Tomorrow we’ll get into the practicals of goal setting, but today I want to give you some important principles to help you as you set your goals and work to achieve them.
I posted on my personal blog a few months ago about how my 7 year old, entirely on her own, read through the entire Bible (regular, full version, no picture Bible).
That’s a pretty big book. Especially for someone who, when she started, had only been reading for about a year.
(Please don’t think I’m some super spiritual, awesome mom. She’s just an awesome kid. In all my 34 years I’d never read through the Bible. Sad, but true.)
Not only has this challenged me spiritually but it’s also challenged my character.
I love that she just did it. She didn’t talk about doing it. She didn’t list the reasons why she couldn’t. She just did it.
One page at a time.
One page at a time. One step at a time. One dream at a time. That is how goals are accomplished.
How To Accomplish Nothing
There are so many things I’d like to do. But I get distracted.
I accomplish the mundane at the expense of the miraculous. I do the dishes instead of play with my kids. I read about everyone else’s life on Facebook instead of making my own memories. I workout halfheartedly instead of really pushing myself.
That’s how a 34 year old accomplishes nothing.
How To Accomplish The Amazing
Here’s how a 7 year old accomplishes the amazing.
1. Passion
She wasn’t really trying to check something off of her to do list. She just really loved reading the Bible.
Lesson: Don’t try to do something amazing just because it’s amazing or because other people want you to do it. Do something you’re passionate about.
2. Focus
We actually had to tell her many times to put the Bible down – to eat or get ready for school. It’s what she defaulted to doing in her free time. That was the book she was reading and she was going to read it until she was done.
Lesson: Everything you add to your plate dilutes your ability to accomplish the amazing. Simplify.
3. Plan
She didn’t follow any sort of pre-made reading plan, because she’s wonderfully innocent (and wise). She figured “it’s a book” – you start at the beginning and read to the end. She followed God’s reading plan.
Lesson: Don’t worry about how other people say you should do something. Take time to hear how God wants you to do it. Make a plan, write it down.
4. Be Faithful
She kept reading. Somedays she read a lot. Somedays she didn’t read at all. But she kept moving forward.
Lesson: Forward motion will ALWAYS get you to your destination.
Conclusion
Focus on things you are passionate about and be faithful – that is how your goals become your accomplishments.
And that’s true whether you’re 7 or 34 or 96.
Action Step
We’ll start working on creating our goals tomorrow, so if you haven’t created your mission statement yet, I encourage you to work on a rough draft tonight.
Setting goals without a mission statement is like mapping a route without a destination. Doesn’t work.
Final Conclusion. Really.
I just wanted to say how completely proud I am of all of you. I love all the action you’ve taken. Mission statements, exercise programs, Bible reading, prayer, planning…
You all are awesome. The choices you are making now will affect your family for generations to come. Well done.
Leave a Comment
Wow! This is increbily inspiring. I can realate to this so much, I make plans, print up schedules and timelines, and it just doesn’t get done. You’re exactly right on. Your daughter, used God’s plan and accomplished something so many of us spend more time TRYING to figure out how to accomplish.
.-= jeana´s last blog ..Spring Mantel =-.
Jeana,
I’m totally guilty of the same thing. I love to plan, make charts, schedules etc… but more often than not, I just need to start.
What a great post! It’s just what I needed to read today. I’m printing it out now.
Thank you!
You’re welcome Phyllis!
I am not worthy!
So impressive. I lack so much in the way of follow thru. Like right now, I am supposed to be turning off a pod cast and going to fold laundry while I watch the biggest loser. but i checked my reader, found this post, read it and am now commenting……aieeeeeeeeeeee………
Jamee,
And I’m supposed to be writing a blog post, but then somehow I found this great song by Taylor Swift about her mom, so I had to watch the video and then I saw this other great music video and then…
I wish I was as focused as my 7 year old too. ๐
After exercising and reading my scriptures in the morning, I am so ambitious in planning the rest of my day. But then my kids wake up and it all seems to get lost. Perhaps I need to step back and simplify and keep my focus, like your daughter. Thanks for the perspective.
Jessica,
You’re welcome. Thank YOU for commenting. ๐ I’ll be praying for focus for you today.
LOL Jessica! Same thing here, in the evenings I have all these great plans and ideas of things to do with the kids the next day, then they wake up and have their own plans of what to do with their day…
[…] is my passionate one. She does amazing things. Like this. She inspires […]
I would like to post a link to this post on a future entry that I’m hoping to do near the end of December? Would that be OK? What kind of credit do I need to provide? What an awesome encouragement your daughter’s story is.
[…] first part of this post about her daughter made me say, “Yes! […]
Thanks for letting me include a link to your post on my site. I wrote “The Wisdom of a Child” today and included your daughter’s story as one of my inspirations.
[…] needed to be inspired in my goal setting – and a 7 year old […]
[…] needed to be inspired in my goal setting – and a 7 year old […]