The road leading to a goal does not separate you from the destination; it is essentially a part of it. ~Charles DeLint
I will get into shape. I will be a better steward through healthy spending. I will help out in my community through volunteer service. I will be a better partner, child, sibling, and friend. I will exercise regularly. I will pray more and become more active in church.
Sound familiar? If so, you're one of millions who made New Year's resolutions this year. And by about February, if you're like most, you’ll either give up on your resolutions or you'll be about ready to quit.
New Year's resolutions, however, are nothing more than goals in disguise. Our problem is we often treat resolutions as desires (I want to get in shape) or promises (I will be a better friend), whereas goals are a first step toward creating a plan; and without a plan we never reach our goals.
As true in our personal lives…is true in our church life, which is what has prompted the Board of Directors to steer us in the direction of determining our church goals in 2010 rather than merely make promises.
So this year, as you select a goal or two, take the time to develop a plan because the plan will be the road leading you to your goal!
There are six steps one can take toward making a plan:
1. Be specific. Making a resolution to grow in Christ is too vague. If you wish to spiritually grow, then ask yourself a few questions: "How will you know when you've grown?" "What does spiritual growth look like?" "What steps will you take to foster this growth?"
Take a vague resolution such as “I want to spiritually grow in Christ” and make it more specific: I will attend at least one small group at the church in 2010. I will devote at least one hour a week (on Thursdays) to read one devotional book. I will take ten minutes every Monday to pray. A goal should not only express a desire, but the means to accomplish it; and start small and build upon your successes. After one month of successfully meeting your specifics, you may be able to add to your plan. I will now pray at least ten minutes every Monday and Friday.
2. Be realistic. If you have a goal to “pray more in 2010,” but do not currently pray beyond your attendance at a worship service, then be realistic as to when and how you will pray. For instance, if you get up at 5:00 am to get ready for and drive to work and don’t arrive home until 6:30 pm and are in bed by 9:30 pm, it may be unrealistic to say you are going to get up at 4:30 am to pray or you will pray before you go to bed.
In either situation, you may find your sleep schedule may be impossible to change and your resolution lost after two days or one week! Try taking ten minutes in your car before you begin driving home and crack open a devotional and/or bible and take a few moments to read and pray.
A Christian counselor, Leslie Vernick, once said, "If our goals or resolutions begin to overwhelm us…perhaps that is a sign. …we are not living within the limits and boundaries…God have created for us. We are human beings. We all need to eat, sleep, and relax. Yet, at times we push ourselves in [ways] that [ignore] these realities at least temporarily. Then, when we can't do it anymore…we give up. Instead, we should reassess our goal."
3. Include a way to measure your success. A good goal will answer the questions of what, how, and when; it's measurable.
A most popular New Year resolution is to “get into shape” or “lose weight.” Again, these are vague notions that may be easily and quickly abandoned. First, if you wish to get into shape, do you own exercise equipment that you will actually use or do you belong to a gym that you will actually attend? There has to be a plan and a place to get into shape.
Second, what does getting into shape mean for you? Losing ten pounds? Improving your diet? Fitting into your summer outfits of three years ago? Well, fashion changes from year to year and so do our bodies as we age. So don’t compare yourself to someone twenty years younger or older than you, or for that matter, two! Don’t compare yourself to anyone, but do set measurable goals that work for you!
For instance, instead of saying, “I have to lose weight,” say “I have a goal of losing seven pounds by Easter Sunday.” This goal is reasonable: three and a half months to lose one and a half pounds a month. Plenty of time to follow the next step…
4. Think short-term and long-term. Short-term goals (losing 1.5 pounds a month) allow us to experience success at smaller intervals while working toward long-term goals (shedding seven pounds).
With weight loss often comes life changing behaviors, such as diet and exercise. Making a big list of do’s and don’ts and forcing yourself to follow them all at once may be a set-up for abandoning the primary goal. For instance if I chose to say, “I am losing seven pounds” by cutting out caffeine, carbohydrates, sugar, soda, eating after 7:30 PM, eating half my normal portion and exercising five times a week for at least and hour each time I have set myself up for failure. Pick one and slowly add in the others.
Spiritually growing as a disciple of Jesus in 2010 isn’t about attending church every week, being active in at least one church ministry, attending a bible study, and reading the bible every day for half an hour while praying for the other half when you didn’t do any of that now!
Spiritually growing is about becoming more and more transformed into the person God is calling you to become…step by step.
Create short-term and long-term goals toward growth. Add one item at a time to your plan to meet your goal. I will commit to making church at least every other week with a goal by May; and I will join one small group bible study in 2010.
5. Be flexible. If you create the goal to pray more and make the plan that you must do that in the morning, what happens when you over-sleep? Create the option to say, I will endeavor to pray before I shower for work, however I know that I am able to take ten minutes at lunch to find some quiet space so that I do pray every day as I desire.
6. Review periodically. Regular review allows us to stay on course, track our progress, and adjust course as necessary. Try recording your goals in a datebook/planner/PDA so they're accessible wherever you go. Create a section marked "goals," and list them by specific objectives and category: personal/spiritual; marriage/family; professional; ministry; house/projects.
Then set aside one day every three months for reviewing your goals. On those "review dates," check off the items you've accomplished. (What satisfaction!) Next, look at what remains, and prayerfully ask the following questions:
- How am I doing? Am I still on course?
- Which goals am I encouraged about?
- Which are frustrating me? Can I be more flexible?
- Have circumstances changed since I set this goal?
- Is my goal realistic? Specific? Measurable?
- If not, what could I change to make it more so?
- Is this the right season of life to work on this?
- Have I prayed about this goal?
Based on your answers, make the necessary changes, even crossing off objectives that are too ambitious or impossible to fulfill because of changing circumstances. Finish this time of personal reflection by prayerfully committing your remaining goals to God. Regular review helps you stay on track, and guard against over-commitment and burnout.
Sometimes it may help to review your goals with someone else. Often, another set of eyes can catch what you fail to see; and having someone to encourage you and help you stay accountable creates wonderful opportunities for teamwork and relationship building.
If you're a resolution dropout take heart! Goal setting's a liberating alternative. It helps you realize objectives are simply tools, not promises or laws, and tools are something we can implement anytime. As counselor Leslie Vernick says, "Don't let falling off track keep you from your goals. Dust yourself off and get right back on track." Leave yesterday's failures behind, and treat today as a brand-new beginning. You'll be glad you did.
