Episode 14: How can I live a better year?
EPISODE SUMMARY
This week co-hosts Kara-Kae and Elizabeth kick off the new year by talking about how we can all find purpose in 2020. They talk about New Year’s resolutions, choosing a “word of the year”, and goal setting.
THE LITTLE THINGS
We like to start each episode by talking about “the little things” in life that made a big impact that week. This week we are talking about the Christmas gift we are most excited about giving.
Kara-Kae is excited that her kids are back in school after enjoying Christmas break.
Elizabeth talked about her birthday, which is the day this episode drops. For her birthday she is taking her family to see the movie, Just Mercy.
THE CONVERSATION
60% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, but only 8% keep them.
Some of the most popular NY resolutions in 2019 were:
Diet
Exercise
Weight loss
Saving more money
Spending less money
Learning something new
Quit smoking
Read more
Find a new job
Drink less
Spend more time with family and friends
Kara-Kae and Elizabeth talked about four main reasons why NY resolutions fail:
Unclear goals
Feel overwhelmed
Feel discouraged
Not actually ready for change
They also discussed having a “word of the year,” which is based on the book by One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon.
Kara-Kae and Elizabeth have both done a “word of the year” in the past, but didn’t do it in 2019. Many years ago Kara-Kae chose the word “thrive,” which led to her creating ThriveMoms and her book, Mom Up, that released in 2019.
Elizabeth once chose the word “surrender” and that was the year they started fostering and she learned the meaning of surrender.
This year Elizabeth’s word will be “soul care.” Kara-Kae hasn’t found a word yet.
The new year also gives people permission to dream. Jennie Allen’s, Dream Guide, is a popular resource for reflection and dreaming.
They discussed the fact that our culture encourages BIG dreams, but some people are really content living out their small dreams (family, community, career). Not everyone feels compelled to start a nonprofit or a side hustle, and that’s perfectly OK.
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Exercise for the listeners:
Carve out some time to reflect on 2019 and answer the following:
What were your wins (tangible success, something relational, spiritual, etc.)?
What lessons did you learn from these wins?
What were your losses (disappointments, unmet expectations, unmet goals)?
What lessons did you learn from these losses?
Now look to 2020 and answer the following:
What are your goals/dreams?
For each goal, what practical steps will you take to achieve that goal?
Look over the lessons you learned in 2019. How can you apply these lessons to help you realize your dreams in 2020?
When setting goals, remember your end goal. What do you want your life to look like in 1 year? 5 years? 10 years? Then work backward and figure out how you will get there.
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Kara-Kae said last year she set a goal to read 50 books in 2019 and actually went over her goal by about 5-6 books.
Elizabeth made the goal to read more back in August when she listened to the podcast 10 Things to Tell You, and specifically, the episode about reading.
You can also listen to audiobooks and that counts!
Everyone knows about Audible, but you should also check out Hoopla and cloudLibrary for FREE audiobooks. Your local library might also have an app you can use to download audiobooks.
RESOURCES TO REFRAME OUR THINKING
Elizabeth just watched the Netflix original movie, A Marriage Story, which shows the unraveling of a married couple. It’s tough to watch, but provides great insight into the challenges that come with marriage and divorce.
Kara-Kae recommended the book, The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman. Even if you are a good decision-maker, this book helps readers think about what you’re currently doing and what you want to do in life.