To continue with the same theme of new, part of my new year's resolutions for 2014 is to try more new things. By new things, I don't mean anything elaborate, drastically different from what I usually do, or anything earth-shattering, for that matter. What I have in mind is to just challenge and expand my comfort zone. Push the boundaries a bit, so to speak. So onward I go, and these are two new things I have tried so far this year:
Taking new routes
I have certain routes for places I go often, such as the grocery store and the post office. But one day, I tried a new road. This might come very easily for some people (Hubby is extraordinary with directions - and I am not exaggerating one bit), but for someone who is often directionally-challenged, this does not come to me naturally. Since I don't have a smart phone, I don't have a GPS at my disposal either. But I looked up directions in advance as much as I could and tried anyway, and it was quite fun! I got to see a part of town I did not see often so it was nice. I also found another new route yesterday, this time without having looked up directions ahead of time. I had to stop for a minute to figure out where I was, but the new route took me to a section of the road I had never gone before, so that was quite satisfying!
Doing a photo shoot (!)
That is something I had never thought too much about, and I had not had a photo shoot since our wedding day (for which I did not have to think twice about what to wear). But a dear friend of mine, who happened to be a photographer, gave me a photo shoot as my birthday present a few months ago, so off we went! As she gave me specific instructions on preparation, I was a little overwhelmed. I was not sure if I would embrace the idea of having a bunch of photos taken of me, and I had no idea how to pick out "colorful outfits" (how colorful is colorful?) and how many of those to bring with me. But as my friend coached me along the way, both before and during the photo shoot, I came to enjoy it very much, not because my pictures were being taken, but more so I could spend time with my friend as she did something she loved. We giggled, goofed around, and bounced ideas off of each other. Quite fun! And the weather was picture perfect too. It was sunny with blue sky and there was just enough wind to keep the air crisp. I have not seen all the photos yet, but from what my friend showed me from her camera, some of them turned out quite well. :)
How about you? Are you challenging yourself by trying something new this year?
Showing posts with label new year's resolutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new year's resolutions. Show all posts
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
It has been a gorgeous day here in our town. Our back porch faces east so we have a great view of the sunrise. I got up this morning just as the sun rose. What a glorious sight! We went to church and our guest speaker preached a great sermon on new year's resolutions based on Proverbs 3. What a great way to start the year!
Speaking of new year's resolutions, I have been thinking about them. When I was younger, I would write down my new year's resolutions on new year's eve. But this year, I have not been able to quite put everything down. A lot of things have come to mind, but to pare them down and to focus on specific goals for 2012, it might take some time.
In light of this, it might be more productive to look back at my three new year's resolutions (and life-long projects) from 2011, so here we are (if you'd like to see the original posts, click on the titles):
Giving: This resolution was about giving something (material or otherwise) to someone every day. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. :) God opened my eyes to see how easy it was to give something; and it helped me to think about myself - my to-do lists, my plans, my concerns - less often. By God's grace, I think this resolution was accomplished fairly well (but there is always room for improvement, of course) and I am looking forward to new ideas and opportunities this year! Hopefully, along the way, through these little givings, someone was pointed to Him.
Punctually: This resolution was about not filling every moment to get one more thing done and about allowing time to be still and to be on time for the next thing. I think overall I improved on being on time, but there is a lot of room for improvement. I was still late quite a few times. If I were to fine myself ten dollars for every minute I was late, I would have set apart quite a large sum. This bad habit of doing one more thing before leaving the house mostly happened outside work and school. I had been late to church, to appointments...... and I am not proud of it. I need to do better this year.
Confidence: This resolution was about letting go of myself and trusting in God and finding confidence through Him alone. The result, or fulfillment, of this resolution is somewhat difficult to assess. I still have the lock issue, and I still (subconsciously) take matters in my own hands, and try to plan things out, but I also know that this is not something I can get rid of in a year's time. It truly is a life-long goal. I'd like to report that I have made progress, but in a way, I also think this is not up to me to say. I only know that I need to keep working on this, through God's help and the strength He gives me; and because of Him, I am hopeful.
One of the verses our guest speaker shared this morning was Proverbs 3: 5-6 -
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.It is a familiar verse, and what an encouragement it is as we begin the new year!
Friday, February 4, 2011
New Year's Resolution: Confidence
My third (and last, but certainly not least) resolution of the year is somewhat difficult to explain, but hopefully it makes sense.
