Be Strong Be Brave Be Fearless, Free to Print

Joshua 1:9 has always moved me, especially in this “Be Strong Be Brave Be Fearless” version, so I’m sharing it with you as a free printable. I hope it lifts your spirits as much as it lifts mine!!

Be Strong Be Brave Be Fearless you are never alone. | My Word of the Year

Ahh, I’m thrilled to finally introduce this little word of the year. I skipped sharing it back in January because our hands were full with the Less of a Hot Mess decluttering challenge! Funny enough, that challenge only happened because of my word for the year. (That’s what I call a full circle moment.)

Have you ever heard of this idea? The Word of the Year practice? Some folks call it your “One Little Word,” a term coined by designer, blogger and memory keeper extraordinaire, Ali Edwards. Here is how she describes the practice…

One word can carry a lot of weight. It can be the ripple that shifts everything around it. It can cut sharp or feel soft, rich and slow.

Starting in 2006, I [Ali] made it a habit to pick one word for myself each January – a word to focus on, think over, and reflect on as I go through everyday life. My words have included play, peace, vitality, nurture, story, light, up, open, thrive, give, and whole. Each one has woven itself into my life in some way. They have become part of who I am and who I’m becoming. They have been exactly what I needed most (often before I knew it). They have helped me breathe deeper, see more clearly, handle hard seasons, and grow.

I, Laura, have been embracing this habit and choosing a Word of the Year since 2013.

Contentment – 2013
Grace – 2014
Rest – 2015 (I think I fell short that year and could use a refresher course.)
Simplify – 2016

And now for this year’s word (drumroll, please) …

Fearless

I love seeing how each word of the year mirrors the path I was on at the time. It’s almost like a snapshot of what was going on in my life. Now that I’ve done this for a few years, I notice recurring patterns and themes. The word Fearless first began taking shape in my mind last summer, so it has been on my heart and mind for at least 7 months now.

It has shown up in the books I’ve read and the talks I’ve listened to. And it has definitely soaked into my actions and goals.

Let me explain.

I’m an introvert at heart and can come across as shy in person until I get to know people. Even then, my shyness is often read as coldness or aloofness. I’m really not like that, but I just don’t want to be the center of attention. As a child it sometimes held me back, but as I’ve grown older and cared less about what others think of me, I’ve managed to shake off some of those fears.

These aren’t fears of tragedy or something terrible happening. I don’t often worry about getting into an accident or losing a loved one.

My fears are more personal. Like, what if I write a book and nobody reads it? What if I start something and can’t finish it, and everyone thinks I’m a failure? What if I’m not qualified to teach about this topic because everything I know is already common knowledge, or people feel they’ve been ripped off?

Or I’m scared that I’ll offend someone or intrude on their personal space, so I hold back encouragement or care. I’m worried about bothering people, so I keep to myself. I’m worried about stirring up controversy or conflict, so I keep my opinions private.

All of this makes it hard to truly put myself out there in my business. I have held back from fully showing up for far too long.

RELATED: My Organized Office

Here’s a clear example of my fear at work …

I’ve wanted to take on a 30 Day Challenge of some sort for as long as I can remember, but I always talked myself out of it. I kept thinking it would be too much work (which it was a TON of work) and that I wouldn’t be able to finish, and I would look like a fraud. Or like someone who couldn’t keep their word.

But one of the BEST decisions I made in 2016 was hiring my friend Emily as my social media manager and assistant. Not only does she come up with great ideas and keep all of the social media plates spinning, she’s a wonderful encourager. That is her gift!

So I got brave and shared my idea of running an organizing challenge at the start of the year. She basically told me that I HAD to do it and that people would love it! Left to myself, I never would have put myself out there, but she encouraged and helped me, so I did it! She stayed with me through the projects and kept cheering me on every step of the way whenever I called to vent about how hard it was to keep going. Ha! (Thanks, Em! You’re the best!)

"Our Deepest Fear ..." | Be Strong Be Brave Be Fearless you are never alone. | My Word of the Year

The Less of a Hot Mess Challenge turned out to be everything I had hoped for and more. I connected with my readers (you) who have a real need for decluttering and organization. And you were all so encouraging too. I’m truly honored that it meant so much to so many of you. Yes, there were bumps along the way – like me coming down with the flu the weekend before a HUGE post was due. But every bit of the hard work and stress was worth it, just to be able to serve you!

So this year, when I face those negative voices and fears, I’m simply going to put myself out there and go for it! It has already worked wonderfully so far this year!

Be Strong; Be Brave; Be Fearless Printable, Yours Free

So, as a thank-you for helping me on my journey toward my goals and putting the fearful lies to rest, I made a free printable for you!

When I was decluttering my office last month, I bought this chalkboard organizer from Kirkland’s. It needed some chalkboard art, so I searched high and low for the perfect phrase or quote. When I came across the paraphrase of Joshua 1:9, I knew it was just right for my word of the year!