Happy New Year, everybody. <3

I know last week I shared some of my thoughts on New Year’s resolutions (you can also check out my latest Thirty on Tap post on how I’m done apologizing), but today I wanted to share my word/intention for the year: trust.

Trust: My Intention for the New Year

After some deliberation and reflecting, I’ve decided that, this year, my focus will be trust. In all aspects of my life and being.

We all know that trust is an essential component to our relationships. I trust my husband to be faithful and contribute to his family and for my son to behave and listen (as much as a 3-year-old is capable!). I trusted my parents to support me throughout my school years, and I’ve trusted my friends with my secrets, struggles, and inside jokes.

Trust is something we rely on in our daily lives, too. I trust other drivers on the road to pay attention and keep out of my lane and for the kitchen staff at the restaurant to prepare my food safely. And I’ve always trusted my doctors to make educated judgments and keep my best interest at heart.

But that’s not really the kind of trust I’m talking about.

This year, after dealing with a lot of self-doubt and insecurity, I want to regain trust in myself.

I want to trust who I am—that I am living and experiencing this enormous, vibrant universe exactly the way I’m meant to.

To live intuitively, confidently, and fully present in the moment.

And to trust that my feelings, my judgments, my passions, and my desires are valid and important and unique to who I am.

While I’ve often built emotional walls around myself and been slow to open up to others, I would say that I’m a pretty trusting person.

Unless you give off incredibly dubious vibes, I will give you a chance. I will trust your expertise, your motivation, and your abilities. I think everybody deserves that benefit.

And yet, despite my trusting nature, I’ve been so hesitant to trust my own instincts and talents.

If motherhood has taught me anything, it’s certainly shown me the importance of trusting my gut.

When Bazooka struggled to gain weight and well-intentioned, concerned doctors inevitably made me doubt my parenting abilities, I eventually learned to trust that I was giving him everything he needed—particularly love—and that his development was where it needed to be.

When I became aware that my anxiety was causing difficulties in my marriage and home life in general, I had to trust that my husband was right. That I could let down my guard and accept help in the form of medication and therapy, and that I wasn’t less of a person for doing so.

When it became clear that I wasn’t classified properly at work and I took the risk of speaking to my boss, I had to trust that I wasn’t asking or demanding something unreasonable. I had to trust my own value, expertise, and commitment as an employee. And daily when I make decisions at work, I have to trust my knowledge and the skill set that I’ve developed over the last 10 years.

Though I make mistakes, I trust that I am a well-intentioned, kind-hearted, motivated, nurturing, witty, talented, and intelligent person.

I trust that, even though I am not a credentialed health professional, telling my personal story, insights, and challenges (so long as I don’t overstep any boundaries or make claims that are unjustified) in healthy living is beneficial and worth sharing.

I trust that, even though my exercise routine changes, my weight fluctuates over time, and my healthy eating habits wax and wane, that my body is intuitive and will let me know what it needs.

I trust my parenting decisions, that, when it’s all said and done, I’m giving my son the care, the love, the education, and the example that he needs to grow into a decent human being.

I trust that, even if we don’t have an immaculate, HGTV-worthy house and gigantic savings account, my husband and I are building a beautiful life together.

And, no matter what, I trust that, even if my choices backfire, my point of view is criticized and rejected, or my goals and visions take an entirely different shape than first imagined, that vulnerability and risk are 100% worth it. And that we are all worthy of love and respect.

Trust that vulnerability and risk are 100% worth it Share on X

[linking up with Amanda for thinking out loud]

So tell me…

• What is your “intention” for the new year?
• Do you have trouble trusting yourself and your instincts?
• How has trusting yourself in the past paid off?