Last week, I wrote about hope and what it means this new year. I touched on this idea that we are all “ a work in progress”, but I didn’t lay out what things I was challenged to work on in 2018.

Here are 3 things I hope to work on in 2018:

1) Saying what I mean

Most of the time I feel like a walking ball of anxiousness. I overthink every situation and analyze every outcome. I replay conversations and script future ones, out of fear of embarrassment.

This is exhausting and it typically prevents me from being clear in what I want or mean to say. This year I want to practice being more decisive and taking a bigger, more authoritative role in conversations and decision making.

2) Listen to hear, and not just respond

I think a lot of people struggle with this one. Something that comes with my anxiety is that I am always overthinking of ways to fill in the silence of conversations. Even when I am talking to close friends or other people, I find myself listening to think of ways to respond instead of listening because I want to hear what they have to say. Don’t get me wrong, I genuinely care what my friends have to say, but I’m scared that if I don't come up with the perfect response, they will feel as if I am not as invested in the conversation as they are.

This is a lie. When you are on the other side of the conversation, you value being heard. You don't want to be cut off or listen to advice when the conversation doesn't call for any. This year I want to practice listening to support, validate, and encourage.

3) Grace

In order to grow, it requires patience, perseverance, and a lot of grace. Both for myself, and others. I want to be a reflection of Christ’s grace and the work He did on the cross. In order to do that, it requires a level of vulnerability and willingness that ordinarily I would find intimidating. Grace is something all Christians are called to practice, and its something I feel convicted to work on most. Without God’s grace I would not be where I am today, and with His grace I can be so much more tomorrow.

The truth is I often find myself buying into the notion that I am the only one who feels like they are never “good enough”, or satisfied with where I am in life. That is also a lie. The world has over 7 billion people in it and every single one of them feels stuck sometimes.

So Lyss, when you feel like your feet aren't moving, don't forget to take a deep breath and give yourself some grace.