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How to ditch the resolutions and achieve MORE this year

Friday ~ Posted by Karen Schravemade

I have a secret. I’m anti-New-Year’s-Resolutions.

Which is kinda funny, because for years we’ve done this thing with our friends on New Year’s Eve where we share our resolutions and invent silly ones for each other. It’s fun and it’s become something of a tradition.

I even did it myself for years, quite seriously, sitting down and writing a carefully thought-out list and adding my signature at the bottom to make it all official. Except that by February, the list had found its way to the junk drawer, and by March it was stuck somewhere in the filing cabinet, which we all know means it will Never Be Seen Again.

Call me cynical, but the one thing this has taught me is that New Year’s Resolutions don’t work.


We’re halfway through January. Let’s be honest. How many of you are still going gung-ho with those optimistic resolutions you wrote with fireworks shining in your eyes and a brand-new untouched year stretching ahead of you?

Looking back at previous years – how many of those resolutions lasted past January? Past Easter? Or (heaven help us) right to the end of the year?

Don’t get me wrong… I’m all for goal-setting and planning to succeed. I’m not trying to rain on your 2015 parade. It’s just that I think there’s one major problem with resolutions. You could call it a fatal flaw.

It’s this:

There are too many of them.


It goes like this. You look at your life in its current state and think about everything you don’t like and want to change. Then you get your pen and paper and make a massive list of all the things you need to do to reach your supposed ideal state of perfection over the next twelve months. The list looks like this:

Lose weight.
Exercise five times a week.
Run a half-marathon.
Eat salads for lunch every day.
Give up wine.
Give up chocolate.
Write a book.
Learn to speak French.
Be a better mum.
Be a better wife.
Take up volunteer work.
Give up TV.
De-clutter the entire house.
Spend more time with friends.
Rise at 5am daily to have Quiet Time before kids wake up.
Read the entire Bible in one year.
Never be late to anything ever again.


…. and on and on it goes. Of course, a hundred different people will come up with a hundred different lists, but you know what your list looks like, don’t you? We’ve all written one.

It’s like trying to knock a pebble off a fence using a spray bottle on the mist setting. Your energy is flying off in a thousand different directions just like those miniscule droplets of water. The pebble might get damp, but it’s never gonna budge. What you need to do is tighten the nozzle. Let it rip with one single, focussed, powerful jet of water. And bit by bit, as you continue to squirt that pebble, it will nudge incrementally closer to the edge until finally it falls off.

Okay, so you’ve probably never pictured your life as a pebble on a fence, but you can see what I’m saying, right? All our New Year’s goals and resolutions could be summed up in one mission: A BETTER YOU. But when we try to tackle too many different areas all at once, we diffuse our focus. And our list of resolutions, instead of motivating us, ends up merely documenting our shortcomings. That darn pebble just won’t budge. We get to the end of the year, and we’re just the same as we’ve always been.

I don’t write New Year’s resolutions anymore. I don’t live my life by a list of failures I want to “fix”. I’ve found a better way. And guess what? – I’ve achieved more in the years since I decided to ditch the resolutions than I ever did before. Even better, I’ve grown and transformed as a person.

Want to know my secret?

It’s this: I choose one word for my year. Just one. One word to resonate through my days, weeks, and months. One word to frame my decisions and attitudes.

One word is different from a goal or resolution. Resolutions can be broken. They set you up for failure. One word is about the process of transformation. It sets you up for success.

One word is a mindset. It informs your choices and your daily habits. It’s such a little thing… just a seed, really. But planted into a life, it slowly puts down roots and grows.

A list of resolutions is easily forgotten, but even this scatter-brained mother of three can remember one word.

The One Word philosophy has become an enormous movement. Chances are you’ve heard of it already. You can find out more information direct from the source at the My One Word website. You’ll find a treasury of words chosen by thousands of different people, each word unique to its bearer.

Intentional.
Transform.
Truth.
Grace.
Simplify.
Present.
Brave.


Your word is a gift. I’ve found that when I pray about my word for the year, God gives me a vision of how he wants me to grow. The words he’s given me in the past have been powerful. They’ve given me focus and clarity. Unleashed growth. Led to real, long-term, lasting change.

