings that tie your goals together.

The threads are your goals in the making.

Let’s do some treasure hunting and find them!

Those themes that keep popping up? The things on your yes/no list that you can’t get out of your mind?

These little threads are illuminating your path forward. Notice them. Mark them. And take a shovel and dig into them.

This is cultivating.

Tilling your growing ground, digging in deep, and preparing for new growth.

CHOOSE A 2020 WORD OF THE YEAR 

When you look at all you’ve written so far, what word keeps popping up in your mind? What one word most resonates with you for the year ahead, summarizing what you want to focus on?

Here are some tips I use that may help you uncover your word:

First, I like to make a list of a few possible words that resonate with me, even if I think they aren’t exactly right.

My list for 2020 included:

  • Quiet
  • Diligent
  • Prepare
  • Recreation (or Re-creation)
  • Margin
  • Forty (😉)
  • and Delight

Second, I got out the dictionary! Make your list of possibilities and then look at the definition of each word, its origin, and any synonyms and antonyms. I love using BlueLetterBible.org to look up the Greek, Hebrew, and related verses, too. You may be amazed at what you discover!

My 2020 Word of the Year?

Delight

I didn’t think I would choose this as my Word of the Year, but that’s the beauty of this process! Taking time to go through the PowerSheets process and write to you here, search scripture (I love this verse, this one, and this one, too!), and pray about where the Lord wants me to go in 2020, helped me see it clearly. You’re about to experience the same!

Listen to much more about my Word of the Year in today’s podcast episode!

Have some ideas about your word, but worried you’ll choose the wrong one? Take the pressure off! It’s just a word to help you remember where to focus. Think about this as a word for the season ahead, not for all of time. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and you have permission to change your mind later on! (In the PowerSheets, you’ll do a goal refresh every three months because, as we grow and change, our goals do, too—no pressure needed!)

Repeat after me: it doesn’t have to be perfect. DONE is better than perfect!

Once you have your word, I’d love to hear your word in the comments. Give a virtual high five to those who might have the same word as you—we are bound to have some shared words!

Now, do something with your word.

Write your 2020 word in prominent places in your life. On days you feel overwhelmed or need some direction, your word will help remind you of where you are going. This will help keep you from getting distracted and off track. Put your word on a sticky note in your car. Put it on the card that comes with your PowerSheets. Make it your computer desktop or phone lock screen. Write it anywhere and everywhere to remind yourself of where you are going!

You can even download one of our hand-lettered iPhone wallpapers! Our bank includes more than 100 words, plus the option to design your own!

How fun, right?! (Share this with your friends so they can be reminded of their words, too!)

I’m excited to kick off the year delighting in the Word with the Fresh Faith Challenge. Join me!

Your turn! This week’s goal-uncovering steps:

First, buy your PowerSheets if you haven’t already! 15% off with code BESTYEAR2020 just for you.

Answer the golden question: what will matter to you in the big picture and what won’t?

Make your yes and no list.

Mark what’s important. Go back and mark things that stand out to you in what you’ve written so far. Find the themes.

—Choose a 2020 Word of the Year as a way to remember what matters in the big picture.

You are doing it! Step by step, your focus for 2020 is becoming clearer. I love doing this work with you, and I’ll be back next Wednesday, December 18, for Part 3. 

Need some extra motivation? The Ultimate New Year’s Giveaway is ON! How great are these amazing prizes this year!? If you needed a little extra encouragement to share your answers as we go through this series, this is it! I can’t wait to read your thoughts and hear your aha! moments. One person who comments with answers to every step in this series will win a bonus prize: one of everything from the Cultivate What Matters Shop! Yes!!! – Gloriana Hopkins

A big thank you to everyone who entered! What a joy it was to hear your responses and get to chat with you in the comments! Congratulations to our winners below! If you’re a winner, fill out this form to collect your prize within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected!

Here’s what you could win…

— 10 sets of 2020 PowerSheets to help 10 of you cultivate your BEST year yet! –– Jennifer Abe, Diana Riddle, Gina Fornito, Sarah Gusky Kemer, Noelle Carroll, Misty Krasawski, Mikel Rogers, Susan Smith, Tracey Mai-Lauffer, and Ashley Woleben
— A Goal Guide Bundle to help you dig deeper on your specific goals. –– Lindsey Sivils
— Five signed copies of Cultivate. –– Shelby Koerner, Sara D Whittle, Sarah Snyder, Gail Boos, Rebecca Burton
— Five signed copies of Make It Happen. –– Ashly Hilst, Jessica Evans, Andraea LaVant, Rebecca Olsen, and Cheryl Tynes
— One Write the Word All Seasons Collection to help you cultivate fresh faith all year long. –– Tanya Chmunevich
— A gift card (YES!) for a massage to kick off your year refreshed! –– Ruth Gyllenhammer
— A pair of Apple Airpods to listen to your favorite podcasts, music, or audiobooks. –– Cee Jay
— A Swoozie’s gift card for all of your gifting needs! –– Luna Stanley
—A Revelation Wellness membership with a ‘Wellness Kickoff Package” to cultivate your health in the New Year. –– Megan Kurtz
— Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University course—a life-changing experience to help you pursue financial freedom. –– Callie Carter
— One Val Marie Paper Yearly Prayer Journal. I’ll be using one this year, too! –– Marcia Howell
— An Audible subscription to check all those books off your reading
list! ––Hailey Noonan
— One Art Bar canvas (up to $150 value) to brighten up your walls. ––Jamie Goodall
— A Fitbit to help you celebrate your literal steps forward. –– Christine Langford-Dixon
— An Echo Dot to keep you dancing. –– Rachel Nordgren
— Two Italian Gift Frames from Framebridge to frame the memories that matter most! –– Hosanna Stump and Julie David Roberts

 

Why am I doing this? I want you—yes, YOU—to know what I know now on the other side of burned out and overwhelmed: there’s a different way to do this—a way that works. Step by step, you are going to feel ready, renewed, and clear about your year ahead. I’m so excited for you!

