Like an empty canvas awaiting the first brush stroke, there is something infinitely exciting and refreshing about a new year. Difficulties and challenges of the year past fade into the background with the bright hues of opportunity that lie ahead. Decisions for change load a fresh palette. New choices brush away and cover past mistakes.
Ignite the new year by considering the following as you paint a fresh canvas:
Wait for the Vision
Many people choose a word for the new year, a word that provides focus and direction. Sometimes that word is immediate and clear. Other times, the word unfolds slowly. This year, I am still waiting for my word. The vision is slow in coming, but I will wait for it.
It is the same for artists. Sometimes they stare at a blank canvas for a long time before the vision takes shape. Perhaps they paint a few background brush strokes, take a step back, view the canvas from different angles, and wait for inspiration and perspective. You can do likewise. Don’t be in a hurry to forge into the new year with a flurry of activity, goals, and resolutions. Wait for clear vision on how to paint your new year’s canvas, allowing the picture to come gently and adding depth as you go.
Load the Palette
Colors are an important part of any painting. Colors have the ability to lighten the mood and bring pleasure. In similar fashion, you can paint your canvas for this year with kindness, generosity, peace, hope, and joy. Conversely, you can choose criticism, negativity, selfishness, and strife. Make wise choices as you load your palette, selecting colors that enhance your life and inspire you to be the best you can be.
Be Open to Fresh Concepts
As a writer, I sometimes fall into a pattern of similar sentence structures, familiar themes, and overused phrases. Perhaps it is the same for all creatives. Stretching beyond what is familiar requires pushing ourselves, risking failure, and embracing fresh concepts. Are you willing to open yourself to something new this year?
Maybe, like a painter, you need to risk the abstract rather than sticking to the concrete. Allow yourself to think outside your usual patterns. Look for and expect fresh inspiration and then act on it.
Avoid Distractions
So much about our lives can deter us from forward motion. We get involved in doing for others or waste time on activities that don’t help us grow or change. Following through with goals requires focus and determination. Painting that blank canvas may mean declining offers, carving out time, and employing self-discipline. Accomplishment involves parsing priorities and making challenging decisions. Don’t allow distractions to prevent you from creating a masterpiece.
Do the Work
Often, I meet aspiring writers who have ideas and plans but never follow through with the hard work of writing. They want the accomplishment of “having written,” but aren’t willing to apply the necessary time and discipline to reach that goal.
If you want to paint a new picture this year, you must be willing to do the work. If you gain a vision and load your palette, but never make a brush stroke, your canvas will remain blank. Or if you begin and get stuck, be willing to start over. Uncertainty or past failures may overwhelm and halt forward motion, but don’t allow criticism or perfectionism to hinder completion.
Ask God to calm your mind, inspire your heart, and guide your hand as you paint this year’s canvas.
“And He had filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of craftsmanship, to design artistic works” (Exodus 35: 31-32a MEV).
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Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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Our new year began with husband’s hip replacement surgery on New Year’s Eve. Exhaustion laced with Gratitude has been the theme this last four days. Our physician son flew in for five nights, went home today, and I know he was considering how fragile his 82-year-old father is and how exhausted his 80-year-old mother is. He brought me a set of books, The Daily Stoic, by Ryan Holiday which included a journal for responses to the daily message. I had been thinking of “Listen ” as my word for 2026 and will keep it simmering because it feels appropriate. I am adding “Journal” because years ago I journaled and remember the nuggets of insight and wisdom that emerged in those journals. BTW, I’ve been choosing words for the last seven years and appreciate the suggestion here that we focus on a specific word. Thank you, Candy, and thank you, Marita.
Pam, prayers for your husband’s recovery and you as you provide care.
Candy,
Thank you for giving me permission to start my new year a week later… Our one and only child, a son just left to go back to college today so I feel as though I’m just now beginning my new year and new dreams… Some are old dreams that are still trying to get fulfilled. I think my word this year is going to be “PRAY.” it seems that every recent sermon or devotional that I’ve read keeps leading me to that word and how powerful that prayer can be in our lives. I pray that I’m really going to PRAY. THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU! I look forward to your blog posts.
Thank you, Debbie. Pray. A great word for this new year!