Because after all, it’s better to do something about one thing than nothing about everything.




I’m excited this year about growing One Word closer to the woman God wants me to be.

So what’s my word? Stay tuned – I’ll be sharing it in my next post. And yes, my One Word for 2015 may just have something to do with my unexplained absence from this blog for the past five weeks. You deserve an explanation, so I’m going to lay it all out and let you know exactly what’s been going on.

Until then, why not think and pray about your word?

Let’s chat: Have you ever chosen One Word for your year before? What do you think of this concept? Is there a word you feel nudged toward?

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Lovely comments

  1. Victoria says

    Monday at 10:55 am

    I love that phrase "it&#39s better to do something…" I was looking for a print or something to pin. Where did it come from?

  2. Sue says

    Monday at 10:55 am

    Wondered were u had been !!! I so relate to what u r saying – great words of wisdom there – I have never chosen a word for the year – but may have just ignited a spark within me to do this .. I will certainly pray fully consider what God wants me to focus on this year so that I can grow as a person, wife , mother , friend …. What a truly interesting thought .. My first thought for a word would be wisdom – being Wise for 2015 – but I will pray some more over this – thank you so much for sharing this .. Sue xx I await yr next post …

  3. Victoria says

    Friday at 3:21 pm

    I love that phrase "it's better to do something…" I was looking for a print or something to pin. Where did it come from?

  4. Sue says

    Friday at 6:10 pm

    Wondered were u had been !!! I so relate to what u r saying – great words of wisdom there – I have never chosen a word for the year – but may have just ignited a spark within me to do this .. I will certainly pray fully consider what God wants me to focus on this year so that I can grow as a person, wife , mother , friend …. What a truly interesting thought .. My first thought for a word would be wisdom – being Wise for 2015 – but I will pray some more over this – thank you so much for sharing this .. Sue xx I await yr next post …

  5. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:55 am

    Hi Victoria! The phrase is one I made up. At least…. I think I did! It just popped into my mind like something I surely must have heard before somewhere – but I Googled it and can&#39t find it anywhere else…. looks like I thought of something original! LOL. Just for you, I made it into a pin. What a great idea! Thanks! xoxo

  6. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:55 am

    So glad this inspired you to think of your own word, Sue! I love "Wise"! xo

  7. Karen Schravemade says

    Saturday at 1:07 am

    Hi Victoria! The phrase is one I made up. At least…. I think I did! It just popped into my mind like something I surely must have heard before somewhere – but I Googled it and can't find it anywhere else…. looks like I thought of something original! LOL. Just for you, I made it into a pin. What a great idea! Thanks! xoxo

  8. Karen Schravemade says

    Saturday at 1:08 am

    So glad this inspired you to think of your own word, Sue! I love "Wise"! xo

  9. Victoria says

    Monday at 10:55 am

    I love it! I&#39m chuffed that I inspired you to make a pin 🙂 I&#39ve had a tough time recently and I&#39ve found that there can be a great feeling of achievement in getting something done instead of being overawed at &#39everything&#39 that needs doing. I&#39ve pinned it to my positivity board @victoriaspace

  10. Victoria says

    Saturday at 5:39 pm

    I love it! I'm chuffed that I inspired you to make a pin 🙂 I've had a tough time recently and I've found that there can be a great feeling of achievement in getting something done instead of being overawed at 'everything' that needs doing. I've pinned it to my positivity board @victoriaspace

  11. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:56 am

    So very true, Victoria! #preachingtomyself

  12. Karen Schravemade says

    Sunday at 4:47 am

    So very true, Victoria! #preachingtomyself

  13. shelly dippel says

    Monday at 10:55 am

    I made a list like the one you shared. And guess what? It&#39s not working. So I chose the word purposeful instead. Thanks, friend!

  14. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:55 am

    Awesome, Shelly!! I love your word! xo

  15. shelly dippel says

    Sunday at 11:00 pm

    I made a list like the one you shared. And guess what? It's not working. So I chose the word purposeful instead. Thanks, friend!

