One Little Word 2011

Ali Edwards is an amazing scrapbooker and designer, and someone that continually inspires me. In 2007, she decided that instead of setting New Years Resolutions, that she was going to choose one word that she would focus on continuously for the year, and that her goals and resolutions would all fall under this word. I’m paraphrasing here, but if you want to read more about it, check out One Little Word.

I’ve done this before, but it’s been awhile. My last word was Independence. That word was born of some really hard times, and the process of trying to get myself back. Being able to be a mother, a daughter, a woman, and most of all, MYSELF. That was something I hadn’t had for awhile because I gave that up, and so that year was focused on getting myself back. I can’t remember the year, although I have it written down somewhere, but it was either 2007 or 2008.

The next few years, I didn’t have a word. I thought about it a lot, but I couldn’t really narrow it down. I didn’t know for sure what I wanted to focus on, because I felt that I had SO MANY things to focus on that putting it all into one word didn’t really work.

I still feel that way, but this year I want a word. A word to think about when I’m feeling down or not good enough, and something to focus on. So my One Little Word for 2011 is Confidence.

Confidence in knowing that I’m a good mother. Confidence in knowing that my fiancée loves me despite my faults, and that we will be happy together for the rest of our lives. Confidence in knowing that I am a good photographer, and can move forward in my business with my head held high.

Yikes, that last one is hard. One nice thing about photography is that there is a way to see that you’re getting better – to really SEE that. And I can see that I’ve gotten so much better! I’m so proud, I’ve come so far. But I know that I have a long way to go still, and I really need to learn more about business. Sometimes I feel like I can’t do it, like I’m not capable. Ridiculous right? I know that I am capable, I’m more than capable. I KNOW that I can do it – but sometimes even when I KNOW something, I still doubt myself. Those little thoughts creep in, of not being good enough. I didn’t go to a photographers’ gathering because I didn’t feel good enough – what’s up with that?

These are the ridiculous thoughts that must stop!

I need to get past this, I need to embrace that confidence and run with it! I know that my self doubt is holding me back, it is doing nothing but hurting me overall. So why do I let it continue? I wish I knew.

SO. My word for 2011, that One Little Word that is actually a Really Huge Word, is Confidence. This year holds a TON of changes for me, all changes that I’m really excited about, and looking forward to. In addition to these changes, I need to make this change in myself – to have more confidence in who I am, what I can do, and who I can touch. God has given all of us enormous power to touch others’ lives in different ways. I have the power to do that in so many ways, one of which is with my photography. I have the power to capture moments in peoples’ lives that they will never get back, that can never be repeated. That is an amazing thing, to be able to give people those memories, the rush of emotion when they see a photograph of a specific moment.

Even though it’s January 19th, it’s not too late! Happy New Year to everyone, this will be the best year yet. And I will overcome my self doubt and emerge from this year a more confident woman.

What is your word, or goal for 2011?