I’ve noticed a growing trend among my friends over the past few weeks where everyone I know seems to be giving the New Year a theme by which to guide them; friends such as Nina Nelson, Joshua Gordon, Michael Good, and Alana Mokma.
To be completely honest my original reaction to this movement was, “That’s lame!” I thought, “What are they going to do, have a Dr. Who themed year; or a Richie Rich themed year?” My mind instantly ran wild with my friends all dressing up like their favorite TV and movie characters, talking like them, acting like, etc.
Sounds a little off, I know, but I guess I took “theme” to be similar to a theme party, you know, like a 70’s party, or an 80’s Big Hair party; something similar to that.
However, on Tuesday during the weekly Rendezvous I have with some extremely incredible people it hit me like a ton of bricks!
And what hit me was:
TAKING BOLD ACTION!
Before I even knew what had happened a theme for 2012 ran up and punched me right in the face!
And like a punch in the face it startled me; made me take a mental step back.
Because I wasn’t looking for a theme, I was happily laughing, if to myself, at all my friends who were theme-ing their year and waiting on someone to announce:
The theme for 2012 for me is “Bringing back the early ‘90’s grunge look!
Fortunately this never happened because everyone but me apparently knew what was meant by putting a theme to your year and the value of doing so.
What it means
A theme doesn’t mean you’re going to try and imitate someone else’s style or necessarily dress in a certain way or act a certain way, such as a party theme, although it could.
What it means is you’re going to establish a guiding slogan, a light house for the storm, a shining beacon on the hill, so that when life jumps up and kicks the crap out of you, or you’re stumbling around and feeling lost, or you’re trying to decide between two different courses of action you can look up and through the fog or the darkness or the multitude of legs that are kicking you and remember your purpose. Remember what it is you’ve set out to do and to accomplish.
Theme-ing your year is about providing yourself roadside markers to help you get to your desired destination. It’s about always remembering what’s important.
It’s about being intentional and make this, the New Year, a year that propels you towards the future you want and desire, instead of you just stumbling around in the dark.
2012 for me
As previously stated, my theme for 2012 is:
TAKING BOLD ACTION!
Here’s why, if left to my own nature, I tend to be a coward. When hard decisions are placed in front of me I want to freeze up. On the outside and externally I say I need to analyze the decision to make sure I’m going to make the right choice, but inside I’m screaming and crying in fear!
Skye pointed out to me last night that I actually have tons of great ideas on a regular basis (this, about a guy who admits he’s not creative and lacks in ideas!), however, I refuse to act o them. As Skye put it, “You talk a big talk, but that’s all you do. You’re scared to act.”
And when she said this it didn’t shock me. It wasn’t said in anger or in spite or in a loud voice. It was simply a statement of fact. And when I heard it it struck me straight to my heart because I knew it for truth the second I heard it (thank God for an awesome and loving wife who cares enough for me to say the hard things I need to hear!).
So let’s break this down, but backwards:
ACTION:
This is crucial. I must act. I will provide a short period of time to make sure I’m not being stupid, a band wagon jumper, or making a purely emotional decision; however, I must take action. Even if it’s to say, “I will not act on this!” Action and a decision must be made. No more thinking and researching and pondering without end, now, I will act.
BOLD:
My actions need to be significant. They need to matter. Simply saying I’m taking action by going to the mail box to mail a letter to a friend regarding a strained relationship is not acceptable. If that situation were real then bold action would be discussing the situation face to face with the friend in a loving, respectful manner.
Bold means committing to action on things that scare me, especially on things that scare me. If a project arises and has a significant chance of failure, but the upside is unbelievably awesome, I need to act to pursue it.
When I’m confronted with tasks that are extremely challenging, I need to rise to the occasion, even if I’m the only person that believes I can perform it!
Where there’s a fear, I need to confront it.
A difficult conversation, I need to have it.
A situation that makes me uncomfortable, I need to put myself there.
And please note, I’m not saying take stupid or unnecessarily dangerous actions, I just need to confront my fears in a bold manner, not take the easy way out.
TAKING:
Taking implies that I’m not asking for permission.
I don’t have to ask if I can make my family’s life better, I’m just going to do it.
I don’t have to ask if I can add value to your life in a way that I know I can and doesn’t even involve effort or consent from you, I’m just going to do it.
Pops, my father, once told me that sometimes it’s better to ask forgiveness than it is permission. I’m going to live that out now.
I’m not going to rob, cheat, or steal from you or others, but I will doggedly pursue what I want in life and will not take “no” for an answer!
What about you?
So here’s where this gets personal for you. What do you want from 2012? What’s your theme? Do you have one? Do you know where you want to go with your life?
Right now I’m calling you out! I’m challenging you to live intentionally. If you don’t have a theme for the year yet, create one! If you already have a theme, share it below to encourage others to live intentionally and pursue their dreams.
I’m TAKING BOLD ACTION!, what about you?
~Ivan