Finally, a request: share this series with your people! Don’t keep all this goodness to yourself! I’d be so grateful if you spread the word about this free series. Email this post to your friends, tweet it, ‘gram it (here are lots of sharable graphics for you to make it easy!), text it—sing it to the rooftops! Let’s get all our friends in on this so they can feel as refreshed and clear about 2020 as we will. Here’s to our best year yet togetherstarting now!

 

Enter your email for the FREE Goal Setting Series ebook!

In the 2020 Goal Setting Series, you’ll get:
Free goal coaching to help you set the right 2020 goals.
Downloadable goal setting worksheets including the signature Intentional Life List.
Access to a library of Word of the Year wallpapers for your phone.

And so much more!

196 Comments

  1. Jenny on at

    Beautiful!!
    My word of the year is Embrace, and I love that each part of the definition relates to different goals!

    1. to hold someone closely in one’s arms (to love my siblings well, as this is likely the last year we’re all living in the same city)
    2. accept or support willingly or enthusiastically (aggressively guarding my heart and attitude as I head into a busy year for work – serve my students joyfully)
    3. include or contain as a constituent part (loving/preparing for my mother in law, who might be moving to our city)

    • Debbie Williams on at

      This is beautiful, Jenny! So well thought through!!

    • Lara on at

      Love those definitions and goals, Jenny! I’m cheering you on!!

    • Meghan L on at

      Wow! I love this word. Seems like a wonderful anchor for the year!

  2. Lauren on at

    My word is Cherish… I want those around me to know how much I love them and am thankful for them. I also want to cherish what I have and find contentment, not spending.

    • Lara on at

      Love it, Lauren! What a great word of the year!

    • Mskraizy on at

      XD This was my word too!

      To cherish the people in my life, to feel cherished and to create memories that I will cherish forever.

  3. Gayle E Vehar on at

    I am still working on my word of the year. I have a few on my list including content, patience, freedom, and strength. All of these words have been popping up in my reading and powersheets prep.

    • Lara on at

      Woo! Can’t wait to see what your word of the year will be, Gayle!

  4. Nicole on at

    When I’m “old” (for some reason I can’t think of it in a specific age) I will care about my relationships and memories of adventures and beautiful times with those I love. I won’t care about much of anything else.
    I’m saying no to distraction, busyness, and comparison and yes to connection, adventure, laughter, gentleness, and romance with my husband.
    I had already picked my word as connection, but after doing research like you suggested, I’ve changed it to Gentleness!

    • Lara on at

      Such great things to say YES to! I’m cheering you on, Nicole!

  5. Rashele on at

    My word of the year is FREE. While I have some ideas about why (dairy-free, free to love, freed by knowing His truth, free from dehydration – I need to drink more water!), I’m also super excited because God always surprises me with more than I expect when I think I know what I’m getting into 😀. 2020, here we come!

    • Lara on at

      Giving you a virtual high-five, Rashele! So excited to see what you and God do with your word!

  6. AS on at

    My word of the year is Living. My friend told me that should be my word. I’ve been spending a lot of time devoted to work—either working or thinking about work or worrying about work or getting my worth from work. Everything I love and delight in has taken a back seat. It feels like my life is on pause in some ways. And, I’m ready to press play.

    As a result, I’m saying NO to be ing obsessed with work. No to my control and my plan. I’m saying no to fear and over preparing. I’m saying yes to adventure. Yes to friend time. I’m saying yes to devoted prayer time and just talking to God through journaling. I’m saying yes to service more frequently.

    I can’t wait to read everyone’s comments.

    • HStump on at

      Way to go! Those sound like awesome no’s and yes’s

    • Lara on at

      What a great word of the year! I am so excited to see you uncover what matters most this year!

    • Laura on at

      This really resonates with me! I love your word, and I will pray that you can get out and have some fun!

  7. Tracy ML on at

    I need to dig deeper, but so far my contenders for my word of the year are:
    illuminate, nourish, done, support, healing.
    I am drawn towards illuminate… It makes me think of a pathway that’s been lit up by God’s grace. I’ve heard you talk about how the name “POWERsheets” comes from the illuminating the important things. It makes me think of becoming a more optimistic person.
    I want to continue to dig deeper, so I’m planning to do your suggestions of looking up the definitions and looking up verses too. Thank you for another talk!

    • Lara on at

      I love hearing your ideas, Tracy!! So excited to see which one you choose!

  8. Kaethe Pittman on at

    I encouraged a friend who is just starting with papercrafting. She added a hand-made gift tag to a package she sent me, and it was great! So often we fail to notice little touches like that, but not this time!

  9. Kaethe Pittman on at

    My WOY is not set yet, but all the work I’ve done on it is leading me toward “focus.” That word keeps popping up, as though it is asking to be picked!

    • Lara on at

      I am cheering you on as you choose your word of the year!!

  10. Lucy on at

    Just received my Powesheets yesterday and excited to catch up and start, started by writing my name n date down!

    • Lara on at

      The first step to uncovering what matters!! I am SO excited you’re here, Lucy!

  11. HS on at

    Who doesn’t like cjicken pie?

    • Lara on at

      Haha! My son is hilarious!

    • HStump on at

      He really is! We ate brussel sprouts that night & I am glad to hear I am not the only mama who gives her kids those little mini cabbages.

  12. Juliana Eshleman on at

    I just chose my word of the year: it is Connection. I want to experience deeper intimacy first with God, then with the people around me. This is a theme that I noticed kept coming up in last year’s powersheets, so this year I am going to make it happen!

    • Lara on at

      I love this! Such a great word to live by, Juliana!

  13. Hannah R BEEBER on at

    Thanks to Josh for the permission to say YES to chocolate cake. This kid is going places!!!!!

    • Lara on at

      Haha! So glad you enjoyed that! : ) He makes me laugh!

  14. Heather Staines on at

    My WOW is going to be Flourish. The Lord wants us to flourish and to help others do the same.

    • Lara on at

      Yes!! I love this word, Heather!

    • Amy Gerrits on at

      I was torn between flourish or develop. Went with develop since my #1 strength is developer.

  15. Debby on at

    I have wanted to become more intentional with my time and this part has really helped me get focused. Oddly enough our work place asked everyone to choose a word several weeks ago…Amazing how the threads of life weave together!

    • Lara on at

      Amazing!! So excited you’re here, Debby!

