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.

A New Beginning

Hurray 2013 is here!! It seemed far away but finally it is here. This is despite the rumours of the world coming to an end in 2012 (no thanks to that epic disaster movie aptly titled 2012, a film about the world coming to an end at that particular year! Thank God it didn't end because poor me did not have any food in storage ahead of the "anticipated" volcanic eruption, ice age, flooding, earthquake, alien invasion etc. hmmm, I'm sure hunger would have gotten me first before the disasters or aliens, serious! Note to self: stock the house with ENOUGH GRUB before the next probable apocalypse or alien invasion whichever comes first).Thankfully, against the odds we survived yet again. It is something to celebrate. Experiencing the first day of a new year is so exciting as it means YOU ARE ALIVE. Alive to what? Alive to HOPE, alive to NEWNESS, alive to OPPORTUNITIES. It’s not a time to mull over past mistakes and opportunities missed but a time for a fresh start, a new beginning.Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, Phil 3:15 There is something fascinating about new things. The fresh smell that accompanies a freshly purchased product, the tear-rubber feeling of a new car and the smell of new leather, no old musty or rusty smell, nothing but FRESHNESS. I LOVE NEW! That is what 2013 represents - fresh page to make happen whatsoever you desire and dream of. In Gen 1, God was presented with a blank canvas to work on. He could have left it blank but He chose to create the world and everything therein. He also had the prerogative to create anything anyhow but he had a plan, a plan he followed meticulously for six days before He rested on the seventh day. I also observed that God did not overstretch Himself but did as much work as could each day. He also made a point to commend Himself and His creation at the end of each day.Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. Gen 1:31 . In 2013, I've decided to follow heaven's strategy of creation, to make happen my desires and not leave my life to chance. There is a saying that "IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL". I don’t want that to be my story for 2013. A lot of people including me experienced pain, tragedy, disappointment, betrayal, stagnancy, loss etc. in 2012 but that is yesterday today is a brand new day. Don't let the pain of yesterday ruin your today and the opportunities it brings. LET GO AND LET GOD. Instead of allowing Chaos to continue to reign in our lives just at it did in the beginning of the world before God took charge, this is the time to TAKE CONTROL, BE CREATIVE, EMBRACE THE NEW. I'm grateful for 2012 but expectant in 2013. Let's scale new heights together, it’s a brand new year. Lets live and not simply exist this year. WELCOME TO 2013. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Alone in the dark

He shuddered in his coat despite the warmth in the church.It was a packed service as a lot of families had turned out en mass to herald the new year.An albino middle aged man in the opposite pew kept snoring, oblivious to the drone of the electric heater by his side. "why did he come to church if he'd only sleep through the service and disturb other people with his loud snoring" *kola thought to himself. The couple beside the snoring man fidgeted on their seats but were unsure whether to change seats or wake the snoring man.But that would be an herculean task as even the aisles were occupied.
He glanced at his wristwatch.It was 5 minutes to midnight.5 minutes to 2010. A new year, a new beginning but he was sad.It didn't seem like the start of new things for him but an extension of old feelings mainly hurt and loneliness. His breath caught in his chest and he gasped slightly. He pulled his jacket closer and dug his fingers deep into its pockets.
He hated the holidays as it serves as a reminder of the emptiness in his heart.Life had been difficult since he lost his wife to cancer. He'd been inconsolable and vowed never to go to church again. He didn't believe in the gibberish those over dramatic new age pastors drooled.He'd been proved right. Only a wicked God would take his *Kacy* from him.
Its been 3 years since the cruel hands of death snatched his beloved from him. 3 years of misery and intense heartache.He tried to fill the emptiness with booze and women but they only made him more hollow. His apartment was filled with flashy and expensive ornaments but nothing could fill the void in his heart. It felt dark and heavy in his world. He had come tonight on a whim instead of socialising at his company's annual end of year party.
At the stroke of midnight,the pastor cried out "happy new year" and the church was agog with celebration and laughter. Most people left their seats to hug and greet friends and family .No one noticed the man in the gray suit,alone in his seat with tears streaming down his face. it started as a silent cry with gentle shudders until his whole body shook with the tremors of his emotions. He left his seat and staggered into the street confused at the myriad of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. "I just want to die" he cried as the tears racked him. He felt warm arms wrap around him and looked into the brown eyes of the usher that had offered him a candle earlier. she'd seen him crying and had rushed after him when he ran out of the church. kola doesn't know how long they stayed in that position-him crying and she praying.he only felt the intense peace that washed over him and a burden lifted from his shoulders.
It felt good to have someone to share his feelings with and better still to know Jesus is still in the business of healing wounds. His presence might seem intangible and faraway but He felt so real to the heartbroken man that night.
There is a vacuum in everyone that material positions can never fill except Jesus.Human wants are insatiable.We want more of everything that is why capitalism to a large extent is arguably a success.
Over the years, many of us have faced some sort of trials, setbacks, or disappointments. Some of us have even experienced failure. But in spite of all of that, God has prepared this year, this moment in time for you to have a new beginning.
*The enemy's objective is to keep you locked in yesterday, the place where the pain originates from. God has a different plan for your life. He knows all about the things that have gone wrong*. He understands your pain. The bible records that God took on human form that He might empathize with us.we do not serve a dead god that is afar off but a living God.
2010 is a page unwritten. A chance to write something beautiful about yourself. Challenge your mountain.that seemingly difficult situation is yours for the taking.
Trust in God.Reach beyond the pain and embrace a second chance at a better life.I HAVE!!