What I'm not doing in this new year
What a year 2023 was! I got engaged, planned a wedding, dissolved my LLC in NC, transferred my business to Texas, lost my job, married, and performed spoken word on a large conference stage within one year. The tears were less this year. However, life’s lessons are hard. I learned I can do hard things well. I’ll keep fortitude in my back pocket because it does not seem like it’s going anywhere.
In January of 2023, I heard the Lord say I am no longer passing through AFTER confirming I am a woman of transition. This is where I am to replant my roots and settle in for a while, though life around me will continually change. I even tried to move to Dallas, and God said sit down.
As we ushered in 2024, I saw a post by Tim Ross encouraging us to reflect on a highlight and lowlight of the previous year.
My highlight: I endured to see an answered prayer and promise in the form of a husband who loves God just as much as me and walks in purity.
My lowlight: This season is less about who I am becoming and more about what I've done up until this point, where my trust isn't rooted as deep as I'd like to admit.
YOUR TURN! What’s your highlight and lowlight of 2023?
I quickly realized that the night was normal and that it was in the valley where we see the most growth.
Boom. 2024 is starting with a lot of razzle-dazzle. I hit 1000 subscribers on YouTube after taking it seriously in October of 2023. That’s 600+ in less than 90 days—wild! Despite how I felt, all it took was ONE decision to continue showing up daily.
My strategy: I posted ONE short-form video daily across three platforms (Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube). When you decide to take yourself seriously, you see growth.
Then, my transmission blew on the car I’ve had for eight years with NO problems. I was quoted $9K to fix it. Staying at home because you choose to is different than not having the ability to leave because you have no car. Like I said, 2024 is starting spicy—and I’ll still praise God. My testimony will be “I saw it with my own eyes” all year. Remember, I have no job, I am fully self-employed at the beginning of this upward climb, and my savings are depleted due to living off it for the last four months. AND I STILL TRUST GOD!
Alright, let’s get into the ins and outs of 2024. This is what I will and will not be doing, respectfully.
INs:
STARTING day with God
Learning to speak Haitian Creole
Believing who God says I am
More Cardio
Building my brand and business
Perform more spoken word poems
Write my book
Pray more
Say NO more
OUTs:
LIFTING weights for the aesthetics
Looking at what others are doing
EXCUSES
Designing for free
Overextending myself
Giving an explanation
I CHALLENGE YOU TO CREATE A LIST FOR YOURSELF.
Be encouraged into 2024. God’s the type to put you on the heart of those with the access code to the next door of your life…out of the blue. When it happens, testify openly. We’re in a “God did it” season—a collision between obedience and endurance.
We must continue to endure obediently.
You will not grow wearing at well-doing.
You will reap a harvest because you did not faint.
Seek God above everything else.
Whatever you do, do not take your eyes off of God even when humanity fails.
Remember, God is not the local church or highly-esteemed leaders who fall short.
Community is vital for what is ahead.
I challenge you to move in intentionality, not silence.
By the way, I crafted a quarterly planning notion template to help us slay our goals in 12 weeks or less because there is power in the intentionality to write it down and hold ourselves accountable. Check it out here.
Your accountability partner,
Janae Carlee