I had never had confidence issue. In fact, I had the opposite issue - too much confidence, or so I thought. Being an independent and perfectionisic soul, I had a lot of pride, always trying to do things on my own without asking for help (I really stunk at asking for help). I never liked to boast about anything, but this independence, this drive to do well made me rely on myself way too much, and I always took matters into my own hands. Because I was constantly planning and trying to be in control, I got a lot of things done; but at the same time, I worried a lot as I always thought about many different scenarios.
A few years ago, Hubby and I were apart for a school year, because of his job transfer and my school. We were sure that it was God's plan for us to take the offer even after I had been given a TAship, meaning I could not move just yet. Because I was now by myself most of the time, I developed this insecurity about locks - I checked my front door lock multiple times at night; and I checked my car door more than once every time I parked. I got much better since Hubby and I were under the same roof again; but I was still checking my locks multiple times. My confidence did not bring down my insecurity about locks. Around New Year's, I realized all of a sudden that far from being a confident self, I needed more confidence.
A different kind of confidence.
I used to be confident in my own self, but I was not confident enough in the Lord. Through Beth Moore's So Long, Insecurity book and simulcast, I realized I was in bondage of my perfectionism. My confidence in myself was simply a facade to cover up my insecurity of perfectionism. I finally understood I did not need confidence in my flesh or my "abilities" but confidence in the Lord. Rather, I needed to trust Him with all of me and receive the true confidence that comes only from God.
So this is really not a new year's resolution; it's part of my walk with God. Confidence in myself had been such a burden (I thought and worried a lot, did I say that already? :) In just the past few weeks, I have come to experience such new freedom in God because He is the one and only true source of confidence. I have subscribed to human confidence far too long and I am glad to bid it farewell.
Writing about these three New Year's resolutions had, surprisingly, been a very natural task for me. As I wrote, I was amazed by how easily and freely I talked about these three things, particularly the last two. A year ago, I would not have been able to share these, because I was still trusting in myself and focusing on myself way too much. If by reading these blog posts, you see anything that causes you to amaze at God, give Him praise and give Him thanks, for He is the wonderful Heavenly Father who never gives up on His children, you and me included.
I had never had confidence issue. In fact, I had the opposite issue - too much confidence, or so I thought. Being an independent and perfectionisic soul, I had a lot of pride, always trying to do things on my own without asking for help (I really stunk at asking for help). I never liked to boast about anything, but this independence, this drive to do well made me rely on myself way too much, and I always took matters into my own hands. Because I was constantly planning and trying to be in control, I got a lot of things done; but at the same time, I worried a lot as I always thought about many different scenarios.
A few years ago, Hubby and I were apart for a school year, because of his job transfer and my school. We were sure that it was God's plan for us to take the offer even after I had been given a TAship, meaning I could not move just yet. Because I was now by myself most of the time, I developed this insecurity about locks - I checked my front door lock multiple times at night; and I checked my car door more than once every time I parked. I got much better since Hubby and I were under the same roof again; but I was still checking my locks multiple times. My confidence did not bring down my insecurity about locks. Around New Year's, I realized all of a sudden that far from being a confident self, I needed more confidence.
A different kind of confidence.
I used to be confident in my own self, but I was not confident enough in the Lord. Through Beth Moore's So Long, Insecurity book and simulcast, I realized I was in bondage of my perfectionism. My confidence in myself was simply a facade to cover up my insecurity of perfectionism. I finally understood I did not need confidence in my flesh or my "abilities" but confidence in the Lord. Rather, I needed to trust Him with all of me and receive the true confidence that comes only from God.
So this is really not a new year's resolution; it's part of my walk with God. Confidence in myself had been such a burden (I thought and worried a lot, did I say that already? :) In just the past few weeks, I have come to experience such new freedom in God because He is the one and only true source of confidence. I have subscribed to human confidence far too long and I am glad to bid it farewell.
Writing about these three New Year's resolutions had, surprisingly, been a very natural task for me. As I wrote, I was amazed by how easily and freely I talked about these three things, particularly the last two. A year ago, I would not have been able to share these, because I was still trusting in myself and focusing on myself way too much. If by reading these blog posts, you see anything that causes you to amaze at God, give Him praise and give Him thanks, for He is the wonderful Heavenly Father who never gives up on His children, you and me included.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
New Year's Resolution: Punctuality
Being on time is not my strong suit.
I have always tried to get one more thing done. So when I have a few minutes to spare before having to leave home or go do the next thing, I would fill up the next few minutes by finding something to do - put away one more thing, finish one more housework, read one more page of a book, send one more text, reply to one more email......
