Dec 12, 2014

LET’S FINISH WELL

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If you could envision your most purposeful year yet, what would it look like? Where do you want to be when you’re eighty — or even one year from now?

I’ve asked these questions of thousands. The answers I’ve been given typically center on relationships. When we envision ourselves at eighty years old, having lived on purpose, we typically don’t envision social media, comparison, or our stuff in the picture; we see people. We see hearts—hearts we hope to have affected in a purposeful way. We see those we have spent quality time with. We see contentment. So the big question, then, is: If that’s where we want to be, what should we be doing today?

Screen Shot 2014-12-12 at 11.25.18 AMPhoto by Katie McGihon from our recent family trip to California.

Where do we start in the middle of what can be a hurried season, when it feels impossible to put the train brakes on? We start where all life begins—with tiny seeds.

There is nothing magical about January 1st. We have an opportunity every day — maybe even today— to plant a tiny seed of something that matters. Something that might change everything.

Don’t wait till January 1st to make what matters happen.
Don’t wait till you have your perfectly typed-out goal list or even your PowerSheets filled out.
Don’t wait till the timing is “perfect.”
Don’t wait to take a deep breath and — even if just for a moment — relish this life we have been given.
Don’t wait, because planting seeds — the seeds of what matters at the end of our days — can simplify our lives and give us our time back.

I have more work on my plate as I write this to you than any day this year so far. I’m right there with you, friend. Madame Overwhelm wants to come hang out and have tea with me lately. But, last night I sat in my living room with some girlfriends and this truth splashed on my heart like fresh water: I can complain that my plate is fuller than Christmas dinner at my mama’s house, or see what’s happening through radically different eyes. I can see the many things I have coming up — with work, holiday gatherings, family travel, etc. — as opportunities to hopefully help others plant seeds, to plant seeds myself, and to cultivate what will matter when I’m eighty. I’m not going to do it perfectly, but the pursuit of living on purpose is worth it. The alternative to living on purpose is living by accident, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to use my minutes here on this earth by accident. I don’t want to wait. Done is better than perfect. I’m choosing present over perfect and am starting NOW to set the wheels in motion. Will you join me?

Let’s walk through this together.
Let’s finish 2014 well and start 2015 on purpose.
I’m all in. 

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I invite you to join me on a powerful journey over the next few weeks. I’m nervous and at the same time so ready for this. Here are some options:

1. Order your 2015 PowerSheets by next Monday, December 15th, to get them by Christmas or by December 26th to get them by the first week of the New Year (domestic orders). We anticipate selling out before the New Year. The PowerSheets are six months of intentional goal planning and action-inspiring worksheets. I can’t wait to fill mine out! We also have a whole new line of prints that can still be ordered for holiday delivery!

2. For those who want to kick start 2015 in a big way, grab a copy of my book as well. Make It Happen: Surrender Your Fear, Take the Leap, Live on Purpose and PowerSheets are, well, powerful when used together. The book releases December 30th, and I recommend reading it and then starting your PowerSheets when you get to Part Four of the book — the Make it Happen action guide. You can view the trailer video here to see if this book is for you! You may even see a few familiar faces in the video : )

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3. In the book, I lay out several action steps that will help prepare you for the coming year and will help you to set good goals if you are also using the PowerSheets. If you order two or more copies of Make it Happen (maybe one for you and one for a friend), I’m hosting a live webinar for you on January 15th where we’ll discuss the book.

4. On January 28th, I’ll be hosting my annual live 2015 Goal Setting class, exclusively for 2015 PowerSheets owners. There is nothing magical about January 1 and, whether you have already worked through your PowerSheets by then or are just beginning to figure out your goals for the year, we’re going to dig in together. We’ll talk about how to take action on meaningful goals in the coming year. Sign up here.

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So, get the PowerSheets or the book or both — it’s up to you! My hope is that we all walk through the month of January together as a time of preparation, setting ourselves up for meaningful success.

As a little hint to what I am making happen, in January, my family is starting the adoption journey. We will have completed our home study next week, all the paperwork over Christmas, and then we wait and pray. We are nervous, in awe of where God has taken us on this path, and so grateful. I hope to share more soon. Till then, one little seed planted at a time. Most of the best things in life come little by little, with great patience, waiting, and a whole lotta leaps of faith : )

There’s more, but stay posted to my Instagram for some surprises coming up!

20 days till the new year, but here’s to starting the good stuff right now, right where we are, in the mess, in imperfection, and on purpose. I am cheering you on!

With love and excitement,

Lara

P.S. Early-bird registration for the Making Things Happen Conference ends December 31st at midnight! Save $1000 here.

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6 Comments

  1. Ashley Flores on December 12, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    So ready to steal some alone time and dig into this book. I need to reserve a babysitter now for a morning alone at my fav coffeehouse, lol. So proud of you, blessed to “know” you, honored to be on the receiving end of the beauty God is pouring out of you through the struggles. Your life matters to so many. Always know that. xoxo

  2. Scarlett on December 12, 2014 at 6:11 pm

    Congrats on the book Lara! I would live for you to develop an inspirational app for organizing!

  3. Kyla Fetzner on December 13, 2014 at 12:21 am

    Working through your goal setting series and my first set of PowerSheets last winter was the first time I had ever drawn from the well of my heart before making big plans. I’m really excited to take what I’ve learned since then, along with my new set of PowerSheets and your book, to set purposeful goals for 2015. Thank you for helping me along this journey, Lara!

  4. Mandy Volpe on December 14, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    I am looking forward to your book arriving! Already taking Jan. 2nd off so that I can truly dive into the book that weekend!

  5. Kate on December 31, 2014 at 4:16 pm

    Lara, this post brought tears to my eyes and so much joy for you and your family. I can hardly believe how God works, and seeing Him work so masterfully in your life is such an encouragement. Thank you for sharing as you always do with such authenticity, eloquence and truth. Looking forward to your book, the goals I have for 2015 and seeing where God takes us all in His perfect way. Love, Kate

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