My One Word for 2016

For the past six years, I have chosen one word to focus on for the year. I’ve selected words such as purge, discipline, prepare, focus, follow through, and peace.

While I’ve tried to use these words to motivate me to achieve my goals, I have not always been successful. However, that does not mean I need to give up on my goals and dreams. It just means I need to press on and do what it takes to realize them.

I thought for many weeks about what my one word should be for 2016. If you google “one word” you will come up with a lot of great ideas. There are so many wonderful and impactful words from which to choose.

I reflected over all the things I had done in 2015 and in years before to get my blog to the point it is at right now. I began to recall all the books I’ve read, conferences I’ve attended, and online classes I have taken to help me become a better blogger.

I have amassed so much great information but have failed to put it into practice. Sure, I’ve done a few things I’ve learned over the years. However, I realized that because I’m such an information junkie, I have a tendency to keep learning without putting what I learn into practice.

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So, my one word for 2016 is IMPLEMENT. It’s time for me to take what I’ve learned and put it into practice. I have the knowledge I need to move forward with the vision and purpose God has given me to help women through guiding them to discover their life purpose.

Does this mean I’ll quit learning and discovering new things? No. I think we are called to be life-long learners. It just means I need to get busy and do the things I’ve learned.

This is what it will look like for me to IMPLEMENT the things I’ve learned:

1. I will finish all online courses I’ve started before signing up for anything new.

I have signed up for a few online courses that revolve around writing, goal setting, social media best practices, and spiritual living. I’ve invested money in most of these courses, so I need to reap the benefits from my investment.

2. I will develop a plan of action for using the information I’ve learned.

I have a ton of resources that will help me to make my blog better, use my time more wisely, and help others through what I’ve learned. I just need to create a plan to implement the ideas that will work best for me.

3. I will be more intentional about absorbing what I read from the Bible.

I have been a Christian for over 30 years. I grew up in church and have studied the Bible for many years. Some days, though, I feel like my Bible reading and study is just routine. I know that the Bible is living and active and even the familiar words can inspire me in a different way each time I read them.

James 1:22-25 perfectly sums up IMPLEMENT in a spiritual sense.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Another way to think about IMPLEMENT is to look at the words in the verses in James above that speak to doing something. Being a doer and one who acts has led me to the phrase “live it out.”

If you’ve read my blog post from Wednesday, you’ll know that I have officially kicked off what I call the Live It Out Community. Instead of sending an email out each time I have a blog post, I am now sending out a newsletter on Saturday mornings with links to that week’s blog posts. I will also include new and exclusive content that you won’t find here on the blog.

Having a newsletter is all a part of creating this new Live It Out Community. Not only do I want to help you discover your purpose in this season of your life, I want to help you live it out.

If you haven’t signed up to receive my weekly newsletter, go ahead and enter your email in the sidebar to the right or in the box at the bottom of this post. When you subscribe, you will receive a FREE download for a Prayer Notebook Printable.

I can’t wait to IMPLEMENT all that I have learned. And, I can’t wait to share with you what I’ve learned so you can learn to use your time more wisely as well.

What is your “one word” for the year?