Resolutions
Happy New Year to you all! I am glad to have put 2011 behind me. I look forward with a spirit of expectancy to what the Lord will do in 2012. I have set goals for myself and my family, and I aim to accomplish them so that we can start to thrive instead of just survive.
Every year people make New Year’s Resolutions that usually last no more than three months. They usually involve making more money, improving their attitudes and losing weight. The reason most people don’t accomplish their New Year’s Resolutions is that they are not serious. When I talk to people about their goals, either at the beginning of the year or throughout the year, I always ask them, “Did you write down your goals?” Most times the answer is no. I have heard that a goal without action is just a dream. Many people actually think they will get “lucky” and win the lottery, get a better job or shed pounds miraculously with some magic pill. My father always told me, “Sherry, there’s no such thing as luck. Luck is when preparation and opportunity meet.” If you aren’t prepared an opportunity may present itself and fly right over your head because you have not planned and set goals. I will not let that happen to me and my family.
Starting many years ago I began taking the last four days of the year to meditate and plan my future, on paper. A life coach named David Martin http://www.eperformancezone.com gave me some great questions to design my future. I will now give them to you. Even though the year has already started, you can plan your future and follow-up by revisiting your goal sheets often. I usually review mine once a month.
We are entering deeper into an age of negative change and decreasing resources. It would be smart for you to plan for your short-term and long term future. Let me know some of your goals and aspirations.
QUESTIONS TO DESIGN YOUR FUTURE
What do I want?
Why do I want it? (Why is it important to me?)
What am I willing to give up to get it?
What is my game plan? (How will I get it?)
What specific knowledge do I require?
Who can assist me?
What is my time frame?
What can I do TODAY to get started?
INSTRUCTIONS
List ALL of your goals on plain paper. Categorize the goals into:
- Spiritual
- Family
- Personal
- Business
- Other
Select the top three goals, place them on goal sheets and work through the remaining seven questions on the goal sheets. You may complete goal sheets for more than the top three goals, but usually the top three goals feed into accomplishing all of the other goals, so completing goal sheets for all of the goals may not be necessary.