Each New Year’s Eve I set a laundry list of resolutions for the upcoming year, and each year I end January with at least one broken resolution, without fail. This isn’t because of a lack of dedication – resolutions are just hard to keep! Hannah from The Swirl put up a blog post about her word of 2018, and that got me thinking about what I want to focus on in the New Year. I decided to go with a 2018 mantra in lieu of a resolution list this year, for a ton of reasons.
Instead of overwhelming myself with lists this year, I want to enter the year with a clear, central focus. My mantra for 2018 is something that I can use to guide the decisions I make, the goals I set, and in turn the outcomes of my entire year.
My 2018 mantra is…
“You can do anything, but not everything.”
Okay, hear me out! Beyond becoming more comfortable in my own skin, my experiences in 2017 made me realize that my health in every aspect is the most important thing in my life. After spending a lot of time looking for 2018 inspiration, I decided that this quote is perfect for this purpose. I’m about to get really real with you guys, so let’s just go for it:
“You can do anything…”
- Working on my physical health has been a sore spot in my life for as long as I can remember, but this year I am committed to becoming stronger and healthier! It’s always been difficult for me to stick to a routine, but keeping this mantra in mind will hopefully serve as motivation to make that dream a reality.
- I really, really want to explore my more spontaneous and creative side this year! If you know me at all, you know that I have my life planned down to the second 99% of the time, and more often than not that time surrounds school work or clubs. In 2018, I will open myself to trying things I’ve never tried before. Whether it’s traveling or learning a new skill, i’s happening guys – watch out!
- Confidence is another thing that I have struggled with for quite some time. As I get older though, I’m beginning to realize that confidence in your abilities is half the battle. I very easily fall prey to thoughts of not being good enough for an opportunity or even my peers, but in 2018 that is changing. It’s one thing to say “I can do anything,” and it’s another to believe it.
“…but not everything.”
- In 2018, I will stop romanticizing being busy. Okay, so maybe I was singing a different tune just a year ago, but I promise I have good reason for this. Being busy can provide this sense of purpose – of being helpful, of being the “do everything” friend, of being your school’s local #GIRLBOSS. At the same time, though, putting too much on my plate has resulted in a lot of tears, anxiety, and stress, and that stops this year. 2018 will be my year of reclaiming my time. Speaking of time…
- I’m learning to be okay with saying no if I don’t have enough time. My boyfriend will tell you that I am the queen of “yes” – I believe that I can do anything and everything, and while that is good in some cases, in many it ends in disaster. Sure, it’s fun to be in charge of things, but it’s a lot less fun when you realize that joining all those executive boards was the thing that kept you from making progress at the gym. Prioritizing my time is important, and sometimes being a little selfish is good for my mental and physical health.
- Finally, I hope to become more comfortable with the fact that you don’t have to be good at everything to be successful. All my life, I’ve wanted to be perfect at everything, and it’s crazy that I’m just starting to realize now that knowing the most facts or getting the best grade doesn’t define who I am. As opposed to feeling bad about the things that I’m not good at and/or not passionate about, I’m excited to take 2018 and work on the things that I’m passionate about, like my blog or my education.
Final Thoughts
Guys, I’m excited for 2018. It’s going to be a year of adventures and new experiences, for sure, but more than that, it’s going to be the year I stick to my guns and get one step closer to the adult I really want to be. I firmly believe that this 2018 mantra will help me in this “quest”, and I hope more than anything that you reach all of your 2018 goals as well.
Here’s to a great year!
What are your goals for 2018? Do you have a mantra?
