A New Year. A Fresh Start. #3bravethings

You’ve heard me talk about doing 3 Brave Things each year. I’m so passionate about this! We are now following each other to share progress, using #3bravethings. I hope you join us!

A Fresh Start

I love the new year like I love a good coffee shop. It’s not about the time or day, but the feeling. When I sit in a coffee shop (especially one that is inside a book store), I forget about all the tasks I need to do and just breathe in life and inspiration. I slow down, notice small joys around me, and let the ideas come in. The new year is very similar. The Christmas tree and decorations have been put away, the house is clean and clutter-free. The joys and chaos of the holidays are over. It’s time to let the busy subside and let the slow, deep thinking begin.

Perspective

The shift in perspective amazes me every time. It’s as if my vision becomes as clear as the white snow outside. Things I’ve been struggling with in my mind smooth out, annoyances fade, and my thoughts align.

New Year Resolutions

It makes sense that it’s during times when we feel refreshed and renewed that we want to jump into new goals. New Year’s resolutions make perfect sense when we think about it. The problem is that we often set our sights so high that we can’t achieve our goals. Honestly, I have the ambition right now to make big leaps with my health, business, community involvement, and family. It’s a little crazy, to be honest. I recognize this, though. I do this in the fall too, when summer ends and the kids go back to school. I guess it’s the changing of seasons and how I ready my mind for the next phase. It’s refreshing and exciting.

Ponder Before Leaping

It’s taken me a long time, but I ease into the new year at a snail’s pace . . . and it’s so good. I take the entire month of January to assess my thoughts, goals, patterns, etc. I let the wild ideas pour into my brain, take lots of notes, sip coffee and look out at the snow-covered mountains. I listen to podcasts, read books, sketch, and paint. I do nothing impulsive or drastic. I write down a LOT of notes and thoughts to keep myself from making an impulsive decision. I choose to think about these ideas and let them percolate a bit.

How 3 Brave Things All Began

I came up with a plan that works for me in 2014. I began to commit to doing 3 Brave Things in one calendar year. There are no big goals that I won’t succeed at and then beat myself up over in three months. There’s just a goal of #3bravethings. It all began the year I wanted to challenge myself to participate in my first art show. It was something I wanted to do, but the fear gremlins came in full force every time I thought about it, so I kept putting it off. One day, without over-thinking it, I just signed up for one. It felt great and was the beginning of trying brave things – those things that stretch us just outside of our comfort zone, in a good way.

*feel free to save and print the image below. Tack it up where you’ll see it daily to remind you of your 3 Brave Things

The Crossroads of Fear & Bravery

I don’t always know what my 3 Brave Things will be. Sometimes, I have one or two in my mind and other times I just wait for them to come. There are always those times when we are standing at a crossroad, presented with an opportunity to try something brave or step back. Sometimes we need to step back, but sometimes the opportunity is there because we are ready.

Share Your Brave Progress with #3bravethings

Will you join me? Will you commit to #3bravethings in 2016? We all need support and inspiration, so please share your #3bravethings, you thoughts, and your progress.

     

 

We got this! Here we go!