Plan to Finish

JonathanChristmasTree

Jonathan is standing beside several unfinished projects.

 

Each year starting in 2013 I have been choosing a word for the year. In fact it was a blog post by a fellow Tribe Writer called “Why you should have One Word for 2013” that got me started. Picking a theme word each year has really revolutionized my goal setting and how I keep up with it all.

I won’t bore you with all the details on how I’m not a list person and how before starting this method I gave myself way too many goals thus becoming overwhelmed and hardly accomplishing anything on the list at all. (Yes, I did just say all that in one breath!) 

Now I pick one simple word. A word that all my goals and aspirations can snuggle up to and get comfortable with. 

In 2013 my word was “Determined”. All that determination helped me get my writing off the ground. I finished my manifesto “Don’t Quit! Build a Legacy of Commitment“. Which you can download the pdf for free right here on my site. It was a really good year for my writing. 

That year I wrote a post about how my Life is Like a Boat. Despite all my determination I still felt unbalanced. I decided maybe if I chose the word “Organize” for 2014 I would find that balance. 

My family and I accomplished a lot in 2014. We got most of the house cleaned up. We traveled a lot without losing too many things. It was a very good organized year (at least organized for me). Even though things aren’t perfectly organized yet, it is better. I feel this past year was a successful year. We did so much more that we wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t even tried.

Now you are probably wondering about my word for 2015. 

I struggled to decide on a word. I started thinking about it in December as I was trying to do last minute organizing. One of the things I need to work on is making sure I keep my priorities straight. It sounds very noble. Make a list of the things that are the most important and focus on those things this year. However I couldn’t put my finger on why I didn’t quite feel that word working for me. As I tried to write down some things that I wanted to do this year using “Prioritize” as my key word my goals just looked flat.

My husband and I had our children list some things they wanted to accomplish this year. They wrote some pretty good goals and some lofty ones that will take them a lot of work to accomplish. Most of them were very good goals and they can achieve them all if they work hard at it.

New Year’s Eve my husband and I sat down with the kids and talked with them about their goals. I told them that one of the things I would like to see this year are goals actually being accomplished. I told them that if they set out to do a project I want to see those projects finished this year not just started.

Then my word for 2015 hit me between the eyes…”Finish”. My children are not the only ones that need to finish things. Suddenly my mind went to all the unfinished projects I have laying around the house. 

I never finished crocheting a blanket I started around 10 years ago. I’ve worked at it off and on (more off than on) but never finished it. I have a lot of blog posts just from this past year that I started writing but never finished. I have books that I planned to write and some I even started but never finished. 

I look back on my life and realized that a lot of those unfinished projects stem from a problem in my mind. Somewhere in my life I got into the bad habit of assuming things weren’t going to get finished. 

For way too long I have set myself up for failure.

This year I’m going to finish. I’m going to finish that blanket. I’m going to finish getting organized. I’m going to finish cleaning my house up. I’m going to finish writing a book. I’m going to finish the writing courses I started. I’m going to finish reading my Bible through. Everything I start I’m going to make plans to finish.

I’m going to help the kids finish their projects as well. This year will be very productive and I’m going to keep a list of every project we finish. 

I already know our Rock Solid Family will finish this New Year out strong. 

How about you? Do you have some goals for this year? If you were to summarize them into one word, what would that word be? I can’t wait to hear from you. Please share your word for the year in the comments

Together let’s make 2015 the best year yet!

Right now? I am going to finish taking down that Christmas tree!

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About Anastacia Maness

Anastacia Maness is a preacher's wife, homeschooling mother of 6 blessings, and writer. When she's not busy counting her blessings she's writing about them right here on her blog, encouraging and strengthening families.

10 Replies to “Plan to Finish”

  1. Anne Peterson

    Loved your post Anastacia, and your word is a good choice.
    I have not chosen a word, but I’m giving it some thought. One thing I appreciate about you is your zest for life. I imagine your home to be one where there is exuberance and lots of smiling. Thanks for sharing your word as well as your thinking process that led to your choosing that particular word. Here’s to a year of finished projects!

    Reply
  2. Janelle

    Anastacia, “finish” is one of the words I’ve been considering too! For many of the same reasons:) I haven’t totally decided it I’m leaning toward it.

    Reply
    • Anastacia Maness Post author

      Great word choice, Janelle! I am looking forward to hearing what projects you finish this year. I finished repairing two of the kids’ dolls that had been waiting a while for me to get to them. My daughter just now pointed out another torn doll in my room so I guess I’m not quite finished yet. 🙂
      Anastacia Maness recently posted…Plan to FinishMy Profile

      Reply
  3. Shelley

    I’m right there with you in all of this. I amaze myself at the things I’m able to finish; yet, astonish myself at the little things I just can’t seem to complete. Crazy, isn’t it?Two college degrees were a snap compared to finishing the TW course (still left undone). My word for the year is ‘Focus’. It’s beginning to work for me. I’m getting far more done than ever. I hadn’t considered taking the time to decide where I want to go in 2015. Wherever it is, it’ll be much more productive than 2014. Great post and good start for the year.

    Reply
    • Anastacia Maness Post author

      I like the word “focus” too, Shelley. I will need a lot of focus in order to finish everything on my list.

      This will be a productive year. I’m looking forward to seeing what all we accomplish! 🙂
      Anastacia Maness recently posted…Plan to FinishMy Profile

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