Establishing Goals for 2012

Dreams

Goals

Purpose  

Objectives

Ambitions

All these words basically mean the same thing; we use them interchangeably as we go through life.  

As we are ending one year, and beginning another, many are thinking about what they hope to accomplish.  I have read numerous posts on this topic already and am positive I will read several more.   

Here are some of the things that have caught my attention so far:

1)       Do Not “TRY” to do something next year.  Determine you are going to DO it!  Saying we are going to TRY gives us an out, an excuse for not succeeding.  The analogy used related trying to Star Wars, when Yoda tells Luke “No. Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.”  For a full reading of this inspiring post go to:  http://michaelhyatt.com/the-difference-between-trying-and-doing.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+michaelhyatt+%28Michael+Hyatt%29

2)      As we go through the year we will undoubtedly feel small, dejected, insignificant and defeated.  But Trials only make us stronger.  A person true to their calling not only knows what they are hoping to accomplish, but also faces these challenges with the help of God and friends.  They realize they can’t always do things alone and they do not allow the challenges to break them; instead they use them to build upon.  There are two great posts I have read related to this: http://www.seanferrell.com/2011/12/

 http://danblackonleadership.info/2011/12/a-key-factor-to-sharpening-your-strengths/

3)      Realize you might not accomplish everything in one year.  Some things take time.  God sees the bigger picture. The point isn’t always to finish something, but to make the journey, to walk the path God would have you to walk and to not fear the unknown or view things from worldly logic.  Faith is just that - faith, it doesn’t have to make sense and it doesn’t have to have a completion date of one year!     “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 NIV.  Paul’s Goal wouldn’t end until death, but daily he had to make the choice to press on. 

4)      When establishing goals we need to really take the time to develop a plan and not just half-heartedly say:  “I’m going to do such and such this year.”  Anything worth doing is worth sitting down, plotting out and doing well.  "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? Luke 14:28 NIV.  To help develop a plan of action for finishing well Michael Hyatt posted this:  http://michaelhyatt.com/leaders-and-the-game-of-life.html

5)      Don’t beat yourself up over failed goals in the past.  You must move past failures to embrace future success.  Finish strong this year, it’s never too late!  http://joeandancy.com/2011/12/01/finish-2011-strong/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+joeandancy+%28Joe+Abraham+%26+Ancy+Joe+Blog+Posts%29

Overall, I see a theme of preparing, of trusting God and of asking for help along the way.  

I hope these words motivate you as they have me.  Please pass along any other inspirational posts/ ideas related to this topic.  

Question:  Have you started thinking about your upcoming goals?  Do you have a plan or are you simply going to “hope for the best”?