If you’re like me then you’re thinking, “Wow, we’re already in the month of February. This year is flying by.” I recently celebrated my birthday in January. During my birth month, I create my goals for the year. I think it’s a great time to reflect upon the accomplishments of the preceding year and think about what I want to accomplish during the current year. Not all the goals from 2019 were reached, so this is the time I decide whether any unmet goals will be carried over. Thought is also given as to why the goal wasn’t reached. Was the goal too big to be accomplished within a year? What were the hindrances? Was it because of laziness, or over-extending myself? I know that I didn’t accomplish a particular unmet goal because I never really set out to do it. I had a plan, but didn’t do, not even one of the steps! This is despite knowing and believing it is a God-given goal. For me, attempting a goal means I can’t stop until it is reached. If I never attempt it, then I can’t fail, right? Not necessarily, you do realize Failure is in the eye of the beholder. Not completing a goal after starting it, is not failure! Some of you may recall one of Aesop’s fables titled “The Tortoise and the Hare” It’s the story of how the tortoise and the hare are in a race. They are unequally matched. The hare is quite confident he’ll be the winner of the race. So, he decides to take a nap after getting so far ahead of the tortoise. The tortoise prevails and wins the race because he doesn’t give up. Slow and steady wins the race. So how does this relate to pursuing your goals, you ask? Setting a realistic goal and making steps towards it, is better than not having set a goal at all.
Yes, this unmet goal will be included on this year’s goal form. I’ve already started making moves towards achieving it. For me, if it is not accomplished by the year’s end, I will still look at it as an accomplishment because it will be a goal in progress.
Finally, I know from experience, that written goals with a plan stand a much better chance of being accomplished, than those which remain in our head. One of the differences between a goal and a resolution—goals have a plan attached. Although the year is going by at lightening speed, it’s never too late to create a goal(s) for yourself, for your family. Why not start today? Here’s a starter—where would you like to see yourself one- year from today? (Health and Career Wise, Physically, Relationally, and/or Spiritually. etc.) Create a plan for getting there, identify an accountability partner and see what happens.
PS: I’d be happy to share my goal plan form with you. You can email me at raphahouseccc@gmail .com.