  16. Karen Schravemade says

    Sunday at 11:38 pm

    Awesome, Shelly!! I love your word! xo

  17. Kimberly Bolden says

    Monday at 10:55 am

    My word for this year is Commit. I love the concept of choosing one word and applying it to every sphere of your life. Karen this a great post and one we need to be reminded of at least once every quarter.

  18. Ashley says

    Monday at 10:55 am

    I make yearly goals, not New Year&#39s resolutions because I feel like they have a bad connotation to everyone. The last five or so years, I&#39ve worked on my goals most of the year. Some years my goals are definitely silly, and some years they are more serious. But I don&#39t think I will ever give up my yearly goals. I also use Lara Casey&#39s powersheets to help me define my goals and keep up with them and it helps a lot. I&#39ve heard a lot about a word for the year, especially from Elise at her blog, enjoyitblog.com. I just can never come up with a word. I&#39m really glad you&#39ve found something that works for you. And that&#39s all that really matters. We just need to find what works for us.

  19. Candace Creates says

    Monday at 10:56 am

    I&#39m so with you on no more resolutions! This is my first year trying one word. I love the framed Faithful 2014 picture. I&#39m going to make something like that for my word this year: Health. I&#39m really excited to focus on one area instead of finding myself depressed by the end of January for not being able to keep my normal disgustingly long list of resolutions.

  20. Tayler says

    Monday at 10:56 am

    I gave up on resolutions, too this year. Instead, I did both a word of the year, and I&#39m doing monthly goals to reflect that word of the year!

  21. Kimberly Bolden says

    Monday at 2:35 pm

    My word for this year is Commit. I love the concept of choosing one word and applying it to every sphere of your life. Karen this a great post and one we need to be reminded of at least once every quarter.

  22. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:56 am

    Love it, Tayler!! It&#39s so cool to see the trickle-down effect of one word and how it affects those short-term goals. All the best on your journey this year!

  23. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:56 am

    Yay, Candace! It makes such a difference!

  24. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:56 am

    So true, Ashley! And yes, there is a lot of power in goal-setting too, if it&#39s done well. Sounds like you have a great system in place. Here&#39s to smashing those goals this year!

  25. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:56 am

    Thanks, Kimberly. What a great word! xo

  26. Ashley says

    Monday at 4:35 pm

    I make yearly goals, not New Year's resolutions because I feel like they have a bad connotation to everyone. The last five or so years, I've worked on my goals most of the year. Some years my goals are definitely silly, and some years they are more serious. But I don't think I will ever give up my yearly goals. I also use Lara Casey's powersheets to help me define my goals and keep up with them and it helps a lot. I've heard a lot about a word for the year, especially from Elise at her blog, enjoyitblog.com. I just can never come up with a word. I'm really glad you've found something that works for you. And that's all that really matters. We just need to find what works for us.

  27. Candace Creates says

    Monday at 5:21 pm

    I'm so with you on no more resolutions! This is my first year trying one word. I love the framed Faithful 2014 picture. I'm going to make something like that for my word this year: Health. I'm really excited to focus on one area instead of finding myself depressed by the end of January for not being able to keep my normal disgustingly long list of resolutions.

  28. Tayler says

    Monday at 5:30 pm

    I gave up on resolutions, too this year. Instead, I did both a word of the year, and I'm doing monthly goals to reflect that word of the year!

  29. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 8:46 pm

    Love it, Tayler!! It's so cool to see the trickle-down effect of one word and how it affects those short-term goals. All the best on your journey this year!

  30. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 8:47 pm

    Yay, Candace! It makes such a difference!

  31. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 8:51 pm

    So true, Ashley! And yes, there is a lot of power in goal-setting too, if it's done well. Sounds like you have a great system in place. Here's to smashing those goals this year!

  32. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 8:52 pm

    Thanks, Kimberly. What a great word! xo

  33. Brandy Miller says

    Monday at 10:56 am

    This year instead of attempting resolutions I looked at and prayed about the lifelong dreams I want to chase after. I&#39m breaking those major dreams into smaller goals to work on, modify, and grow in all throughout the year and years to come!…. The pebble illustration was awesome by the way!