  16. Lee Sullivan on at

    I’m still working on my word of the year, but I’m leaning toward ROUTINE as we’ve had 2 years of just putting one foot in front of the other to get by. I have loved every second of the adventure, but I need some calm, quiet, and routine for a little bit.

    • Lara on at

      Yes! Love it, Lee! I am so excited to see which word you choose!

  17. Hailey on at

    Pretty sure my word of the year will be “kindness” – towards myself and others. Looking forward to going through the Bible for verses – what a great idea!

    • Lara on at

      Such a beautiful word, Hailey! I am giving you a virtual high-five!!

  18. Shandy on at

    My word of the year for 2020 is Generous—being generous with my money and time and loving people well. Also, I just wanted to say that I am loving the new streamlined prep work in the powersheets. I have been using them since 2014 and absolutely love this new set 😀

    • Lara on at

      I am SO glad you love them, Shandy!! I am so excited to be doing this alongside you again!

  19. HStump on at

    2020 is my 40! I know you said in the podcast it’s in a few days! Exciting to start and a new decade -in a new age bracket! Happy Birthday Lara, praying it is the best year yet for you (&all the CWM’s adventurers!)

    • Lara on at

      Thank you so much! I’m wishing you your best year yet, too (:

  20. Jessica Duininck on at

    #2

    What will matter: leaving a legacy for my kids.

    Say yes to…
    Kindness
    Time in God’s written Word
    Water
    Prayer
    Worship

    Say no to….
    Emotional spending and eating
    Opinion of others
    Socal media
    Guilt
    The past

    So excited for my word of the year :RELEASE!

    R renew
    E embrace
    L lighten
    E enlarge
    A allow/accept
    S seek/seen
    E elavate

  21. Lara on at

    Woo! I love this, Jessica! Such a great Yes/No list and a great word!

  22. Lynn on at

    Just completed page 34 in my Power Sheets and it’s been enlightening to say the least. I really appreciate the walk-through my psyche, though I’m completely fried and TMI came to mind more than a few times. 2019 was a brutal year and I’m not ashamed to say that the “Good Things” (Pg. 18) were sparse. Yeah, it was that kind of year. But I believe it has been a gift as well. It has been a watershed year. A camel’s back and that last piece of straw kind of year. If I hadn’t had 2019 I’d still be coasting on a myriad of frustrations, starts and stops, and guilt-laden failures from not “measuring up”. Word for the year: HONOR I came by this word the long way via a Greek lexicon and 2 Corinthians 5:9. I’ll spare everyone the details. My alternate word (in case honor decides to take a day off) is FORWARD. Whether leaping, inching, or crashing, as long as I move forward, I’m going to call that success.

    • Lara on at

      I am cheering you on, Lynn!

  23. Adrienne on at

    My word of the year is Relationships.I’m a task oriented over achiever and would love to focus more on relationships and less on doing this next year. 😊. However, my goal list is already long. 😬 Look forward to honing it down and focusing on what matters. Thank you.

    • Lara on at

      Love it! I am cheering you on, Adrienne!

  24. April Emery on at

    What will matter to me when I’m 80? My faithfulness to God and how well I loved my family. NOT my social media status or follower count, or how perfect my home looks or how much money I make.

    My word for the year is ROOTED. Feeling pulled to turn inward more this year … focus on growing more quietly than in years past. Focussing on my family and living more of analog life (having clear “rules” for how I will use SM and then enjoying the REAL life I have). I want to go deep in prayer and find joy in the mundane parts of my life.

    • Lara on at

      Such a great word, April! I am so encouraged to hear how you’ll be cultivating what matters this year!

  25. Christina on at

    How exciting! I have LOVED this series and have felt so encouraged through it all. I have yet to get this far in my own PowerSheets prep but I love seeing it all unfold. I have Saturday morning booked for some quiet time (I’ve got an 8 week old at home) where i can get away and make progress. I can’t wait!

    • Lara on at

      I am so glad you’re encouraged, Christina! I am cheering you on as you dig in to your PowerSheets.

  26. Alicen on at

    I shared your podcast with my sister! My word for the year I think will be Begin Again. I have felt like I’m 10 steps behind and can never catch up so with Begin Again I can look at each new day as a new beginning and know I’m right where God wants me to be!

    • Lara on at

      Love it!! I am cheering you (and your sister) on!!!

  27. Jessica on at

    When I’m 80, I want to have good connections with family and friends, be mentoring younger women, have good and constant communion with Jesus.
    This year I will say yes to: friends that fill my cup, quality time with family, times of rest, prioritizing homeschooling. I will say no to: too much screen time, things that don’t line up with my priorities in this season.
    My themes are family, friends, Jesus, rest
    My word of the year is Abundance!

    • Lara on at

      Such a beautiful word, Jessica! I love seeing your Yes/No list and how you’ll cultivate what matters this year!

  28. Taylor on at

    I’ve been really thinking about what matters most and as I went through this process a few things kept coming up. My marriage, my daughter, learning, being centered on Christ, and finding joy in it all . My word for 2020 is Joy, so that I can delight in and find joy in the process, in the journey. Things will be changing in 2020 as I’ll be going back to school to finish my degree, so somethings will be going slower and that’s okay. I”m leaning in and ready to enjoy the process.

    • Lara on at

      Woo! Love it, Taylor! I am cheering you on as you find joy in the process! Little by Little (:

  29. Katie on at

    My PowerSheets and CYYL experience has got me so excited about 2020!

    • Lara on at

      YIPEE! I am so grateful you were able to join us for CYYL! Cheering you on!

  30. Michelle on at

    I haven’t chosen my word of the year yet, but I’m leaning towards Progress! This will be my first year using Powersheets. In the past, I tend to set goals that are too big picture then give up before I get there. I’m reminding myself this year that as long as I am making progress, I’m doing ok.

    • Lara on at

      Yes, Michelle!! So excited to see what word you choose!

