My One Word: Abundance
For a long time–maybe for my whole life–I’ve had what I call a “scarcity mentality.” I don’t know where I heard that phrase, but it’s apt. I remember as a kid scarfing down food I liked, keeping an eye on the platter in case someone else claimed the second helping I wanted. And we weren’t poor–I never went without, yet for some reason I feared that I wouldn’t have enough of what I wanted and needed. Also, I robbed myself of enjoying my first serving by fearing I wouldn’t get a second one. I’ve been doing it ever since.
A few months ago I realized that my chronic anxiety comes from this place of feeling that I don’t have enough to meet my needs, to deal with my challenges, to teach my students, to parent my children, and to partner with my husband. That I, in myself, am not good enough.
I wanted ONE word to express this idea of having, not just barely enough, not subsistence living, but more than enough. I’m not talking about having lots of money, although I wouldn’t say no to a better income! I mean enjoying life more, finding the ordinary miracles, the everyday blessings God has loaded me with. And there really are so many things to be thankful for. So I chose the word “abundance.”
Here’s to a year of more than enough. Here’s to a year of celebrating the blessings I already have, and of receiving what I need to face the challenges that come my way. Here’s to a year of drawing boundaries to protect what’s really important and not letting my job define me and drain me. Here’s to a year of abundance.