  34. Brandy Miller says

    Wednesday at 12:42 am

    This year instead of attempting resolutions I looked at and prayed about the lifelong dreams I want to chase after. I'm breaking those major dreams into smaller goals to work on, modify, and grow in all throughout the year and years to come!…. The pebble illustration was awesome by the way!

  35. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:56 am

    Brandy, I love that! Using your lifelong dreams as your starting point is such great motivation. I hope this year is everything you dream it will be.

  36. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 11:45 am

    Brandy, I love that! Using your lifelong dreams as your starting point is such great motivation. I hope this year is everything you dream it will be.

  37. Brandy Miller says

    Monday at 10:56 am

    Thanks Karen! 🙂

  38. Brandy Miller says

    Monday at 7:44 pm

    Thanks Karen! 🙂

  39. Kaye Kruetzman says

    Monday at 10:56 am

    I think about doing; I plan to do; I make lists to remind me to do. And, then I fail to take that first step to start doing. My motto for the year is, "Do the next right thing by taking the first step." My mom often uses the old phrase that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." The Phrase Dictionary defines that as meaning "there is no merit in good intentions unless they are acted on." So, I&#39m praying and asking God if my word for the year is "start."

  40. Kaye Kruetzman says

    Tuesday at 2:47 pm

    I think about doing; I plan to do; I make lists to remind me to do. And, then I fail to take that first step to start doing. My motto for the year is, "Do the next right thing by taking the first step." My mom often uses the old phrase that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." The Phrase Dictionary defines that as meaning "there is no merit in good intentions unless they are acted on." So, I'm praying and asking God if my word for the year is "start."

  41. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:57 am

    Awesome, Kaye. I love that word and it sounds just perfect for the area you&#39ve been struggling in. And we&#39ve all been there – especially us over-thinking, perfectionist types. Sometimes the hardest and best thing is to just DO something. Something done less than perfectly is still better than something not done at all. Bless you this year! xo

  42. Karen Schravemade says

    Wednesday at 3:18 am

    Awesome, Kaye. I love that word and it sounds just perfect for the area you've been struggling in. And we've all been there – especially us over-thinking, perfectionist types. Sometimes the hardest and best thing is to just DO something. Something done less than perfectly is still better than something not done at all. Bless you this year! xo

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Hi friends! So glad you're here! I'm Karen, Aussie stay-home Mum to four littlies, former teacher of Creative Arts, agented writer and interior decorator. I'm on a journey to bring beauty to my home and enjoy a more creative life with my kids - I'd love for you to join us. (Curious? Read more here!)

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5 years ago, I was struggling with social media ad 5 years ago, I was struggling with social media addiction.⁠⠀
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My compulsion to scroll on my phone was making me deeply unhappy, but I couldn't seem to stop. ⁠⠀
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It feels incredibly vulnerable, but for the first time, I'm sharing my raw and honest story about how I became addicted to social media, and the exact steps I took to break free. ⁠⠀
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I've gone from wasting hours on a mindless distraction that only ever made me feel worse about myself, to falling in love with God's Word and finding true rest + peace in his presence.⁠⠀
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I'm a speaker at the 2020 Christian Women's Self Care Conference, and the topic of my session is "Stop the Scroll and Feed your Soul - how to break social media addiction and find rest in God's presence."⁠⠀
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There are 55+ speakers in total, speaking on a wide range of topics relating to self care. Registration is FREE, but only for a couple more days until conference starts on November 9th! ⁠⠀
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If you want to hold your seat, just tap the link in my bio and select "Self Care Conference", which will take you to the registration page.⁠⠀
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I hope you'll be blessed!⁠⠀
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Meanwhile, please tell me I'm not alone - has anyone else ever struggled with this?? Do share. ⁠⠀
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PS... You can read more of my story in my latest blog post! (Link in bio -> Visit the blog). ⁠⠀
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I also shared this super cute DIY phone box to help you interrupt the pattern of mindlessly picking up your phone!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
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#selfcare #christianwomen #christianlife #socialmediaaddiction #phoneaddiction #selfcaresistersociety
If there's one word to describe how many women hav If there's one word to describe how many women have been feeling this year... it would be "depleted."⁠⠀
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I mean, for real. Who would've guessed back at the start of this year that we'd be dealing with a global pandemic, homeschooling our kids, financial uncertainty, and a total lockdown on many of our most comforting routines?⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Ladies, it's time to refill those emptied-out tanks before this year is out. I'm so excited to share that I'll be speaking at the 2020 Christian Women's Self-Care Conference, alongside 55 other bloggers, authors and speakers. ⁠⠀
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It's totally online, and our aim is to bless you with help and encouragement for your 2020-wearied soul! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Even better, registration is FREE until the conference begins on November 7th, so make sure you hold your seat today! Just click the link in my bio and choose "SELF CARE CONFERENCE".⁠⠀
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Hope to see you there!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
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P.S. Swipe - do you recognise one of those Day One speakers...? More on what I'll be speaking about, very soon! It's a goody!! 😉 😍⁠⠀
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#selfcare #selfcaresistersociety #2020⁠⠀
It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right now my heart is so heavy with the injustice in the world that I’m struggling to even find the words.

