Excel 2015- tips to goal setting

Everyone resolves to improve at least one aspect of their life every new year. Gym memberships  soar in the first month with people looking to make lifestyle changes in the new year only to lose steam before the second month. Its a vicious cycle that occurs every year as only few people stick to their plans up till the end of the year. It was a quagmire I found myself too until I discovered the strategy for achieving ones goals. 

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For a number of people 2014 was rife with  pockets of challenges but was also laden with buckets of opportunities.  Many people did not achieve all they set out to achieve last year but 2015 is another opportunity to achieve your goals. Don't despair about the errors of the past year but learn from them and restrategise your goals in the New year.  

As you sit down to make those ever important and necessary resolutions, here are certain facts to consider..

• Resolutions are not wishes but visions and plans for an effective and impact life.
• Wishes are left to happen-stance but the fruits of resolutions are products of concerted and concious efforts 
• It must be written: "write the vision down" Habakkuk 2:2.  Writing is a system of documentation that can be used as references.
• Make it plain: your plan must be clear, easy to understand, well articulated and clutter free. You don't need to have too much going on. leave the jibber jabber to Einstein and other braniacs.

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• Read it out to yourself not in future tense but describe your achievement in the NOW e.g I am a healthy eater. "with the heart one believes and is justified and with mouth one confesses and is saved " Romans 10:10 
• It requires commitment. if its desirable then put your and heart back into it.
• Discipline is crucial to its success.
• Determination means firmness of purpose. You must be resolved to achieve your goals. Read Daniel resolve not to defile himself in Daniel 1:8
• Consistency: this is the ability to do right thing everyday without giving up no matter the situation or prevailing circumstance. Just keep at your goals.
• Invest your time and resources into it.

• review your progress along the way
• get someone to go the journey with you; Share your goals with someone who's passionate on impactful living as you.
• Envisage your reward. "Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him,endured the cross,despising the shame,and is set down at the right hand of the throne God" Hebrews 12:2

If you love reward, then it pays to stick to your goals. It will not only benefit you but will also inspire and positively impact lives around you. THAT MAKES IT WORTHWHILE.

The other underlying principles are prayer, faith, and grace "in their hearts humans plan their course but the lord establishes their steps" proverbs 16:9.

"in all your way submit to him and he will make your path straight" Proverbs 3:6.

Little distractions

"Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" Hebrews 12:2 "Josh, we are home", I called out as the train pulled into the station. I struggled with my shopping bags while managing to pull Joshua out of the train at the same time. Something wasn't right I thought as I alighted but I couldn’t put my finger to it. I quickly looked around me. I had sat in the last coach so it took a moment to walk to the station building. "Something is definitely wrong I muttered to myself and hurried towards the next available coach. Everything looked as it ought to until I got closer to the station building "What station is this? I asked the traffic controller who was right in front me. "Kildare, what stop are you going to? He asked. "Athy, I answered, quickly jumping back into the train with Josh and my plenty bags. I had gotten off at the wrong stop! I've been taking the Waterford train for the past seven years and consider myself King of the route but today I found myself missing the way. All it took was a simple distraction. I'd been watching a video on my phone and enjoying some good old mother-son bonding time with Joshua that I'd not noted the stations as the train zoomed on. When the train pulled into Kildare, I just assumed it was my expected destination and jumped out into the cold with Joshua. Thank God the train pulled into Kildare station ahead of schedule and had to wait a while if not I would have been stranded and made to wait for the next Waterford bound train which was an hour away. An hour wait isn't too bad you may think but at that time I had a very hungry little boy who couldn't wait to get home to dinner and prayer meeting to get to. Being stranded with a hungry boy wasn't part of my plans for the day. Everything was hey ok until the seemingly harmless on board entertainment became an unwelcome distraction. Lesson Learnt! It takes a simple distraction to lose the plot in 2013.

Even the most carefully laid plans and resolutions can go up in flames if not well adhered to. Sometimes the distractions we allow are harmless enough but the consequences dire. You cheat on a diet once or twice and believe me its hard to get back on track. I've purposed not to be slothful or presumptuous this year. It’s not going to be easy but I'm ready to go the whole nine yards. I'm determined to MAKE IT. Next time I'll leave the entertainment for later and concentrate on the journey. Ecclesiastes 3:1 there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens. I was lucky to get back on the train but on some of life's issue it might not be that simple. So take heed this 2013. FOCUS IS THE KEY. KEEP TO THE GOAL. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT Picture curtesy www.zdnet.com