Unveiling of the new theme!!!

I have spent several weeks now preparing for my theme of the new year. It has taken a lot of introspection, prayer, and thought to narrow down my focus and ideas to something that was feasible and that would inspire growth.

My theme focuses on three talks from conference:

1st: "Of Things that Matter Most"-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

2nd: "Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life"-Elder Robert D. Hales

3rd: "Faith-the Choice is Yours"-Bishop Richard C. Edgley

First, I loved how President Uchtdorf's talk counseled us to, "slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials..." With all the changes my life is about to undertake, I really believe that if I choose to focus on the basic things and 'resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush of everyday life', my life will be enriched. "There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity." I think returning to the basics and improving key relationships in my life is essential to my progression over the next year.

Second, I found such beauty in the promise from Elder Hales talk. "Making the same choice to follow the Savior now, while we are here on earth, we will obtain even greater blessing in the eternities...We must continue to choose to follow the Savior. Eternity is at stake, and our wise use of agency and our actions are essential that we might have eternal life." I already chose once, we all did, and while I am on this earth I want to show that I am choosing the Lord's plan in every opportunity. "Agency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and to act for ourselves and not be acted upon."

Finally, the choice is mine. "We can still choose how we react to the world. When our sacred doctrine and beliefs are challenged, this is our opportunity to become acquainted with God in a most private and intimate manner. This is our opportunity to choose."

So my theme for the year: The Choices I Make

1. Make the choice to simplify my life

I want to return back to the basics and focus on key relationships in my life. I want to understand the basics of the gospel, to focus on the simplistic things of prayer and scripture reading. I want to de-clutter the stuff in my life (both temporally and worldly). I want to improve my relationship with my Savior and with myself in order to better my relationships with my family and others. This also includes simplifying my budget (and amount of money spent on needless things.)

2. Make the choice to act and not be acted upon

I want to deepen my trust in the Lord. I don't want fear to control my actions and my faith. I want to chose happiness and light in my life instead of stress and sorrow. I want to make substantial choices to do what is right.

3. Make the choice to be healthy

This is always a struggle. But I am slowly getting better, so this year it is my goal to make smaller goals for each month and hopefully by the end of the year accomplish something positive.

4. Make the choice to be productive

I am making the goal to find more productive ways to use my time. Whether writing letters to loved ones, serving others, or taking time to accomplish important goals this year is about choosing to be better. Reading books, learning new things, climbing, whatever it takes to become a more well rounded person!

Elder Richard G. Scott said, "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." This is my ultimate goal with my theme this year, to become what I want to be by making the choice to be what I want to become.