Knowing that I’m inherently complicit in that injustice because of my privilege is sobering. At times I’ve been silent when I should have spoken and at other times I've spoken when I should’ve shut up and listened to the only voices in this narrative that really matter - the voices of those who’ve experienced this sort of prejudice from inside their own skin.

Racial injustice has always grieved my heart, but there’s a difference between empathy and kindness. Having empathy is important, but it’s not enough. Kindness speaks and acts. And right now I don’t really know what to say but somehow I feel it’s important to say something anyway, however imperfectly. Because there is nothing as deafening as silence in the face of systemic suffering.

I don’t know a lot. But I do know that Jesus was always on the side of the oppressed and marginalised. And the Bible tells us that one day, the last will be first and the first will be last. To me that means that in God’s new restored kingdom, these corrupt systems of the world will be turned on their head. In that day, those who’ve benefited from a system of white supremacy (myself included) will be the least. Those who’ve been oppressed and mistreated in this life will be honoured and elevated with the nobility they deserve. What a day that will be!! 🙌

But it’s not enough to know that someday it will all be made right. I hope to see heaven come to earth. I hope to see more black leaders, politicians, policy makers, authors, artists, influencers, CEO’s, entrepreneurs, bank managers, lawyers, judges, scientists and professors. The system is unfairly stacked and our privilege is self-perpetuating. I pray for it all to be turned upside down within our lifetime.

