This week's post is by my friend and writing partner, Terri Webster.
by Terri Webster
Do you struggle with procrastination? I’m raising my hand high
right now because I do.
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Do you struggle with procrastination?
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I have many great intentions and ideas. Unfortunately most
of them never make it from my head and into actionable reality.
It’s incredibly frustrating.
We are now already in the second week of 2017.
Have you set your goals yet for this year, made your New
Year resolutions? Do you have a plan?
I no longer make resolutions. I’ve tried setting goals, but
have only been about 50% successful.
What’s the difference between resolutions and goals?
A goal is a target; an end result that is reached over time.
A goal needs a detailed plan; steps on how you’re going to reach the desired
results.
A resolution in relation to a new year, is an intention;
something you intend to do immediately, but maybe without a laid-out plan.
You might make a resolution to stop smoking or begin an
exercise program. But without a step-by-step plan on how you’re going to keep
the resolution, will NOT put you among the 8% of people who actually achieve
their new-year resolutions. (www.statisticbrain.com)
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A goal needs a detailed plan.
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I’ve recently learned that successful goal-setting comes
from writing them down and then displaying them where you see them regularly.
Last year I set several goals. A couple of them I stuck with
and gained wonderful results and blessings. I had a plan in place, with the
complete realization that it would be God’s power that enabled me to carry
through with the plan.
I can’t tell you what the other goals were. I didn’t write
them down and make a plan.
On Sunday, January 1, 2017, I heard a powerful message at
church about setting goals. The key is writing them down with a plan of action.
Then make sure they’re posted in plain view for you to see daily.
The pastor outlined detailed prompts based on Luke 2:52,
which states, And Jesus grew in wisdom
and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Since our main goal is to be more like Jesus, this makes it
basic and simple.
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Grow as Jesus did, ie, gaining wisdom and
growing spiritually
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Grow as Jesus did in stature/body; our physical
state
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Grow as Jesus did socially with God and man.
Finding favor with God and people.
He ended it with these five words: “Don’t wait! Do it now!”
The pastor challenged us with a timeframe of writing down
your goals and plans within 24-48 hours. If you put it off, or wait until a
better time, the odds of completing your goals falls drastically.
If you wait until the
wind and weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never
harvest anything. Ecclesiastes 11:4
Wow! How many times have I waited until I thought there was
a better time?
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Writing down goals brings success.
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According to a Harvard study, those who had goals in their
heads, but didn’t write them down, earned about twice the amount of those who
had no goals at all. But those who had goals and wrote them down, earned ten times more than those who had no
goals, and those with goals only in their head.
I knew if I waited until my next day off or a “better time”
to write down my goals and make a plan, it wasn’t going to happen.
My pastor suggested to first clarify on paper what is
important to you. Make a list of what you value and what you want.
Once I did that and framed it with Luke 2:52, the rest
flowed out into an outline where everything fit on one page.
Under each category, i.e., Gaining Wisdom, Growing in Body
and Gaining Favor (Socially), I listed steps on how I was going to accomplish
each goal.
Within the first 24 hours my 2017 Goals and Plan of Action
was complete!
I am giddy with excitement because setting goals and
following through has been a major issue for me.
I’m staring down the tunnel of turning 60, in the
not-so-distant future. It’s time I follow through with what’s important to me
and achieving goals I’ve only talked about for years.
I hope you’re now encouraged to set your personal goals and
make a plan of action. It’s never too late. There’s no time like the present
because guess what…later will never come!
Don’t wait! Do it now!
I pray an abundance of His rich blessings on you as you sit
down in the next 24-48 hours and write down your goals and plan of action.
Here’s to a wonderful and fulfilling 2017!
Terri
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Terri Webster
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Terri began writing in her private journals as therapy to
cope with the pain and hardships of being a single mom. This grew into a
passion to write with a purpose.
She published “Markers for Single Moms: Finding God’s
Direction in the Chaos,” in 2013. She wrote and composed “When All Seems Lost”,
performed by Sara Oliver, which is the inspiration for her next book, “Prayer
Markers for Single Moms: When All Seems Lost.”
Other publications include stories for Chicken Soup for the
Soul and numerous feature articles for a local newspaper.
Terri founded Spring Ministries, Inc., in 2011, and is a
member of EMACW.
