Wednesday, December 28, 2011

{One Little Word} 2012

This is my fourth year of choosing a "word" to focus on for the upcoming year.

This year I really felt like I needed to work on my procrastination.

I tend to work really well under pressure and that leads me to wait until the last minute to start projects. The problem with that kind of process is that when "life" inevitably happens,
and things come up, I end up stressed out and overwhelmed.
*Sigh* When will I ever learn?

I did a search for "Opposite of procrastination" and was surprised to find "Discipline".

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.
If you are disciplined you will do what needs to be done,
when it needs to be done, instead of THE NIGHT BEFORE it's needed.
Definition of DISCIPLINE
1: punishment
2obsolete : instruction
3: a field of study
4: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character
5a : control gained by enforcing obedience or order b : orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior c : self-control
6: a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity
I thought about making that my "word", but it just felt too harsh. I mean, I need more of it in my life, but I wanted a word that would encompass more of who I am growing into.

I prayed for a word that would help me with my specific procrastination problem,
but would also allow for all around growth and improvement.

The word I was given is:
Fruitful
Definition of FRUITFUL
1a : yielding or producing fruit  b :conducive to an abundant yield
2: abundantly productive
I latched onto "Abundantly Productive" to help me with my anti-procrastination goal,
but then I thought about the Spiritual implications of the word and got so excited!

This word is totally perfect for me!

I have had Galatians 5:22-23 on my heart alot lately:
 "22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" (NLT)

These are all things that God has been leading me to increase in my life:
To be Abundantly Productive in my life.
To be filled with the Fruit of the Spirit.
To sow seeds in the hearts of my children and the people around me.


Matthew 12:33 NLT
“A tree is identified by its fruit.
If a tree is good, its fruit will be good.
If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad."

Fruit is the outward expression of the inward nature.
My One Little Word for 2012 is Fruitful.


Here are my One Little Word posts for 2011, 2010, 2009

Do you have a word for 2012? I would love to hear what it is!

7 comments:

Jenny said...

I love this idea. And I think the word you chose is a great one to help you torward your goals. I hope you have a great and "abundantly productive" 2012!

Anna said...

That's awesome Amy! You are also being "fruitful" by bringing another Culp into the world this year! Can't wait to see what God does in your life this year with blogging and your new little one. :)

Anna

LP aka A Crafty Southern Chick said...

Love the verse from Matthew you quoted. It's a great reminder to me to set a good example for my son...he is my "fruit" and I want him to grow into a wonderful man one day. Thanks for this post. It really spoke to me!

charis said...

i love this idea. when i look back over a year i can usually see 1 word as the theme for the past year, sometimes i have an idea of the one coming up. your word sounds perfect and i agree with another commenter that you will also be fruitful having your new little boy. :) i am hoping to get some time to look over 2011 and towards 2012 in the next couple days.

my recent post: the great work of God

My Captivating Life said...

That is a great word! :)

RedBettySummer said...

Awesome! Thanks for sharing. It is so important to make the connection of what not to do and then how to do it. What a positive balance to not procrastinating by being fruitful. Here's to a very fruitful new year. Happy Blogging.

Unknown said...

I love your word! A perfect word both for not procrastinating and for having a baby this year ;)

The most important thing she’d learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one."
~Jill Churchill