Nothing might seem wrong with it, but by trying to get one more thing done, I often run later than expected, and as a result, instead of having a few minutes to spare, I need to rush for the next thing. While this has not been much of an issue with work or school, Hubby can tell you that he has waited for me more times than he wants, and I have been late to appointments.
And I finally realized that this tendency to get one more thing done goes deeper than having a bad habit, or wanting to cross off another item on my to-do list, so to speak. It has a lot to do with being still, being at rest, being less perfectionist; or the opposite of it.
These past few weeks, I have become more aware of this trying-to-get-one-more-thing-done habit. I tell myself that it is okay to do this "one thing" later and that I need to focus on what I need to do right now, on the task at hand. Whatever this "one thing" is, it will still be there waiting for me.
While I have been late a few times, I find myself more at ease and more calm. I finally understand that I don't have to fill my every waking moment with things to do. It is perfectly fine to have a spare moment, to be still and not get every single thing done right away, because I don't have to be in the driver's seat and everything will still be alright.
I have always tried to get one more thing done. So when I have a few minutes to spare before having to leave home or go do the next thing, I would fill up the next few minutes by finding something to do - put away one more thing, finish one more housework, read one more page of a book, send one more text, reply to one more email......
Nothing might seem wrong with it, but by trying to get one more thing done, I often run later than expected, and as a result, instead of having a few minutes to spare, I need to rush for the next thing. While this has not been much of an issue with work or school, Hubby can tell you that he has waited for me more times than he wants, and I have been late to appointments.
And I finally realized that this tendency to get one more thing done goes deeper than having a bad habit, or wanting to cross off another item on my to-do list, so to speak. It has a lot to do with being still, being at rest, being less perfectionist; or the opposite of it.
These past few weeks, I have become more aware of this trying-to-get-one-more-thing-done habit. I tell myself that it is okay to do this "one thing" later and that I need to focus on what I need to do right now, on the task at hand. Whatever this "one thing" is, it will still be there waiting for me.
While I have been late a few times, I find myself more at ease and more calm. I finally understand that I don't have to fill my every waking moment with things to do. It is perfectly fine to have a spare moment, to be still and not get every single thing done right away, because I don't have to be in the driver's seat and everything will still be alright.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
New Year's Resolution: Giving
Since it is still January, it is not too late to talk about new year's resolutions. :)
For as long as I could remember, I would make a list on New Year's Eve of things I would like to accomplish in the new year. For this year, however, instead of a list of things to accomplish, I have three goals for the year that are less things to do but more like life-long projects. The first one is giving.
A couple of years ago, I had a thought of giving something to someone every day. It could be things tangible or otherwise. Most of the time, I found myself giving the same thing - letting a car from the parking lot or the side road pull in front of me while I was driving. This was good, but it was certainly not the only way to give. Soon, the thought of giving became less and less prominent and I was less and less diligent about it. But last Christmas, as I was re-reading Matthew West's Give This Christmas Away, in which he gives 101 ideas of giving, I thought of extending this to a year-long project for 2011 and God confirmed the idea.
A few weeks into the year, I am happy to report that this has been a great start! Most of the things I have given are little things - time, friendships, little gifts, car rides, donations, and yes, occasionally, letting a car pull in front of me - but they have been giving me a lot of joy. There is nothing in me that can give any of these things, but I know it is God enabling me to pay more attention to others and He is guiding me in my giving. In the process, I find me thinking of myself less, which is a great benefit!
How about you? What can you give someone today?
For as long as I could remember, I would make a list on New Year's Eve of things I would like to accomplish in the new year. For this year, however, instead of a list of things to accomplish, I have three goals for the year that are less things to do but more like life-long projects. The first one is giving.
A couple of years ago, I had a thought of giving something to someone every day. It could be things tangible or otherwise. Most of the time, I found myself giving the same thing - letting a car from the parking lot or the side road pull in front of me while I was driving. This was good, but it was certainly not the only way to give. Soon, the thought of giving became less and less prominent and I was less and less diligent about it. But last Christmas, as I was re-reading Matthew West's Give This Christmas Away, in which he gives 101 ideas of giving, I thought of extending this to a year-long project for 2011 and God confirmed the idea.
A few weeks into the year, I am happy to report that this has been a great start! Most of the things I have given are little things - time, friendships, little gifts, car rides, donations, and yes, occasionally, letting a car pull in front of me - but they have been giving me a lot of joy. There is nothing in me that can give any of these things, but I know it is God enabling me to pay more attention to others and He is guiding me in my giving. In the process, I find me thinking of myself less, which is a great benefit!
How about you? What can you give someone today?
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