  31. Amy Corron on at

    Still working through this part of the prep work, but overall my people and my wellness are those things that will matter in the bigger picture, as well as helping others and valuing experiences. Saying yes to time with family, friends, and my partner, boundaries for rest, and challenges that may scare me a little. Saying no to being busy just to be busy, things that do not serve my wellness, spending money towards stuff that provides limited reward. Still working on the word of the year – thoughts include: leap, brave, embrace, rest

    • Lara on at

      I love hearing your Yes/No list, Amy! So good! I am cheering you on!

  32. Maria on at

    I was struggling with this, but when I landed on “radiant” I knew it was right! “They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.” I need a lot of more looking to Him in 2020 🙂

    • Lara on at

      Love it , Maria! Cheering you on!

  33. Emily DeArdo on at

    In the big picture, what’s going to matter are family, friends, and faith. (I love how they all start with F! LOL)
    My legacy: Loving Jesus, my family, and my friends. Being loyal, faithful, helpful. Being joyful and generous. Spreading hope, joy, and love , and being faithful in prayer. I don’t want to waste what I’ve been given!
    Threads: the importance of friends and family; there are lots of things I love to do and I need to make time to do them; living an authentic life is important to me; I want to use the gifts and skills I have well, and I need more time alone to replenish myself, which is a new thing for me!
    No list: comparison, jealousy, envy, waste (in all forms), feeling LESS.
    Yes list: stewardship, renewal, recharge, saving–in all forms, commitment, discipline, dedication.
    I chose “discipline” as my word of the year, which might seem weird, but I like the definition “a system of rules of conduct.” I want to discipline myself to be content, to be dedicated to my goals and the big picture–to have a system of conduct for myself that allows me to flourish!

    • Lara on at

      Woo!! Love it, Emily!

  34. Lindsey B on at

    I like thinking about where I would like to be in my 70’s, 80s, 90s as motivation and perspective to setting goals. Perspective and purpose. These power sheets are all so great.

    • Lara on at

      I am so glad you’re encouraged, Lindsey! I am cheering you on as you uncover what matters most!

  35. Emily V on at

    My word of the year is STRENGTH. Chronic illness person here. Relying on God for all my strength this year, and resting in His grace when He says I need rest.

    Isaiah 40: 28-31 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

    • Lara on at

      So good!! I am rooting for you each step of the way, Emily!

  36. Valri Cooper on at

    My word for 2020 is RESOLUTE. Endurance, progress, standing firm are all themes for next year so I thought Resolute said it perfectly.

    • Lara on at

      Yes! What a great word of the year, Valri!

  37. J.F. on at

    Still tending in December and excited for January! How’s everyone doing? You’ve got this!

    • Lara on at

      I am cheering you on, J.F.!!

  38. Trudy on at

    My word for 2020 is FAITHFUL 1.Corinthians 7:25

    • Lara on at

      Such a great word, Trudy!

  39. Heather Reed on at

    My word of the year is Thrive!! To flourish, bloom, grow vigorously prosper and be healthy. 😍

    • Lara on at

      Love it, Heather!! I am cheering you on each step of the way!

  40. Kim H. on at

    My word of the year is “challenge.” I challenge myself to dig deep, focus on progress and positivity, and commit to tending over the next 12 months (and beyond!)

    P.S. enjoyed the appearance from this week’s guest star…now we know that chicken was on your dinner table last week and chocolate cake was not lol

    • Lara on at

      Haha! So glad you enjoyed that! He makes me laugh! 🙂

  41. Andria on at

    My word, for at least the first quarter, is grace. I’m due with our second child January 7 and I struggle to give myself grace during any change in life. Perfectionism has helped build my career but also left me feeling empty at times. I need to allow myself to savor every moment with my new little and grace to let everything else go for a period of time. Grace to not be perfect and allow myself time to heal and allow me to just be a mom and not wear all the other hats for awhile.

    • Lara on at

      Yes! So good, Andria! I am cheering you on each step of the way, soon to be mama (:

  42. Kara-Anne on at

    WOAH this was a journey!!

    IF YOU COULD ENVISION YOUR MOST PURPOSEFUL YEAR YET, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE?

    Earlier mornings, lots of fitness and feeling strong and happy and balanced.
    No reactions to things that happen, being able to deal with unexpected things.
    No complaining, just enjoying the journey of life with the Lord.
    More singing and enjoying what I do — really using my God-given talents.
    Working on Legacy and getting a course out to the world to teach this good news.
    Jumping out of bed every morning ready and happy to work.
    Writing a blog about my feelings and my day-to-day life, which may seem mundane but actually connects to people with my imperfections and my quest to improve my life bit by bit.
    Working on my faith with God.
    More travels and adventures, doing what makes my heart sing and taking new opportunities even when I’m scared.
    Doing great work that helps and inspires people, but without judgment.
    Keeping a clean and cozy home, while leaving room for bunnies to love.
    No excess consumption — home-cooked meals and intentional purchases I love.
    Connecting with people online and selling with ease and joy, really changing lives and not selling for the sake of selling.

    WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR?

    Joyful, simple, contented. I want to be known for loving people and being a nice person. I want to know I lived as best as I could with my talents, my finances, my time. I want to see more of the world, help people in my small way, and enjoy life.
    I want to have a business that supports me and my family, but that does not burn me out or makes me feel guilty.
    I want to be known for leaving light in people’s lives, giving hope and giving joy, not judgment.

    WHY I WANT TO MAKE WHAT MATTERS HAPPEN IN THE BIG PICTURE:

    Life is precious. We are so blessed. I am so privileged. I want to make the best of this life I’ve been given.

    THE BIG PICTURE

    WHAT WILL MATTER TO YOU WHEN YOU’RE 80?

    How much I loved on people.
    How well I used the resources I have to do life well.
    Living a joyful life.
    Caring for the environment.
    Making hard decisions so that I can do what’s right.
    Having little regrets.

    WHAT WON’T MATTER TO YOU WHEN YOU’RE 80?

    How much money I made.
    How big, or clean, or fancy my house is.
    Any type of number that reflects how well-liked I am, true or false.
    How successful I was compared to other people.

