For the past several weeks I have been struggling to come up with One Word that I could focus on this coming year. One Word that I could apply to all areas of my life to help keep me focused on my goals and vision. I had several words come to mind such as Focus, Drive and Passion but no one word stuck in my mind or kept reoccurring day after day. So one Sunday after talking myself into and out of attending church, which I had not attended in several weeks, a voice deep inside convinced me to attend that day. Was it a voice or was it the fact that if I didn’t go I would have to take down the Christmas lights? Driving to church that morning with the New Year approaching I was still thinking about my One Word and still having no luck choosing one. After entering church with my wife and taking our usual spots I noticed that Pastor Ben our senior pastor was not in his usual spot meaning he was not delivering the message that day which was at first disappointing because I enjoy his lessons. The message that morning was being delivered by Pastor Tim, who leads the Celebrate Recovery program at the church, (Note: If you are struggling in your life with addiction, abuse, depression or divorce please check them out.) as Pastor Tim began his message that morning he used a phrase that quickly caught my attention and I knew why I was moved to attend that morning, the phrase he used was One Word. Pastor Tim had chosen his One Word for the year and his message was based upon that word, the service ended with a song focusing on that one word. The rest of the day I kept seeing, hearing and thinking about that word. The next several nights I went to sleep with that word in my mind. Then one morning I awoke at 3am thinking of that word and an acrostic for it began to formulate and that’s when I knew I had my One Word for the year; THRIVE.

Thrive: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances

As you work towards the progressive realization of your goals this next year I hope the following acrostic will help you reach them:

T – Thankful

Most people spend time talking about what they don’t have. They use phrases like “If only I had more time.” “If only I had more money.” “If only I was older/younger.” “If only_____.” Let’s spend this next year talking about what we do have and be grateful those blessings. Keep in mind that the Disciples only had five loaves of bread and two fish and they had to borrow that and yet were still able to feed 15,000 people. And remember David he started out with only five stones and a sling shot but yet ended up a King.

H – Hopeful

Without hope there is no faith. I believe that if we Have Only Positive Expectations that more good happens then bad. It takes the same energy to be positive as it does to be negative so why not be positive.

R – Relentless

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau

I believe you can have anything you want if you will just work for it. Don’t wish for it work for it! No matter what obstacles that may become before you this year just keep grinding. We usually face our strongest resistance right before we reach our greatest break through. I read that over 90% of New Year’s resolutions will be broke with more than 50% before the end of January. Don’t be a statistic; resolve to be relentless this year! But don’t get the “destination disease” ; don’t get so wrapped up in your goal that it becomes a Bataan Death March,enjoy the trip and the type of person you will become along the way.

I – Impactful

“It is true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” – Napoleon Hill

Poor is the man who cannot leave his home, town, state or country in a better condition than the way he found it. No matter your lot in life you can find a way to ease the burden of someone else who is less fortunate.

V – Vision

“Where there is no vision, the people perish:” Prov. 29:18 KJV

If you left the house this morning you knew the location you were headed and the “road map” to arrive at that destination. Life is the same way. You must know where you are headed; you must know your goals. These goals must be specific, motivating, achievable, and timely. Once you determine your goals you have to write them down and take action towards those goals, if you don’t they then are just dreams. And one last thought on your goals is to keep what Yogi Berra said in mind: “If you don’t know where you are going you might end up someplace else.”

E- Excellence

Excellence is a moving target that is pursued with integrity, relentlessness and zeal. In everything you do pursue it with a mindset of excellence. Remember that we don’t get what we want we get what we tolerate so don’t tolerate anything less than excellence in all areas of your life.