NEW YEAR'S DAY: A MARKER IN LIFE'S JOURNEY

Life is a journey and the beginning of a New Year is a marker in that journey. Take time to look back and reflect - not to criticize or punish yourself but to help you face where you are today. Take time also to look ahead and decide where you want your life to go tomorrow and all your tomorrows.

Much planning occurs before a trip. We pick our destination and arrange for a place to stay. We get directions or we make airline reservations. We plan what we'll take with us. We buy new clothes or items needed on the trip and we spend time packing before we're ready to go. We put time and effort into planning trips yet often give little thought to the longest and most important trip we make - our journey through life. We let life happen to us instead of deciding what we want from life and how God wants us to use our time.

This year, 2012, let’s be more intentional about life. Prayerfully think about it. Ask God to reveal his will – even his “call” to you.

Here are steps to follow

1. Write down everything you would like to be or do or have. Let your imagination run wild and don't censor this sheet. Later you can narrow down the goals you will actually work on.

    

2. Divide your goals into areas: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Social, Spiritual, Financial, Family and Career. You will need goals in each area so your life will have balance. Write down each goal and under it write down why you want to achieve this goal.

3. Be specific about each goal. For example, change your vague statement, "I will exercise more" to the specific statement, "I will walk two miles a day."

4. Be positive about each goal. Many weight loss goals are doomed to failure because they are based on self disgust. Make certain it is something you really want rather than a "should."

5. Write it down. This commits you to following your plan. 

    

I hope these ideas will help you achieve your wildest dreams during 2012. 

“I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk; I will counsel you, keeping my eye on you.”  Psalm 32:8

Blessings, Dottie

How Can I Achieve My Dreams?

Most of us dream of achieving all sorts of goals. We want to find a better job, lose weight, keep our home clean and our possessions organized, read the Bible, spend more time in prayer, join the Y and keep fit, take piano lessons or art lessons or golf lessons. We have many plans in our head that never happen. Our dreams won’t happen unless we set clear, specific goals and then—just do it. The Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland said: "If you don't know where you're going, then any road will get you there.” Below are the steps that apply to most goals.

1. You must set a goal. Decide what road you will follow.  Write down each specific goal. Writing it down commits you to a clear decision. For example, say your goal is to get your house or apartment cleaned up and rid of clutter. 

2. Decide when you will do this. For example, you might decide to clean for four hours every Saturday. Or you might decide to spend an hour every day at 4 pm putting things away and getting organized.

 3. Tackle one thing at a time. This may be one room at a time or even one drawer at a time. Throw out junk. Put away items, arranging things so you can find them. For example all socks in one drawer or things filed alphabetically.

4. Take difficult steps by recognizing the benefits. For example, say you have trouble letting go of things. Think of the savings of not having to store, clean or take care of the items you get rid of.  In addition, someone else can use your castoffs. Most of us have stuff we rarely or never use.

5. Take charge of your childish side. If you have a history of procrastinating or not finishing projects you may be at war with yourself. One part of you wants to accomplish things but the other side is lazy or tired or rebellious. You will be more content if you take charge and complete projects. Decide to over rule the childish side of yourself. Set realistic goals about this, being kind to the kid side of you. Work for an hour – then take a break and rest, for example.

I hope these ideas help you set and accomplish your goals.

“No one can serve two masters.” Matthew 6:24

Blessings, Dottie

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