    MY YES AND NO LIST

    WHAT I’M SAYING NO TO:

    Being a pushover because I’m scared
    Aimlessly scrolling through social media
    Spending impulsively, excess
    Comparing myself with others; caring about what others think and how they live
    Feeling sorry for myself
    Hanging around toxic people and letting them have space in my head
    Wanting to do all the things, and at once
    Distractions and procrastination
    Being afraid of being left behind, less successful, regrets
    Gossip, complaining

    WHAT I’M SAYING YES TO:

    Only doing what I really want to do, even if it inconveniences other people
    Focusing on legacy and launching LYL and the blog
    A simple, slow life (say no to more haste, less speed)
    Stewarding our finances better
    Being more organised
    Less reactions, think before I react
    Being happy, stop thinking that bad things happening are punishments
    Gardening, maybe?
    Singing more
    Loving more people
    Living life on my own terms

    MY 2020 WORD OF THE YEAR

    MAKE A LIST OF POSSIBLE WORDS THAT RESONATE WITH YOU.

    Focus
    Joy
    Simple
    Heart
    Bliss
    Grateful
    Clean
    Light

    MY WORD OF THE YEAR:
    HEART

    WHY I CHOSE THIS WORD:

    When I watch the Japanese home makeover show, it dawns on me how simple things can be so beautiful and meaningful when you put heart into it. When you design or create something with heart, the thing becomes both useful, elegant and well-loved.

    It doesn’t have to be complicated, it just needs to come from the heart.

    And also, the double-meaning is to focus: to let the thing that matters be the heart of everything I do.

  43. Lara on at

    Hooray, Kara-Anne! Love hearing your word of the year!

  44. Regina Renee on at

    2017 Enough
    2018 Joy
    2019 Becoming (Steward)
    2020 Cultivate (Stewardship)

    Cultivate: try to acquire or develop (a quality, sentiment, or skill); work to make something better; prepare and work on; nurture; grow.

    In 2020 it is my prayer that I cultivate habits and characteristics that help me become a better steward of my God-given gifts.

    1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

    Cultivate:
    1.faith
    2.joy
    3.healing
    4.wisdom
    5.stewardship
    6.peace
    7.grace
    8.compassion
    9.humility
    10.gratitude
    11.resilience
    12.healthy habits

    • Lara on at

      Love it, Regina! So good!

  45. Jenn on at

    My word this year is so different that any other year. It’s “footing” or “establish your footing”. This feels like a foundation building year for me. I am turning 40 in June and finishing up my 10 year goals. I went back to work unexpectedly in 2019 and now I need to get my feet back under neath me to start thriving again.

    • Lara on at

      Love it, Jenn! I am cheering you on as our enter into this new season–40! I’m right there with you (:

  46. Kim on at

    Word of the year: renew. I didn’t think this would become it, I thought it would be shine. But after the dictionary this word just seemed so perfect: resume after an interruption (I have been home with a burnout the past year) and give fresh life or strength to. The PowerSheets so far have already changed my life, thank you

  47. Lara on at

    So good, Kim!! I am SO grateful for you and rooting for you!

  48. Mandy on at

    I have narrow my word of the year choices to tow: grace and peace. Grace keeps popping up in my prep work, and peace keeps appearing in my journal writing. I am going to pray about it before I select one.

    • Lara on at

      Both are great words to choose from, Mandy! I am cheering you on!

  49. Alexandra on at

    Have loved searching for my word of the year. Came down to “Establish”. “To build or bring into being on a firm or stable basis; to settle in a position.” This is a year of establishing, rooting, settling, accepting, identifying, and confirming who God is, who I am in him, and what matters most. By the end of 2020, may I find myself on a firm foundation.

    • Lara on at

      Woo! Such a good word to live by this year, Alexandra!

  50. ~In the big picture, my faith and my family will matter the most to me.
    —My yes list includes more time with family and friends. My no list includes less time wasted due to lack of planning.
    —The themes I see are faith and family-growing in my relationship with God and growing in my relationships with my husband and children.
    —My 2020 Word of the Year is love. I want to do all I do with love.

    • Lara on at

      I am cheering you on as you live out LOVE, Mary!!

  51. Nicole Karpinski on at

    I’ve been following you for a few years now and listened to all the podcast episodes last year but this is my first year to purchase Powersheets and I’m looking forward to creating and making progress on my goals this year.

    • Lara on at

      Hooray!! I am so excited for you to dig in and uncover what matters most!!

  52. Nicole Karpinski on at

    I texted my friend who has sick babies to see how she was doing and pray for her.

    • Lara on at

      Love it, Nicole!!

  53. Samantha McCoig on at

    My word for the year is Flourish. I was looking at a definition for another word idea, and saw the synonym flourish. Out of curiosity I looked up the definition and decided it was absolutely perfect!

    1. To grow well of luxuriantly; thrive
    2. To do or fare well; prosper
    3. To be in a period of highest productivity, excellence or fluently

    in another dictionary my favorite definition: grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way

    • Lara on at

      Yes! Love that word, Samantha! I am cheering you on!

  54. Tylana Byrd Hill on at

    Thank you for this. I was already working on a few words, but will use your. Suggestions to pick one

    Courage
    Clarity
    Cultivate
    Discipline
    Joy
    Gratitude

    • Lara on at

      Can’t wait to hear which word you choose!

  55. Gloriana Hopkins on at

    —What doesn’t matter is how pristine the house was or how much money we made or how “perfect” things were. What matters in the long run is how I lived my life. I want it to be pleasing to God. I want my faith to resonate in my son’s life and for him to walk in faith. I want my children’s children to walk in faith.

    —I am saying No to: Frivolous spending, poor attitude/feeling entitled, poor communication with the husband, laziness, time-wasters (i.e. spending too much time with social media, email, online shopping/browsing), things that will disrupt quality family time, overworking my back, “working” after 8PM, sleeping late, phones/electronics after 9PM, putting self-care off, over-indulging in “rest”, THE COMPARISON TRAP, unrealistic expectations, being complacent in my faith, being overly comfortable.

    I’m saying yes to: my family, reading the Word, praying constantly, investing in our retirement fund, grateful attitude, going out of my comfort zone, an active lifestyle, healthy eating habits, more water, letting go, receiving help with humility, quality family time, more sleep, self-care in moderation, one-on-one playtime with my son, family devotions/worship, being firm about my convictions, giving generously, being flexible, giving myself grace.

