January 2023 - Focus on What Matters

 

Halfway to January...

While I'm not really that big on goal settings and new year's resolution, (I'm more of a make a list and tick the boxes kind of person) I am big on reflecting. And this is not limited to the first month of the year, it's more on a regular time basis where I slow myself down and ask myself how am I doing? 

Now, this reflection time is not about judgement of myself or comparison to how others are doing... I have long since passed that stage and seen them for the fruitlessness they bring. My questions are more simpler and basic. How am I doing? Am I happy? Am I content? 

Why these questions?  It's because these are the things that I have control over. My wellness, my attitude, and my state.

My wellness is a priority because I only have one life to live and one body to live it in. The constant demand from outside sources of our time and energy can be overwhelming and consuming. Stress plays a vital role in our health. I'm at the age where I've realized I'm not as strong as I think nor am I invincible. I have had my share of illness.

My joy is something, I find, I must guard because it is so easy to get caught up in things that don't matter in the end. So many little things that can be blown out of proportion and be unhappy about. To find beauty, lessons and something to be grateful for in the day and hold on to them as what matters most leads to the answer to the last question... Am I content? 

Being content is not about relaxing and not wanting more. It is about enjoying, living and loving now. It is about being present in the moment, engaged and not allowing time to slip away without acknowledgement and gratitude. Being content is a natural state that allows us to accept growth in the best of ways. When we are happy and engaged we are open for more and better growth. 

I do have things that I would love to accomplish in the year. I guess I can call them goals. But 2023 is a different year for me. It is a "Reset" year. It means going back to much needed basics and purging unneeded things to make time and space for the things that brings joy and fulfillment.

 Sometimes I end up cluttering my mind and therefore my time with so much non-essentials and end up unhappy, stressed, and no time for the things that do matter. I have piles of things to do that have accumulated over the years. These are often hampered by new and glittery things that pulls my attention every which way. 

While there are many things that I hope to accomplish like, composing and arranging more songs for lyre and harps, recording more videos, creating more lyre harp lessons for Patreon; adding a couple more trips to see the world and meet new people; finding time to play my other instruments; finding more ways to be helpful in my community, and the list goes on. My guiding point is the inspiration that the Lord placed in my heart are the simple words, "it matters."
If I can speak clearly to how it matters then it is worth something and worth doing be it ever so small and very simple. And, if I can't state how it matters, be it the greatest most wonderful thing on my list, then it must be removed to make room for the things that do. 

Clutter is what we call things that serve no purpose and have the power to drain energies and take up much needed space without serving any purpose. I have lots of these in my house. They come in different sizes. Who knew that I have collected them in my life too, are the very reasons that holds me back, depletes my energy, drains my confidence, distracts from my focus, take my time and leaves me unfulfilled. A reset year is really what I need the most.

How are you setting yourself up for success in 2023? Will you be collecting more goals to add to your list from the years before? Will you only be paying attention to the big things to make your list? Will you allow smaller purposeful goals too? Will you also be focusing on the why's to see that they are meaningful and worthy of your time? Will you also be removing things that clutter? Would a reset year work for you as well?