Seeking to embrace in 2011

At the start of 2010 I picked the word Confidence as my word for the year. While I could stand to gain more confidence, I do believe that I am much more confident a year later. Starting this new year I am much more confident in myself and who I am and my hope is to continue down this road. I honestly believe that it’s out of this confidence I’ve gained, that I chose my word for this new year.

 I  pondered over and over what my word should be for 2011. ????????

Words I considered were  risk, expand, balance, unleash, dare, grow, breathe, mindful, listen, bloom and seek. I was leaning towards seek because really it’s these other things I seek more of. As I pondered and wrote about each one of these words, the word embrace kept coming up along with seek.

I looked up the meaning of embrace. The dictionary say’s it means…

em·brace

1.to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug.

2.to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.

3.to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.

4.to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace Buddhism.

5.to take in with the eye or the mind.

6.to encircle; surround; enclose.

7.to include or contain: An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.

–verb (used without object)

8.to join in an embrace.

 

I looked up seek and the dictionary says…

seek

1.to go in search or quest of: to seek the truth.

2.to try to find or discover by searching or questioning: to seek the solution to a problem.

3.to try to obtain: to seek fame.

4.to try or attempt (usually fol. by an infinitive): to seek to convince a person.

5.to go to: to seek a place to rest.

6.to ask for; request: to seek advice.

7.Archaic . to search or explore.

 

This year I choose to “seek to embrace”. I seek to embrace me. And my life.

I seek to embrace  risk and to expand my horizons. I seek balance and growth spiritually, emotionally and mentally. I seek to be mindful of the truth and of living in the moment. I seek to listen more to my heart and to listen more to others. I seek to embrace the freedom to unleash who I really am and to be daring enough to actually do those things that are really hard. I seek to bloom wherever I am planted.

I seek to embrace my talents and gifts and to be willing to take risks with them. But first I must seek to find out what those talents and gifts are. I seek to embrace my dreams, goals and hopes and do something about them. I don’t want to cower in fear of failure any longer or hide behind what is safe. I seek to stop making excuses. I seek to start seeing the opportunities and to embrace them. 

 

I seek to embrace where I have come from and the lessons I learned along the way. I seek to break the power of the secrets and to stop letting those things dictate my path. I seek to expose those things I’ve allowed to have power over me and to embrace the lessons I’ve learned from them. I seek the knowledge that will help give me this freedom and embrace the growth that it will give me. 

I seek to listen to what my heart is saying, instead of ignoring that still soft voice within. I seek to embrace the daring part of me and it’s willingness to take risks. I seek to embrace the fact that I don’t fit inside of a box and that I dance to my own song. I seek to embrace myself so much that I believe in myself enough to take the risks necessary to live more my authentic self.

I seek to stop feeling so lonely and to take the risks necessary to find friends that are parenting young children or raising their grandchildren. I seek to step out of my comfort zone and seek a pain support group or other avenue’s of support so that I can embrace what others have to offer me. 

 

I seek to embrace the belief that I am enough. I seek to stop beating myself up and start embracing myself when I make mistakes or fall down. I seek to embrace the love and joy that are mine to the point that I believe that I deserve it. I seek to embrace myself as being worthy enough to be here and to believe deep down in my soul that I am not a mistake.

I seek to stop and just breathe…to just embrace the moment I am in, instead of thinking about what I should be doing or where I should be. I seek to be mindful of the truth and to not latch myself onto worries of “what if?” I seek to stop second guessing myself and to start listening.

I seek to embrace balance in my life. Since it is part of my nature to be a caregiver, I seek to embrace having balance with care giving and to open myself up to others caring for me. I seek balance so that I can enjoy more of the things that bring me enjoyment.

I seek to embrace better health through healthy living, choices and nurturing myself. I seek to pay attention to my body, mind and spirit more and to take the measures necessary to take care of myself. I seek to take time for myself to exercise so that I can embrace once again the benefits I once felt when this was a regular part of my day. I seek to make time for me and to believe that it’s not selfish to do so.

I seek to stop standing on the side lines and instead take the risk by stepping out and daring to do these things that scare the shit out of me.

I seek to unleash all the garbage inside of me once and for all. I seek to unleash all the hidden or known good from inside of me out into the light.

I know I have come a long ways in my life. If I am truly honest with you and myself then I would have to say my biggest obstacle in my life continues to be me. I still battle with shame and feeling unworthy. Shame runs deep and wide inside of my soul and I seek to be free of that. I often times forget that I am as worthy as everyone else and this affects ALL area’s of my life. Not to mention how this drives my husband and children crazy. 

Today, I  declare to you and the universe my desire to seek and to embrace myself and my life in 2011. I seek to stop standing in the way of myself, to embrace who I am, to unleash me and to bloom in 2011!