    — Themes: Time Management, Stewardship of Resources (time, money, energy), Health, Routine, Financial Security

    —My word for 2020 is FAITHFUL. At first, I thought Stewardship would be my word, but the more I looked back, the more Matthew 25:21 resonated with me: His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ These are the words I long to hear from the Lord when I go home. The word Faithful is also a reminder of God’s faithfulness. 1 Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

    • Lara on at

      Yes! Love your Yes/No list, Gloriana! Cheering you on!

  56. Meredith on at

    For 2020 I have been given the word “Arise”. When googled, arise means to emerge typically from a problem, opportunity, or situation. In a literary sense it is defined as to physically get up or stand up. In my Bible searches the word arise always seems to demand action. It is interesting that God has given me this word, because I have been working through a past experience of sexual assault that has overcome so much of my thought and energy. I have only recently began to be open about what happened to me after nearly a decade. I have felt a call to ministry, but was unsure was this to other women, moms, or elsewhere. Countless times good opportunities have come up and for whatever reasons, God shut the doors. Maybe this is the year. Maybe God has been preparing my heart. Just maybe God knew how to prepare me to someday be most effective in standing by others. I don’t know what this year will bring, but I sure am excited to walk it out with Him by my side.

    • Lara on at

      So good, Meredith! I am cheering you on as you uncover what matters most and follow Him this year!

  57. Jamie Goodall on at

    I’m looking forward to 2020 goal setting using my PowerSheets for the 4th year in a row!

    • Lara on at

      Hooray! I am so glad you’re here, Jamie!

  58. Lissa Redman on at

    I’m so excited to set my goals and intentions for 2020. I love how the power sheets break everything down into easy to do steps!
    Thank you for walking us through the set up part so we can have the best year! 🥰🥰

    • Lara on at

      It’s my pleasure, Lissa! I’m so grateful for YOU!

  59. Jennifer on at

    I’m thinking of ANCHORED or GROUNDED. I’ve felt so unsettled and lost this year. I really want next year to be where I get grounded in God’s word so that everything else can flow from there. Making time to fill my cup so I can pour out to my husband and kids. Jesus, husband, and kids – they are what’s important to me now and at 80 (or 100).

    • Lara on at

      So good, Jennifer! Can’t wait to see which word you choose (:

  60. Sara Driscoll on at

    My word of the year is tend. As one tends a garden, watering it and weeding it, I plan to spend this year tending my life. Weeding out my knows and watering/nourishing thebthings I want to keep and grow in my life.

    • Lara on at

      Love this word, Sara!! So excited to see you cultivate what matters!

  61. Lisa on at

    My word for 2020 is boho/bohemian! At first I thought my word would be kindness (also a lovely word) or dance. But then I listened this podcast and all of a sudden it was like everything fell into place and the word came up. I know it’s just a word but It clicked on a deeper level and I got teary eyes! Thanks Lara you’re the best 💟

    • Lara on at

      So grateful you’re here, Lisa! I am cheering you on!

  62. Carrie on at

    I’m deliberating over three words: Relationship, Courage, Openness. I need Courage to be Open in my Relationships with God, Husband, Kids, and Family!

    • Lara on at

      Can’t wait to see what word you choose, Carrie!!

  63. Kinsey on at

    When I’m 80, I want to be even more in love with God and with my husband than I am today. I want to be able to point to the deep relationships I have cultivated, and I want to be debt-free and unconcerned about what I may leave behind.

    To get there I’m saying YES to my husband as much as I can. I’m saying YES to Sabbath–to reading my Bible and to prayer. I’m saying YES to driving to visit friends and going out when I’m invited. I’m saying YES to getting rid of things I don’t use and only purchasing things that I will.

    I’m saying NO to consumerism, needing all the new shiny things that come out for hobbies I enjoy. I’m saying NO to shopping just because I’m bored and to shopping without a list. I’m saying NO to acting without praying first and to selfishness and pride.

    My word of the year is CREATIVITY. I want to expand my horizons with my hobbies and use the craft supplies I have to make things all year long. I want to find creative ways to build relationships and sustain the long-standing ones that get strained by busy seasons of life. I’m excited about what focusing on this word might bring for 2020!

    • Lara on at

      Love hearing your Yes/No list! I am cheering you on, Kinsey!

  64. Hadera Lowrance on at

    It was freeing to know that my word of the year didnt need to be a commitment. Not naming a child as someone else put it:)

    • Lara on at

      Love it, Hadera! I’m cheering you on!

  65. Dini on at

    I am still wondering about my word of the year – I am feeling pulled between “growth”, “fruit” and “roots” – maybe I need to start with the thing that is in the ground – root – and then wait for growth and fruit – LOL

    • Lara on at

      Love these words, Dini! Can’t wait to see which you choose!

  66. Julia on at

    My word of the year is “Follow.” Following Him and consulting Him before I do anything. Giving up my own way. I want Jesus to be King of my Heart and Lord of my life.

    • Lara on at

      So good, Julia! I am cheering you on as you follow Him!!

  67. Audrey on at

    At first, it really looked like my work was going to be Intention or Intentional as that was the overarching theme/three throughout all the pages I’ve done so far, but it actually turned into Conscious, as that encompasses making everything intentional as well as aligning with my best self, being conscious in everything that I do this year.

    • Lara on at

      Such a great word, Audrey! I am cheering you on!

  68. Teresa on at

    Thanks for making helping simplify my life.

    • Lara on at

      It’s my pleasure, Teresa! I’m grateful for you!

  69. Kristen Yager on at

    The big picture for me is about our family business and getting it to thrive and deepening relationships with family and friends. I’m saying yes to letting the positive things fill me and to changing things for the better; and no to negative people and leaving the bad of last year in the past. Important for me this year is to heal from the car accident, focus on the family business, and turning into the person I want to be. So my word of the year is transformation!

    • Lara on at

      Love it!! I am cheering you on as you cultivate what matters this year, Kristen!

  70. Anna on at

    “You know those things you’ve always wanted to do? You should go DO THEM.” No exxageration, Lara, these words are what gave me the inspiration I needed to return to college this year, to keep my “WHY” intact, and to finish the last two semesters with all A’s. Your method is life-changing. Thank you!!

