One Word - 2014

I'm not a fan of new years resolutions so I don't make them. But last year I decided on a word for the year, something that I could remember and strive towards and use to motivate me to be a better mother and person. That word was patience.

I'm not so sure I succeeded on the patience front to be honest. Being pregnant for most of the year, and then spending another quarter of it adjusting to life with a new family member, there were times when my patience was sorely tested. Many times I failed to have patience and lost my shit. 

But I realised late last year that I needed to make a change and a concerted effort to yell less. Part of learning to yell less includes learning to have more patience, and so in 2014 patience will still be something I will be working towards.

But for 2014 I decided to come up with a new word, like so many other bloggers, and the word I have chosen is determination.

I could have chosen a few different words to be honest, but I think determination sums up how I am feeling about 2014 and what I want to happen. I am determined to have more patience. I am determined to yell less. I am determined to lose weight and get healthy and fit. I am determined to study.

But most of all I am determined to take control of my life and to better myself in as many ways as I can. I am determined to do all the things I've been wanting to do for a long time. Or at least set myself on the path to doing those things.

One of the other words I could have chosen is motivation. Motivation is a big issue for me, and I'm very good at starting things, not so good at finishing them. I've realised that in order to keep up my motivation I have to change my mindset about a few things and I'm working on that too.

One big mindset shift has already occurred, in relation to my weight, health and fitness determination, but I will blog more about that another day. If things fall in to place over the coming weeks and I can harness my motivation then 2014 could be an amazing year for me.

For much of 2013 I felt like I was treading water, waiting for a new baby to arrive or trying to find my feet and navigate life with two kids. Now that Zee is 5 months old I finally feel like we are settling in to our new normal and it's time to start doing a few things for me and getting my life back under control.

I'm excited about the things I have brewing in mind, and the things I have planned. I have the determination to do many things, and I hope that I can keep up the motivation to follow through on them all and make them a reality.

Do you have a word or resolutions for 2014? Is there anything your really determined to do?

Linking up with the wonderful Jess from Essentially Jess for IBOT.