2012 // Bravery

Alright, here’s my final post on resolutions (yes, it’s February first – don’t tell me you have given up already?) and my three themes for 2012. I’ve already talked about Simplicity and Creativity – so here comes the last (and scariest!) one.

Bravery is tough – it means putting myself out there and stretching myself past my comfort zone.  It means taking risks and facing fears.

I hope that Simplicitiy is what will ground my year, Creativity is what will make it beautiful, and Bravery is what will make it exciting – you will never have what you never reach out for!  I heard someone say that if your dreams don’t scare you a little bit, you aren’t dreaming big enough.  And for me, Bravery isn’t really the absence of fear so much as the ability to overcome the fear that you feel.  These are a few mantras I’ve got running through my head to get me pumped for an adventurous and Brave 2012:

Get Over “NO”:  I saw this great post by Becka featured on Makeunder my Life yesterday – and felt like it summed up a lot of what I knew Bravery needed to be for me this year.  Because if you don’t get over having to hear a few noes, you will never give yourself the chance to hear any yeses.  And I am definitely ready for a yes or two, aren’t you?

Make Mistakes:  Ah, this is a kicker for the perfectionist in me.  I am known to all-out avoid things that I don’t think I can do perfectly – and this means, usually, that I’m not doing much of anything new.  So this is the year where I kick my fear of failure to the curb and step out on a limb with some things that I’ve been wanting to try, but have been letting nervousness hold me back (i.e. open mic nights – eek!).

Give Myself Some Credit: Sometimes it takes just as much Bravery to admit that I am good at something as it does to face up to the things I still have to learn!  We feed ourselves all sorts of self-defeating lies: no one would want what I have to offer, everyone else is much better, and on it goes.  Being Brave not smugness or pride, but it is having confidence in yourself – or at least (or greatest?) having confidence in the One who sent you.

Staying in the safe-zone of life is easy, but if I’ve learned anything lately, it is that if you are going to live a creative life, you have to be willing to make mistakes and accept that some people are going to think you are a bit crazy.  Be brave, and you’ll be surprised at what can happen.

So there we are, my themes for 2012: Simplicity, Creativity and Bravery.  I hope reading has inspired you to pare down, amp up, or otherwise make your 2012 the best year yet.  Here’s to a new year and a myriad of new opportunities!

Exodus 15:2 – The Lord is my strength and my song. (ESV)

(Photo Credits: first two are my own, third was found on Sacramento Street, and the fourth came from my la la loveliest friend, Trina)