In the (paraphrased) words of MLK, let’s not prefer a negative peace which is an absence of tension (aka passivity, complacency, complicity, silence), over a positive peace, which is the presence of justice. “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. Sc We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. School closures will last at least five weeks. I will not lie, I was anxious about how I would cope. But we are slowly finding our rhythm and perhaps one day in the distant future I’ll even have time to start scheduling posts to Instagram again. For now, this is a random mid week check-in to say, how are you surviving, friends? I’m thinking of you! Wishing you an oasis of calm in the midst of everything, whether it means getting up half an hour earlier than the kids for a morning walk alone, or locking yourself in the bedroom at night with a good book while hubby puts the kids to bed. #doneboth #wewillsurvive 💗
Easter iso style - camping on our land! When so ma Easter iso style - camping on our land!
When so many are feeling hopeless right now, we are thankful for the hope Jesus brings. 💚🧡 Happy Easter, friends!
There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠ There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠
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I've felt led to share some hope and peace with you this week. That doesn't mean you need to put any extra pressure on yourself if you are struggling to tap into peacefulness right now.⁠
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I'm an Enneagram 4, so I am well accustomed to getting trapped inside my own feelings. For the feelers, the weight of the world's problems can sometimes feel intense and overwhelming.⁠
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I was on the beach the other day, praying for a "4" friend who is struggling with this exact thing. And all of a sudden, all of these butterflies started flying from the sand dunes toward the sea, and out over the waves.⁠
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It was a windy day and they were being buffeted around. But I was so intrigued that despite their fragility, they stayed on course, flying directly into that strong wind to get to where they were headed. It started with one, then two, then dozens upon dozens of them. None of them were blown into the water or whipped out of sight. They just flew straight on, above the waves.⁠
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And it made me think of the sensitive souls of this world. Our "butterflies", who bring so much beauty with their creativity, perception, and deep compassion for others. ⁠
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Our butterflies are being extra buffeted right now by the winds of change and pain. That doesn't make them weak. In fact they have within them a surprising strength, to stay the course and to fly above the waves.⁠
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The thing is, you don't have to change who you are to be strong. You don't have to be something you're not. Your sensitivity is not a weakness - it's designed into your DNA by God. With so many people hurting and afraid at the moment, we need your compassion more than ever.⁠
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If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to not be okay. Just trust that even if you feel buffeted by the winds, you are lifted by his grace above the waves, and you will not be drowned.⁠
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And even if you feel like you're flailing around out there, you never know, someone else might just be watching you, admiring your beauty and your grace. 🦋
I was reading a random little story the other day I was reading a random little story the other day from the book of Numbers, in the Bible. ⁠
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A king was scared of the Israelites and so he paid a prophet to curse them. Except every time they tried it, the guy spoke blessings instead. This is what he said:⁠
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"God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the LORD their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king." (Numbers 23:20-21)⁠
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Even the curses of the enemy will be turned into blessings for the people of God. ⁠
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He has given us an inheritance that cannot be shaken. ⁠
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💜 What blessing are you thankful for today? ⁠
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I'm thankful for the leadership of my local church, who continue to minister to peoples' needs both spiritual and physical. Our pastors have their own families and needs, yet they consistently look outward to care for their flock. ⁠
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Let me know yours below! Let's name as many BLESSINGS as we can!⁠
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xo Karen
Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠ ⁠ For famil Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠
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For family and a home and a table to gather around with our loved ones.⁠
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Thank you that when so much else is changing, you remain the same.⁠
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Thank you that you are for us and not against us. That your heart is toward us. That in you is all we need, now and always.⁠
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We pray for those who are lonely and isolated and anxious and unwell. For those whose jobs and livelihoods are lost or threatened. Give us creative ways to reach out with kindness, that we can be salt and light in a dark world. ⁠
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Let kindness for others not feel like a drain on our limited resources, but a natural outflowing of your continuous, abundant supply. ⁠
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Shelves may be bare, but you always have more than enough.⁠
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Every blessing comes from your hand and we are grateful.⁠
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Amen
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind an “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." John 14:27⁠
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There is truly nothing like God's peace.⁠
