...With Goals

It's the season of making goals. Often around this time we call them "New Years Resolutions." They tend to turn more into the January joke more than anything though. If you're anything like me, you have good intentions and a bright hope for the future. You make a goal and follow through with it...for a few days or weeks at least.

Why does that happen? What makes the difference, when a goal is made, that determines whether or not you'll succeed in your firm resolution?

Before we set a goal we should pray and meditate about it. Ask ourselves how important it is to us and how resolved we are to complete our goal. After we've determined the worthy goals opposed to the "time wasters" we need to write them down. I've heard it said that a goal not written down is merely a dream.

Along with writing down a goal, we must have a firm path on how we will achieve that goal. Fitzhugh Dodson said, "without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination." Set goals, attainable goals, and make a list of how you will accomplish it.

I was once talking to my sister about a goal she had set. She had about three months until she graduated high school and wanted to accomplish her "Personal Progress Award". I asked her what she was working on and how she would finish the award. Shrugging her shoulders she said "eh, I don't know."

Failing to plan, is planning to fail. Without setting a course, being determined, and knowing the reasons behind our goals, they are nothing but hopes and fading dreams. So before making your "New Years Resolutions" this year, reflect on how committed you are to them and what you can do to follow through with your goals so that they can be more than just good intentions.