A few years ago, I decided to join the Word Of The Year tradition and fell in love. Finding a word to grow your mindset is genius, and it allows you to think about your own experiences and shape how you want to move forward in all aspects of your life. Talk about a great tradition & consider this your invitation to join.

The word I searched hard and long for came at me in a song, and I knew at that moment, that was what I needed to be for 2020.

FOR 2020 I CHOOSE THE WORD COURAGEOUS.

A word that dates back to 1250! A word that comes from courage and being brave!! It also derives from the Old French word, corage, meaning "heart, innermost feelings, or temper."

Courage is the secret sauce that allows you to act despite your fears. Courage gives you the ability to put aside your fear and failure and take the first step. A step I thought I made last year by putting myself out there, but the truth is, I wasn't courageous. I was being safe and testing the water because gosh did failure and rejection scare me more than anything. By testing the water, I learned that rejection is inevitable, and the failure doesn't define me. Failure allowed me to look at what went wrong and try it another way. Rejection turned into me making a list of all the people who will be sorry they turned me down.

Goodness writing this makes my heart so happy because what a great lesson to walk away with, and for that, I thank you 2019.

The truth is there is something beautiful about being courageous. I've started to realize that being courageous pushes me to grow and to stop making a to-do list for the mini wins, which I LOVE! There is nothing like checking off a to-do list, let alone killing it! But that is cheating to a point. I don't want to look back at the end of the year and see all my to-do list checked off but find myself in the same spot! Can you imagine the sadness that would fill my heart! Ugh, it couldn't take it. It feels right to put myself in scary situations and to strategize the different outcomes. I’m pretty stoked and terrified but hey that’s growing!

SO HOW DOES THIS WORD FIT INTO MY LIFE GOALS. LET ME BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU, DARLING.

BUSINESS:

Putting myself in courageous situations like ART CLASSES for you lovelies! (This one scares me! Teaching terrifies me, and I have no idea how to run a workshop…yet). It is being brave and trusting my knowledge to make resources for you!!

PERSONAL:

Becoming a wife! This one is a big one! I want to be brave and bold as a wife and to be there for my husband. Eek, I'm excited about this one too! Check off a few things off my bucket list like swing dancing. So being courageous to try new things.

MENTAL:

Yup, Mental because I am a firm believer in mental health. Just ask my therapist ;)

To believe what my therapist says and have the courage to apply it even if it feels scary. I have this weird thing where I believe that everyone hates me, but that's just my anxiety being stupid, and we should kick it in the face.

FAITH:

I want to dive fully into this one! I want to get more involved with my church and trusting that the Lord lead me back after so many years for a reason.

AND LITTLE BY LITTLE, SHE FOUND THE COURAGE FOR IT ALL.

-JH HARD

DO YOU THINK YOU’LL TRY A WORD OF THE YEAR? LET ME KNOW BELOW!