Do you set goals for the new year?

I feel very conflicted with New Years goals and resolutions.  I don’t believe in constricting goal setting to just one time a year.  I believe in setting, reflecting on, and accomplishing goals year round.  Furthermore, New Years occurs during the winter time where our bodies are naturally programmed to rest and recharge.   Instead, we have this culture where we feel the need to be overachieving and “starting the year off strong”.

With that said, I do also love a good fresh restart. So my husband, Conor, and I go over goals year round, but re-set during the New Year with the intent to still rest and recharge for most of January into February. 

Documenting everything in an excel sheet (where my type A people at?!), we first write out what a perfect day would look like. Second, we go over our 10 year goals, 5 year goals, and then reflect on the goals we set during the year.  We even go as far as grading ourselves and writing reasons we gave ourselves that grade.  After that, we write our goals for the year and based off of all of those, choose a word for ourselves that we use as a mantra for the year.  

In an effort to keep perspective throughout the year on what is most important to me, last year I chose the word “gratitude”.  I was proud of how well I encompassed the word in 2022 and have felt a major shift in my mindset when it comes to loving and appreciating my life.  Whenever I was faced with a challenge or obstacle, I would come back to “gratitude” and it would instantly change my perspective.  I truly believe it has made me intrinsically happier too. 

Usually, I pick my word without any struggle or hesitation.  I sometimes even know my word by October or November.  

This year was different.  I felt stuck and wasn’t really sure what I wanted for myself this year. I already feel content with my life and our daily routine.

Oftentimes, Conor and I will offer words for each other that we think might be best based off of our outside perspective.  It can be very helpful to hear from the person closest to you.

When Conor first suggested the word “uncomfortable” as my word for 2023, I cringed.  Barf. 

I knew exactly why he was suggesting the word and I didn’t want to agree with him even though I knew he was right.  I have been holding back because of my resistance to step into the uncomfortable.  

Motherhood is demanding.  Homeschooling is demanding.  Four kids with the youngest being 1 years old is demanding.  But it’s also all I’ve really been doing for the last 8 years.  It’s what I know and I’m comfortable in that role.  

Now that Zeke is old enough to sleep through the night, isn’t breastfeeding, and is able to play independently and with his siblings, it is giving me the space to think about other things besides mothering and homeschool. I’m done having babies too so I know that time and freedom will only grow as my children get older.  

Which poses an even deeper question, who am I outside of being a mother? I find I ask myself this question about a year after having each baby.  It’s like a shedding of skin.  

I have already started brainstorming on how I will encompass “uncomfortable” this year and am feeling anxious, nervous, and excited to see how it all will unfold.  

So, cheers to a new year where I will be stepping into the UNCOMFORTABLE and unlocking my potential! What’s your word for 2023?