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The world can offer mindfulness and yoga and candles and calming diffused oils and self-help. Nothing wrong with any of those things, in fact they can be beautiful tools - I use all of them. ⁠
⁠
But I can say from genuine experience that the peace God gives is not like the peace the world gives. It's on a whole new level. ⁠
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It's the peace that he gives when you're in the middle of a storm and the world is turning to crap all around you and you're at the very end of yourself and self-help has begun feeling like trying to drag yourself from a pit via a rope around your waist that you're tugging on with your own two hands. ⁠
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We can't always lift ourselves out of anxiety or fear. So drop the rope. Stop striving. And ask God for HIS peace. He has an abundant well of supply for you to draw from. ⁠
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Fear is trying to hold tight to control in a situation we can't control. ⁠
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Faith asks us to let go, to repent of our fearfulness and surrender it all to God.⁠
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How do you find this miracle of peace? In the letting go.⁠
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We were never meant to carry this burden anyway. ⁠
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How are you doing today? Let me know how I can pray for you. ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me th I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me that it's time to make a transition. Instead of being a person who looks for support from others in times of stress or uncertainty, he wants me to offer support TO others. ⁠
⁠
I've often felt like I don't quite have it together. I'm sensitive, I feel things deeply, I tend to get trapped in my own head and in negative thought spirals.⁠
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But I felt like he was saying that I have something to offer, anyway. Just because I've always been a person who views myself as needy or weak does not mean God views me that way. He can see the strength that is in all of us and he delights in calling it forth. I love how when Gideon was hiding in fear in a winepress, God's angel greeted him by saying "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."⁠
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He was the furthest thing from a mighty warrior at that point. But God knew the battles he WOULD win in his future. He saw what did not yet exist and spoke about it as if it was already a reality. He saw Gideon's true identity and spoke directly to that buried and hidden place within him.⁠
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So. Maybe all I need is a shift in perspective. From looking inward at my own lack, to looking up at him. HE is the source of any hope and help I can offer. And if he wants me to share that, it would be my privilege to obey.⁠
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So let me know... is there anything you're particularly struggling with right now? If you're feeling anxious or burdened, I would love to support you in prayer. 🙏⁠
⁠
xo Karen
We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but I know many of my American friends are stuck at home right now. Either way - sounds like a good chance to do "one thing for the home."⠀
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If you're feeling anxious, it can really help to get out of your head for a little while and do something practical. We can't control anything in the outside world right now, but we CAN complete one concrete task to make our immediate environment feel calmer and function better. And sometimes just having that one little win is all we need to break us out of a negative thought-spiral and restore some equilibrium. ⠀
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If you're feeling a bit helpless and panicky, I hope this helps. It's one thing you CAN control. And doing something with your hands will give your mind a much-needed break. ⠀
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🌟THIS MONTH'S PRIZE: A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD! 🌟⠀
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Here's a reminder of how to play:⠀
⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun!
I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux or stress my tendency is to withdraw and process. (I’ve learned this is very Enneagram 4 of me.) I also feel major reticence about adding to the current noise. I feel there are enough voices talking loudly all at once about the same thing and you don’t need one more.
So I give you instead a prayer for peace. If you are feeling anxious, let this be your exhale today. 💙
Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... 😉⁠
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What are you up to this weekend, friends?⁠
⁠
xo Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⁠⠀
⁠⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythingandeverythinginitsplace
We are getting closer on the home build front... a We are getting closer on the home build front... after two years of sketching dozens upon dozens of floor layout ideas and ultimately trashing all of them, I finally have a plan I LOVE!! ⁠
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It ended up being a highly collaborative effort between our architect and myself - he came up with a general concept and gave me external parameters to suit the contours of the block, and I then designed the internal layouts to fit. ⁠
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Turns out that is exactly what I needed - some guidelines! Amazing how much better our creativity flourishes within constraints. It was way too open-ended before our architect came on board, and I was flailing around in all that freedom like a tadpole in the ocean. Within a day or two of having a blank footprint to work within, I actually had a decent plan. We've tweaked it a little since then, but it's virtually the same.⁠
⁠
I love it when something you've struggled with for the longest time suddenly just clicks. Has this ever happened for you?⁠
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Now we just need to draft it up properly and then see if we can actually afford to build it. Lol. ⁠
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One step at a time... 😆Celebrating progress today!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
