Three Impactful Questions for the New Year!
Want to connect with your family and friends (and even yourself) in a meaningful way this New Year's? These three questions can help!
New Year's is a great time to reflect, connect and project!
Here's a good place to start! Use these questions on your own, or with your spouse, family, friends, or in your small group!
1) REFLECT What are you most grateful for in the past year?
You can have more than one answer, but take some time and truly consider each month or season and what you have been through. Did you overcome an obstacle, make it through a transition, accomplish a goal, or celebrate a milestone?
Take some time and journal if you are doing this on your own, or take turns sharing if you are with others. Or both!
2) CONNECT What is a word you feel on your heart for the next year?
Spark off a hope you have, use a word picture, or start with an emotion. Sometimes it helps to talk it out or get input from others. Praying for a spark to start off is always a good idea.
Maybe you will know right off the bat, maybe you will need to talk it out, and maybe you are not ready to commit yet, but let's get the ball rolling. (See what I did there with "bat" and "ball"?)
Here are some ideas to get you going:
Hopes = The year of the ______________ (degree, accomplishment, completion of something you started, a specific transition...)
Word Pictures= A bridge (a personal favorite), a season, a tree, river, building, symbol (heart, circle, triangle, &, @), pottery, ... so many options!
Emotion= Hope, Peace, Trust, Love, Gentleness, Patience...
The best connections have a combo and include a scripture.
So, maybe your emotion word is hope, your symbol is the Phoenix, your vision is to rise from the ashes and your verse is
To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. Isaiah 61:3
I'll post a few verse options at the end just so you can see if something sparks for you. Also, I recommend Bible Gateway - it is so easy to look up words in the Bible and it is free!
3) PROJECT What do you want to be saying you are grateful for next year at this time?
Recognition is the first step to growth or change. We rarely get somewhere or accomplish something without being intentional!
A good retirement doesn't typically come from a lottery ticket.
Weight loss rarely happens without new habits.
Emotional health won't just come with a sunrise or season change.
That book won't write itself.
So, what's it going to be?
And can I encourage you NOT to make a list? Normally that just leads to overwhelm and resignation. Instead, pick ONE goal and start toward it! Baby steps ARE progress! You can't start a journey without a destination and forward movement only takes one step at a time!
Pray about it, journal it out, talk it over, and may God bless your every next!
Also, we'd be honored to help. If you'd like this next year to give you traction like never before, or if you aren't even sure how to make the best goal choice - Bridges Life On Purpose personal workshop could make all the difference.
We want you to succeed so much we are offering this video series with a printable workbook for 50% off till Jan 10. Use the code: 2022Traction for an incredible deal!
What would it be worth for you to get traction toward your goal? It will take some intentionality but you can get there!
Okay- here's those verses.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33
You can make a goal that is emotional! Life On Purpose can help!
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:3
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:7
But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. John 4:14
Post your word on the Bridges Community page - we'd love to stand with you!