    • Lara on at

      WOO! I am so excited for you! I am cheering you on, Anna! You got this!

  71. Amber on at

    -When I’m 80, my faith, health, family and legacy will be the most important things.
    —Im saying yes to time alone with God, exercise, family time, and budgeting. I’m saying no to frivolous spending, laziness and negativity.
    —The themes I found are faith, health, and stewardship.
    —My Word of the Year for 2020 is STEWARDSHIP. I want to be a good steward of all the gifts God has blessed me with: my body, my family/friends, my finances, etc.

    • Brittany on at

      Amber, this is my word of the year too! What an important goal to steward well everything God has entrusted to us!

  72. Tracy on at

    Joy stuck out to me as a common thread and I was thinking through joy, fun, and delight but went with JOY for my word of 2020!

    • Lara on at

      Love it, Tracy!! Cheering you on toward JOY!

  73. Heather Laaman on at

    My goal by 80 is to be a published author and a woman known for her love of the Lord.
    This year I’m saying no to distractions (Instagram, TV) and yes to scheduling my time more. Turns out I work better with an actual plan.

    • Lara on at

      So good, Heather!

  74. Lisa on at

    My word of the Year is Evolution…a process of gradual, peaceful, progressive change or development. I knew I needed to make some changes this year and it felt so overwhelming but this definition has brought me such calm and peace to my soul.

    • Lara on at

      Such a great word, Lisa! Cheering you on!

  75. Lindsay on at

    My big picture is working on a legacy of faith that transcends generations, having a deeper impact and connection with people around me and demonstrating God’s beauty to the world.
    I’m saying yes to securing financial stability for our kids, restoring my health to enjoy the life the Lord has and will give me and making memories with our kids.
    I’m saying no to screen time over face time, not sticking to a budget and debt.

    My year for the word is Imagineer (shh, don’t tell Disney)! I want to take every opportunity whether big or small to create magic, invite curiosity, reimagine different aspects of our life, become a storyteller and to encourage imagination.

    • Lara on at

      Such a great word (: I am cheering you on, Lindsay!

  76. Stacey on at

    My WOY is Discipline.

    • Lara on at

      Cheering you on, Stacey!!

  77. Justina on at

    When I am 80, the things that will matter the most to me will be: 1. my relationship with each of my children, my love with my husband, how i commune with my Father and how well I have kept my body. The things that wont matter are: social media, my phone, how clean my house is and the approval/rejection or dissagreeing opinions of others.

    I havent decided my word of the year yet. My 2019 word was Deeper. This year I am considering Slow, Purpose, Me, Relational, and Trust.

    • Lara on at

      Yes! So good, Justina!!

  78. Amy Gerrits on at

    My Word of the year is Develop. Because most of my goals are to grow or expand things. Also when I participated in strength finders a few months ago my number one strength was developer.

    • Lara on at

      So good, Amy! I am excited to see you uncover what matters most.

  79. Gay Taunton on at

    Thank you for this podcast series. My 2019 Power Sheets went unused adding to my self condemnation. Your words and true heart, not a sales pitch, have given me permission to try again. The lightbulb ignited showing me that this process is to dig deep into myself to cultivate what God has already purposed to bloom in me for His glory! Thank you💖

    • Lara on at

      So good! I am grateful you’ve been encouraged! I am cheering you on.

  80. Lynn Devoe on at

    My word for last year was freedom, because the Lord needed to free me from a lot of baggage I was carrying ( and I needed to let go of control and let Him work in my life: Let go and let God). This year the Lord gave me the word purposeful several months ago. I’ve been pondering it; letting it ping around in my head a bit. It just felt right. I need my choices and daily decisions to be purposeful ones that help meet my goals… and those goals need to have purpose and point to the things that are important.
    The final confirmation, was what Lara said in this podcast: “Smart goals are missing on key component: purpose.” Yes! Purpose! His purpose for me that translates into purposeful goals that fulfill His will in my life. I also love some of the synonyms for purposeful: enthusiastic, steadfast, motivated, committed, and persevere . <3

    • Lara on at

      Such a good word, Lynn!!

  81. Ashley on at

    Wasn’t there a video to help in picking out a word of the year? Or am I making that up? Thinking about using the word “Pray” to help me remember to turn to Him for all things great and small.

  82. Tia on at

    Have you ever felt like your words werent your own. Looking at Lara’s pages I was thinking it looks so pretty. Her answers are so good. I dont know what to write. So I took a break…and as I was feeding my son the words started coming to me.
    Here are my answers:

    What will matter to you in the big picture and what wont?
    Will.
    – resting.
    – how my son treats others and women.
    – how I set a good example to anyone watching.
    – that I learned my lessons and shared them.
    – how I learned to love God.

    Wont.
    -My sons temper tamtrums.
    – My thinning hair.
    – the number of steps or misteps to get where I should be.
    – that I didnt feel like doing it!
    – abs and how sexy someone thinks I am.
    – the tea/ gossip.

    I am saying ‘yes’ to:
    – prayer
    – eating good food
    – quiet time
    – moving /health
    – mininal things
    – getting dressed up
    – taking a moment/ walking away/ and waiting

    I am saying ‘no’ to:
    – following online drama/tea
    – thinking how to make people like me
    – hesitating
    – giving all my time to work
    – collecting things
    – accepting defeat
    – punishing myself

    My word of the year is ROOM
    : space or oppertunity avaliable for something.
    Capacity, Margin, Allowance

    I want to make room for God. Room for what I long for. And be intentional with what I carry and spend time on. Room to create. Room for belief.

    • Lara on at

      Such a great word, Tia!!! I am cheering you on!

  83. Meghan L on at

    Ok, Lara, those were a lot of steps for one post!

    I always tend to struggle with the legacy question, but the yes/no list and word of the year are much easier for me. Maybe because I’m a type 7 on the enneagram?!

    Last year, my word was together, and it was a really clear guide for me in a year that was tumultuous. This year, my word is magnetic because I’m open to attracting new opportunities and relationships!