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P.S. Let me know if you'd like to see a sneak peek of our plan in stories!!
So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on f So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on from yesterday's chat! This is just off the top of my head, so please take it with a grain of salt - there is SO MUCH more to each type than what I can sum up in a sentence.⁠
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Here are the 9 types:⁠
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1 - The Moral Perfectionist: self-critical, organised, driven by the desire to make things right and good⁠
2 - The Helper: relationally driven, people focussed, places others' needs ahead of their own⁠
3 - The Achiever: success driven and ambitious, gets things done, image conscious⁠
4 - The Romantic Individualist: creative, driven by the desire for uniqueness, feels things deeply⁠
5 - The Investigative Thinker: introverted and analytical,  detached from emotion⁠
6 - The Loyalist: community minded, a team player, driven by the need for security and anxiety about the future⁠
7 - The Entertaining Optimist: positive, energetic and playful, driven to squeeze as much fun out of life as possible⁠
8 - The Protective Challenger: a natural leader, confrontational, confident and determined⁠
9 - The Peaceful Mediator: conflict-avoidant, gentle and steady, driven to seek inner peace⁠
⁠
I'm a 4 wing 5, married to an 8 wing 7. They do say opposites attract 😆⁠
⁠
Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions? ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
ENNEAGRAM⁠ ⁠ Where are my fellow Enneagram fan ENNEAGRAM⁠
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Where are my fellow Enneagram fanatics??!⁠
⁠
I've only recently "discovered" the Enneagram, and OH. MY. GOODNESS. What a game changer. ⁠
⁠
If you're not familiar with it, it's a personality typing system.  I've always been interested in personality differences and human behaviour - that's probably the novelist in me. But none of the other systems I've come across have resonated with me as deeply as the Enneagram.⁠
⁠
It is so accurate, it's almost uncanny.⁠
⁠
Basically, there are 9 types, representing 9 different ways of looking at the world, each with different motivations, behaviour traits, strengths and flaws.⁠
⁠
I'm an Enneagram 4. That's the "Romantic Individualist". It's an artistic temperament driven by creativity, love of beauty, a desire for uniqueness, introspection, and authenticity.⁠
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I guess it's no surprise that when I had to ask my friends and readers to sum up my strengths for an assignment I was given, the two words that came up most frequently were "creativity" and "honesty".⁠
⁠
Enneagram 4's feel deeply and are very connected to our emotions. We'd  much rather have a meaningful conversation about deep feelings than make small talk about trivial things. ⁠
⁠
Each type can pull a little more to one or other of the numbers beside them, giving a different flavour. I'm a wing 5 (the "Investigative Thinker") which means I tend to be less temperamental/ moody, and more steady, reserved and analytical. ⁠
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I'm also daydreamy, a big-picture thinker, and despise administrative details. My "fatal flaw" (each type has one) is comparison and envy. Ohhhhh yep, that certainly rings true. Because while we want to stand out and be special, which can be prideful, we also struggle hard with insecurity and feeling like we never quite measure up.⁠
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Yes, yes and YES.⁠
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If you haven't done the Enneagram test, do a search online - it's honestly so interesting and self-revealing.⁠
⁠
If you know your type, what number are you? xo
So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I f So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I feel less like a whiner - if I get sick I usually shake it within a couple of days, so I was starting to feel irritated with myself for still being crook after three weeks!⁠
⁠
Anyhow, could be worse, and I do feel like I'm starting to pick up again now. ⁠
⁠
This buffet in our living room holds a changing arrangement of mostly-white vases, with a bit of blue glass and green foliage thrown in for good measure. ⁠
⁠
Are you a chronic re-arranger, or do you prefer to leave things as-is? ⁠
⁠
To be honest, I've always been a "get it exactly how I want it then leave it like that forever" type of girl, but I've been loosening up and playing around more with my décor this past year, and it struck me that my buffet has gone through several style shifts now. I actually like it a little bit better every time I make a change! ⁠
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Hope this new week will be an awesome one for you, friends!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
BLACK vs WHITE⁠ ⁠ Let's talk kitchens! Our hou BLACK vs WHITE⁠
⁠
Let's talk kitchens! Our house build is on my mind, and even though we're only at the plan stage, I'm trying to nail down my ideas in a general creative direction. ⁠
⁠
The last three kitchens I've designed have been all white, with accents of grey. I really want to use black in my next kitchen. I love the drama of it (as we already established, I like a bit of drama. Ha.) I keep veering back and forth between all black, or some combination of black and white. ⁠
⁠
I'm interested to know... what would you choose? My guess is that white-on-white is still gonna be the most popular choice, and black will probably be controversial, but I could be wrong! ⁠
⁠
So let me know - I'm keen to hear your opinion!⁠
⁠
1. All white⁠
2. All black⁠
3. Black + white⁠
⁠
🖤♡🖤♡🖤⁠
Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⠀
⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⠀
⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⠀
⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⠀
⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⠀
⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⠀
⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⠀
⠀
xo Karen⠀
⠀
P.S. You can decorate, declutter or organise anything you like. No task is too small! Tackle a drawer, a shelf, or a storage tub. Do that niggly little job you've been meaning to get to. Hang that picture. Paint that stool. Sort through the kids clothes. We’ve all got that “one thing” - let us know yours! xo⠀
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#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythinga
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