Happy New Year! I love the fresh starts and new beginnings that a brand new year brings - there's something so exciting about it! But I'll be honest - I've been a little sluggish in writing down my goals (both personal and professional) for 2014. I think the reason I've been procrastinating is because of a tiny little word that has a big impact: fear.

Fear holds us back in many ways and comes in many forms. There's fear of failure, fear of success, fear of letting others down, fear of commitment, fear of change, fear of comparison & judgement, fear of the future, fear of being alone, the list goes on... But I think we must remember that the only way to overcome our fears is to face them. The best things in life don't come easy - you have to work hard for them and make sacrifices. Sometimes the most rewarding accomplishments in life start with big, scary and fearful dreams.

I have big dreams for 2014. Scary dreams. Personally, I need to change my lifestyle so that I can be healthier, more productive and live life to the fullest in my everyday endeavors. Beth Hart Designs will undergo several changes. Scary changes because of big dreams. I'm afraid of failure, and I'm afraid of what others will think. But I feel in my heart that I'm making the right decisions, and so I must carry on!

Is fear holding you back from making 2014 a great year? Don't be afraid to dream big. Really big. Because on the other side of scary dreams are sometimes the greatest rewards and accomplishments. And as you pursue your dreams, know that our heavenly Father is with us and wants only the best for us (Jeremiah 29:11). Cheers to making 2014 the best year yet!