Good question right? How do we achieve this? Where do we start? What do we have to do? When does it happen? What does it even mean?

There is a two letter word in several of my above sentences. It’s DO!!! We wake up every single day and we DO choose to be the person who gives thanks. We DO choose to see the glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty.

We, at some point in our lives do have to ask ourselves the hard questions: who am I? What am I all about? Then, what do we DO to reveal our authentic selves? God gives us so much direction and guidance here, but it only works if we are DOING the work(s) He sent us here to do. We all have the same 24 hours a day as the next person. There is no more time, just NOW.

This past year I have been pondering the words “I AM!” I am no expert on exact scriptures and their locations in the Bible, but certainly am familiar with many an inspirational verse involving, “I AM.” I looked a few up to quote them for you:

Exodus: 3:14- “I am who I am.”

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

John 8: 58- Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

John 15:5- “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me & I in him, he, it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Revelation 1:8- “I AM the Alpha & Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

John 8:17- Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I AM the Light of the world.”

John 6:35- Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

There are endless passages throughout the Bible referencing “I AM!” So, God created us, therefore, each of us is able to say, “I Am,” for He is our designer.

How do we fill in our own “I AM?” Each day of our lives? Have you ever tried to write 50 I Am’s about yourself on a piece of paper? I challenge you to do this exercise. You can choose your own number, maybe just 10 to start with about yourself. Let them be positive. I’ll give you 10 about me:

I am loving. I am faithful. I am artistic. I am humble. I am grateful. I am hopeful. I am happy. I am strong. I am willing. I am kind. I am creative. ( I added one more for “good measure” as my Mama would have said.)

This doesn’t mean I never stumble. I am full of imperfections and faults, but I try (really tried this last year) to focus on the positive I AM’s that can keep me on a path of peace, hope and love.)

In creating my “I AM” list, it helps me to then consider what steps/ choices do I need to take to help me to be artistic, kind, loving, faithful, etc.

I need to add in…I am emotional. I feel deeply. I thought it a weakness forever. It’s not. I have accepted it’s a strength. I am NOT mathematical and I am NOT medically inclined at all. Through many struggles, my steps and actions have created NOW good habits from the things that stress and trigger me.

I have had to learn to set the example of channeling my stressful energy with things I have ZERO control over into positive habits. It’s required self discipline to make myself do the things I know I need to do to change my mindset and retrain my brain.

The world will ‘swallow us up,’ but what if we pray about the plan God wants for our lives? Then, what happens if we allow God (through the silence of our minds) to guide us to DO what needs to be done to make a difference in this world? I believe all of our ‘I AM’S” in this universe would add up. That’s a lot of positive and good in this world that would have a ripple effect.

This creates happiness, which is success. Right now, what brings you happiness? Does it contribute to your best, “I AM?” I have to ask myself this question every single day. I have to “tweak things” sometimes too.

I say, “DREAM BIG” and don’t let anything get in the way. It’s so easy for us to get “blocked.” Regardless of our “blocks,” we MUST believe in our DREAMS. The only person who knows the depth of your dreams is the person looking back at you in the mirror everyday. YOU are also the only person who can achieve your dreams. Own them. Follow them. Strive to ACHIEVE them.

We must make each day special cause we are “spending” each day. So, what action are we DOING to help us move forward to contribute to the I AM’S we have said to ourselves. It’s worth repeating to ourselves to keep us on the right path.

Happiness comes from our hearts. We MUST fertilize the positive and “grow the flowers in our garden of life” with fertilizer, sunshine and water. These things will also feed the weeds. Plan on getting your hands dirty, for we all have to ‘pull our own weeds.’

Getting overwhelmed is easy. I accept now that I have more anxiety issues than I realized years ago. It’s easy for the “heaviness and negative to take over our garden of life, overrunning it with weeds.” The weeds can sprout in the smallest amounts of soil. But, God gave us each life and we have the free will to tend to our own “proverbial gardens of life.”

We MUST continue. We do each have the DIVINE within us. God (the Divine, the creator of the Universe) is the I AM and He has said we are meant for light and love as we are by His design.

Life sends struggles, we have each experienced our own on this Earth. Tend to your garden. Pull your own weeds. We will stumble. Be like that toy that bounces back up. If we breathe, we will be reminded that we are creators, builders, athletes, dreamers, writers, actors, artists, musicians, regardless of race, religion, age.

How can we serve and lift each other up, not tear each other down? How are we adding positive energy into the world? Embrace life…through prayer and patience, we can keep going. We are here for only a short time so let’s choose to DO! Let’s do grow, let’s do plant flowers and not just nurture the weeds. Let’s do smile, even though there are scary things going on in the world.

Our world, our lives are moving forward no matter whether we are active participants or just ‘spectators from the sidelines.’ All babies fall down, they repeatedly get back up. You’ve been knocked down, get back up. Regardless of ones struggles, Gods grace is good and there for us but we must ask. Visualize your “I AM’S,” believe in your dreams and trust in God’s plan for your life. In “tuning in and listening” to God, He will be able to use our gifts and talents to make this world a little brighter.

Some Quotes that I LOVE:

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” -Oprah Winfrey

“Take pride in how far you’ve come; have faith in how far you can go.” -?

Say to yourself, “I have decided that this will be a ridiculously AMAZING year and I AM excited!!!” -?

“May your life be filled with JOY and COLORFUL WISHES.” -Ann Lutz

I encourage you to write down positive I AM’S because in DOING so you are making choices towards helping you be the kind of person that is morally mature. The person who can influence others with your values, character, integrity.

Ultimately, should we not all strive to be lights in this world sharing love? I pray that each of us be guided to share our gifts and talents for a higher purpose, for a greater good.

Colorful Wishes and may your new year be filled with light and love. Happy heavenly birthday to my beautiful sister, Josephine Lindsay Groover, who would have been 62 today.