Taking "Old Year Inventory" Is BETTER Than "New Year Resolutions"

Dear Kids,

There is a false sense of obligation for many people that comes along with the "New Year". This obligation = Resolutions. 

I have quite a few friends who are already joking about making goals (and I quote), "Well, I guess I better sit down and make my New Year Resolutions so I can just break them in a couple of weeks."

Now, before I start to tell you my opinion about this, let me first clarify that I think working on being a better person is very important. Part of the reason why we are here on this earth is for self mastery. 

However, I have a different opinion than most people do about how to get to self mastery. Might not be right for some people, but it works really well for me. I believe instead of trying to constantly set new goals and then breaking them (which starts a horrible and destructive self criticism cycle), it is more important to look at what I have ALREADY accomplished. 

At the beginning of this 2014 year, I am enjoying what I accomplished for 2013. Looking at this list of what I HAVE accomplished, how I have grown from it, what I have learned, and especially how the Lord's grace has helped me along the way, it gives me SO MUCH more motivation to go into 2014 with high hopes. 

Here is some of my "Accomplished" list:
-Moved to a new area. I have met new friends, have wonderful new neighbors, my kids have great friends.
-Lost a lot of my baby weight! I ate raw for a month, put a group together and helped other people while I worked on this.
-Loved my kids. There were many times of irritation, but I did my best with being their mom this year, loving them and teaching them. They are amazing people and souls. I prayed with them, I hugged them, I laughed with them.
-Loved my husband. We grew closer together, we are talking even more now than we did when we were dating. 
-Prayed for grace and deliverance all the time to make up for my weaknesses. My relationship with the Lord went to another level.
-Started a new business. Signed our first client before our website was even live! 
-Served my family for a month during the summer. Was able to get my natural medicine cabinet made and educated myself more on being Dr. Mom.

When I go through all my pictures from the year and take inventory of what HAS happened and what I HAVE done, then I have the courage and excitement to face this new year. I give myself permission to say,"I don't need just a few New Year's resolutions to make myself feel like this year is going to be great! I just need to look back at the past year and see that my life IS GREAT."

This is what I want you to remember throughout your life... Look at what you ARE doing, not what you are "supposed" to be doing. Look at the people you ARE loving, not those you haven't been able to. Look at the good habits you ALREADY have, not those you don't. Look at the talents you ARE giving to those around you, not wishing for something that is someone else's talent. 

The New Year is about patting yourself on the back. It is about being excited to grow a little more, to be a little better...Then when you look back you will see (through the help of the Lord) that you didn't just grow a little, you grew tremendously . You didn't just become a little better, you became much better. A few New Year resolutions aren't going to lead you to self mastery, what you ARE DOING now is how that is happening. 

What you focus on expands. Good or bad. Focusing on what you have accomplished will give you more energy to do even more.

I love you,

Your Mom