When we don't make plans we become like a
twig on a fast moving river...bouncing hither and thither at the whim
and the direction of the current. Tossed to and fro!
We tend to swing from self absorption to
pull down your pants and skate on the ice (My husband's quote) and wing
it. So can we find the healthy middle? How can we intentionally
effect change in our lives?
I believe that by identifying our vision and our goals-it keeps us moving in a planned step by step way toward our dreams.
First Step: Vision. Identify
values and the desires within your heart. Check them. Do they align
with where you thought they were? Do your values and desires reflect
your beliefs? What is the direction we want to go? Where do we want to
end up?
Mission Statement: Do you have one? Does your family have one?
Think about it. If we are in charge of managing us and our lives then shouldn't we know where we are taking them?
Second Step: Identify priorities
and challenges. List them out. Let's say for the next six months or
year. It doesn't have to be complicated...just list them out.
Third Step: Identify strengths
and resources. Why? This is a critical step for any goal. To
identify what our strengths and resources are gives us a concrete
reminder that we have what it takes. It also helps us identify the best
ways for us to meet our goals...within our strengths.
Fourth Step: Write out our
goals that are functional, positive, realistic and measurable. Make
sure to write a goal for faith, family, financial, career, garden etc.
Be specific. Who will do what...when and how. Finally give it a
timeline and how you will know that you have met it.
For an example. I want to be debt
free. That aligns with my beliefs and values. My priority for the next
12 months is that I will pay all of my debt except for my mortgage. If
I left it at that then I will get to the end of 2012 and find that I
made minimal progress. So my goal includes in the What/When/Who part
each debt and what date it will be paid off by. I've set it up so that I
have to note progress at the end of each month.
Do I meet all of my goals? Not hardly.
But I'm living in a more intentional and focused way and meeting more
of them all the time!