    • Lara on at

      Love your word of the year, Meghan!! So good (:

  84. Stephanie Cardoza on at

    Thank you Lara for your openness and insights!
    I surprised myself with my list of things I’m saying yes and no to this year.
    I’m saying yes to-
    -seeking out the Kingdom of God
    -seeking wisdom
    – bathing my days in prayer
    -inquiring of the Lord
    -leading my children towards Jesus
    -gentleness with myself and others
    -believing the best
    -consistency
    -rythym
    – having confidence in gifts God has given me and the gift he created me to be
    – quiet ordered days
    – reading for myself and with my children
    – time for friends
    – PLAY with my children- literally stopping whatever I’m doing to SAY Yes to them in that moment
    – cultivating our family culture
    -RE creation

    What I’m saying NO to –
    – harsh judgement of myself and others
    – jumping to conclusions
    – guilt and shame
    – busyness for its own sake
    – buying things we don’t need
    -time wasters
    – low quality communication
    -distraction

    I haven’t set my word yet- I’m considering Breathe- basic yet life-giving.

    • Lara on at

      Love reading your Yes/No list! Cheering you on, Stephanie!

  85. Miriam on at

    I only found out about your system a few days ago on YouTube (Elyssa Nalani), and. I was inspired to order your planner. I expect it later today. Currently, I am still tossing some ideas for my word for the year. I am very grateful that you’ve set up this series to explain everything in detail.

    • Lara on at

      Hooray!! So glad you’re here! Excited for you to uncover what matters most, Miriam!

  86. Gail Boos on at

    My word of the year is Focus. I’m not trying to tackle all the things but I am trying to focus on the things that really matter, my health, my family, and my home.

    • Lara on at

      Love it, Gail! Cultivating what matters most this year with clear vision!!

  87. Megan O. on at

    My word for 2020 is FRUITFUL. I want to cultivate all the fruits of the spirit, and also produce good fruit in financial freedom, cultivating good habits, building a healthier lifestyle and building a solid faith foundation. It matters to me because I want to have memories and traditions for generations to come. I want to be a teacher of all good things and shine the light of Christ to my loved ones. 😀

    • Lara on at

      So good, Megan! I’m cheering you on as you cultivate what matters this year (:

  88. Hermien on at

    My word of the year is Flourish!
    This is also then name of my business I am finally stepping into full time in 2020!

    • Lara on at

      Woo!! So exciting, Hermien!

  89. Amanda K. on at

    After reflecting on what I’ve been through this past year and on what’s Yes and No for me, I’ve chosen my word for 2020 after picking out Focus, Fearless, Brave, and Action: it’s Prepare!

    Furthermore, how I Prepare doesn’t have to be prefect, just like how you say “it doesn’t have to be perfect. DONE is better than perfect” – thank you for this quote, I will post this up somewhere for me to see often! And this is how I chose Prepare as my word for me because it’s what I really want to do now and what I know will be good for me in steering me away from being distracted and fearful of taking action.

    Glad I was able to write this down and share it with everyone on this 2020 goal setting journey – as writing everything out does help me (as with anyone) to really see things clearly about ourselves.

    Now on to series episode 3!

    • Lara on at

      Love it, Amanda! I’m cheering you on!!

  90. Christina on at

    I am saying YES to following God this year and NO to trying to do things within my own strength! Thank you for all the encouragement you’re giving us through these blog posts!!

    • Lara on at

      Amen, Christina! I am cheering you on!

  91. Janice Chan on at

    My 2020 word of the year is Intentional. Though all the goal ideas I was brainstorming I realized that they all require be to be conscious and aware of my actions. I want to leave behind a legacy that allows people to know that I have impacted others and that that comes from my faith as a Christian…I think this is also going to require a lot of intention. Saying yes to making good use of my time, filling my mind and heart with wise things (not celeb gossip lol), saying no to doing things purely out of obligation. It sealed the deal this morning during my devotions when I was reading through 2 Corinthians 1:12: “that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” This is the legacy I want to leave and this is going to require Intention 🙂

  92. Lara on at

    Amen!! Love it, Janice! Cheering you on as you cultivate intention!

  93. Pam on at

    My word is TREASURE

    for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…

    • Lara on at

      Such a good word of the year, Pam!

  94. Hollie Weber on at

    At 80 I want to know that I enjoyed the blessings in my life and let myself experience the JOY inherent in the gifts I have received. My passage is Romans 15:13. I already know that I’m living a great lived, I say yes to letting myself feel that joy and no to worrying that my worth and ability to find joy in my life is bound to my productivity.

    • Lara on at

      Yes! So good, Hollie!!

  95. Riffing off of the whole “2020” theme…my word for the year is CLEAR. I’m looking forward to clearing some of the clutter, having a clear vision for the future, and getting clarity about some essential parts of life.

    • Lara on at

      I love your words – the “essential parts of life.” Yes! I’m right there with you. Love you!

  96. Gabby on at

    Worked on part 2 of the series today. And when I am 86 I want to celebrate 50 years of marriage with my husband, be healthy enough to dance and hike, and have friends and family around me to tell epic stories.

    • Lara on at

      What a beautiful legacy you want to leave and cultivating what matters most!!

  97. Maggie on at

    My word for 2020 is JESUS. I know that when I’m 80, the souls I’ve pointed to Him and how I’ve walked in His footsteps will be what really matter. As Jesus prays in John 17:4, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given me to do.” ♥

    A sampling of my NOs are: Being afraid of rejection, talking [to others] instead of praying, laziness/wasting time, holding on to things; guilt.

    A sampling of my YESs: Using my talent (even imperfectly), doing what’s before me, rejection/criticism leading to learning and growth!, being a witness for Jesus, trusting God!

    • Lara on at

      Such a powerful word, Maggie–the name above every name! I’m cheering you on!!

  98. Jenny on at

    Delight is my word too! Didn’t plan on it at all, just kept coming up in Scripture and just tied into all my goals so well! 🙂

    • Lara on at

      Love it!! I’m cheering you on, Jenny!

  99. Priya on at

    My word is PROGRESS
    In both personal and professional realms. To develop and move forward to my visions and dreams…to see that tomorrow finds me farther along than today. Thanks for clarity in this!

    • Lara on at

      Yes, Priya! To see that tomorrow finds you farther along than today…. SO GOOD!

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