Anthem

If every action we ever did spoke for itself, what kind of song would they be singing about us? As we really start to get into this new year, I’ve been thinking a lot about who we are. Who do we want to be known as? What do we want to be remembered for?

Maybe we’re not meant for big things. But we are destined for great things. Every day, we have dozens of opportunities to make someone else’s life better, regardless of the emotional or mental state that we find ourselves in. Sometimes, I think we can get so focused in on ourselves that we tune out everyone else. We forget the things that we most want to become.

2020 can be a year of great things–but we have to be intentional with that. It has to be more than a nice thought or motto for the next year. It needs to be action-based. So this year, choose something to make your anthem. Something that you drill into your head so much that, over time, it becomes the first thing to come to mind.

Smile at random strangers. Remind society that, yes, it’s okay to smile at people you don’t know just to spread a little cheer. Say “How are you doing?” with a little bit more sincerity next time. Write a letter to your dearest friends. Invite a friend to come to church and make cookies afterwards.

An anthem is something to rally behind when we lose ourselves. When we hit our lows and when others hit theirs, we remember our anthem, and it reminds us of some truth that we can’t forget. Something like, Love Always, Choose Joy, or Never Alone. Our anthem should be a truth we know we couldn’t live without, and something we want to be intentional about incorporating into our lives. We can change our anthem. Sometimes, we may let something we let occupy the back of our mind become our unspoken anthem. Fear, doubt, self-consciousness, pride, self-righteous lies, and a billion other things that take our time and thoughts. What’s your anthem? Take some time and be critical of yourself–what are you saying without a word? Ask some trustworthy and brutally honest people that are close to you the same question about yourself. The answers may surprise you.

Whatever it is–you can change it. You’re never beyond the ability to change yourself. Make your anthem something new. Something better. Something to cling to on the hard days and wave like a flag on the good ones. Take some time to figure out. I’d love to hear what yours is!