Resolutions Versus Reasonable Goals - Jewell Utt
Congratulations! You did it. The admirable goals you set in 2017 have all been met. You lost the weight, improved your finances, built relationships, finished a project, and embarked on a long standing dream. You are part of the 8% who made New Year’s resolutions and kept them all. I however, fall into the 92% who did not. So what am I going to do about it? Let me start with what I will NOT do, in hopes that you will follow suit.
I Will Not:
Beat myself up
Live in defeat
Leave my dreams behind
Or
Give up trying
What I Will Do is:
Continue to learn and grow
Prioritize my time
Adjust my strategies
AND
Never quit
Mine is a heart of vision. No vision, no hope.
Don’t be discouraged if you failed to meet some of your worthy goals from last year. Be encouraged because you had the foresight to plan and the insight to dream. Dreamers are people of hope: learners, listeners, motivators, achievers, planters, goal setters. The fact that you set a goal is worthy in itself because it shows you are thinking. You care. You have not fallen prey to the complacency of ritual. And you cannot achieve a goal if you haven’t actually set one. So technically you’re already among the successful because successful people set goals.
New Year’s Resolutions are a different beast altogether. They are the steroidal version of a reasonable objective and most people lose steam in the first three weeks. The remainder follow suit within the next few months. Several factors contribute to this statistic: Too many goals, unreasonable expectations, goals too vague, or too much champagne on New Year’s Eve—leading to impulsive ideas that were not well thought out.
Aspirations are important. They keep us searching, excited, and most often lead us outside of our comfort zone. It’s in this area that God does his best work because we have stepped out in faith. For without faith we cannot please God. We no longer depend on self, but enter a partnership with God. This leads to intention, dependence, and growth.
How can we gain success?
- Partner with God
Cover your goals in prayer and enlist a team to pray with and for you. - Be specific
Don’t say, I want to get healthy. Say, I will cut out chips and add in salad.
Don’t say, I want a new hobby. Instead, list your interests, choose one, and purchase supplies in the first week. - Break it down– plot manageable segments within a shorter time frame.
Health – chart your progress for two weeks and add in daily movement for two more.
Hobby – In week two, (using Art as an example) find an Art instruction YouTube and paint your first canvas. - Plan for obstacles
Understand that competing priorities will throw you off course.
Make this goal your highest priority at least 4 days per week, for the next three months.
Make visual reminders to stay accountable and keep on track.
Small increments of time are an investment that will yield positive results. The accomplishment is a reward in itself and will invigorate you to continue. But remember a worthwhile goal doesn’t have to include doing, the best include being. Being present with the Lord. Working on a broken relationship. Serving with a community. Placing yourself in situations to encounter new people. You never know what can happen if you’re not out there trying.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later
it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11
What worthy goal will you set this year?
