Balance

Earlier this year I was listening to K-Love on the way to work in the morning. They were talking about new year's resolutions. Eric said that he doesn't make new year's resolutions, that he had learned a few years ago to pick a word for the year. They encouraged everyone to pray about what word God would have you choose to the focus this year.

I prayed and it became crystal clear very quickly. My word for 2011 is balance.

For anyone who knows me or has read this blog, you know that I struggle with my weight. I always have since I was a little girl. I have tried every diet, heck I could write a diet book. I have been successful numerous times and have lost (and regained) over 100 lbs twice. God has been showing me through books, videos, websites and comments from other people that the last thing I need in my life is a diet. My eating habits need to be balanced. I need to learn to listen to my body and feed it what it wants. Sometimes it wants chocolate or chips and salsa but my body is smart and it tells me when it's full. Balance for me is learning to listen to my body. Not starve it on some restricted diet or binge on all of the foods I haven't allowed myself.

Balance for me will be trying to find the happy medium between how people feel about me and how I feel about myself. God has put amazing people in my life who show me what love is. They love me unconditionally just because I am who I am. If I could learn to love myself half as much as others love me, I will be balanced.

Balance for me will be spending the right amount of time with my family while also taking time for me. The family need me to be engaged in their life. They need to know that I've got their back no matter what. They need to feel supported to chase their dreams. I also have to chase mine. I have to go and do what I feel God is calling me to do (even if I don't quite know what that is yet).

Balance for me will be being judicious in spending money but not so strict that life isn't fun. God showed me that debt isn't the way to happiness so I have been fighting like mad to get out of it. It is so freeing to watch the debt fall away. I would like that to continue but I also want to be able to take my family on a vacation without feeling guilty. I don't have to go into debt to do that.

What word would you choose to define your vision for this year? Give it a thought, pray about it, and share it here if you'd like. I pray that your 2011 is truly blessed.