What are you dreaming about?
As we say goodbye to 2024 and look with hope and anticipation to 2025, I encourage you to take action on your dreams and goals and make them a reality this year!
Setting goals is a deeply meaningful exercise as it motivates us, give us a sense of purpose and helps us feel accomplished. The Bible says that “Where there is no vision, the people perish” Prov 29:18. God wants to give us a greater vision of who He is and the plans He has for us “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jerem 29:11
So why do most of us struggle to achieve the goals we set for ourselves? Unattainable goals? Lack of the motivation to follow through? We don’t value the goal as much as we think we do. Circumstances beyond our control?
To mitigate these obstacles, our Goals should follow these 5 principles:
1. Connect every goal to a “why”.
When you spend time understanding the “why” that’s driving your actions, it’s easier to avoid distractions and focus on pursuing your goal. Naming your purpose also helps you:
Gain awareness of your vision
Better articulate your ideas to yourself and others
Decipher what you shouldn’t be doing
Prioritize what you should be doing
Discover your “why” by asking yourself: “I want to ____ so that I can ____.”
For example: “I want to build a profitable business so I can retire early and spend time doing things I love.” (The “why” is having the time and resources to do things you love.)
2. Break your goals down
Instead of setting one big goal, break them down into smaller goals that you can accomplish every day. Use a 90-day sprint to make your goals more attainable. For instance, if you want to read 50 books this year, figure out how many books you’d have to read in 90 days: ~10 books. Then, you can create a plan to attain the small goal you set.
3. Schedule “buffer time” for your goals.
One of the reasons we struggle to meet our goals is that we overestimate our capabilities and underestimate external factors that can affect us. One way to overcome this fallacy is to increase your estimated deadline by 25%. For instance, if you think launching the new website will take four weeks, set aside one extra week for any unexpected delays.
Another strategy is to “add intermittent milestones (think of them as mini deadlines) to keep you on track along the way.” For instance, set aside a few hours every day for focused work. Consider a regular check-in with stakeholders to ensure that projects are up to speed.
4. Don’t dwell on past failures.
If you didn’t meet your goals last year, don’t let that lower your confidence. Instead reflect on what worked and what didn’t and improve.
Celebrate the small wins. Suppose your goal last year was to read 36 books and you read only 10. Remind yourself that this is progress and proof that you’re capable of making a change for the better. You did achieve something, so celebrate that.
Think about “accidental” or related benefits. Sometimes, pursuing a goal is not about the destination, it’s about the journey. Ask yourself: What did I learn about myself while trying to reach my goal?
Ask for an objective analysis. Although you shouldn’t dwell on your failures, it is important to understand why you failed. One simple approach is to ask a friend or family member for a “post-failure autopsy.” Ask: “Why do you think I failed?” They may give you a reality check that will help you better understand yourself.
5. Daring Faith.
Goals aren’t just a statement of faith. They stretch your faith. The bigger your goal, the more your faith will be stretched. And that pleases God.
“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!" Ephes 3:20
Be bold, daring, fearless, and audacious! You got this!