Tag: newyearsresolution

Why You Aren’t Reaching Your Goals

Its a new year, vision board parties are in full swing, and many of you (including myself) have a list of goals you want to achieve in 2019.  My list was surprisingly not as long this time around, but I still managed to fill up close to two pages with every little thing I could think of that I would like to accomplish.

If you’ve followed my personal blog or youtube channel, I shared in December the top 5 things I learned in 2018, many of them centering around growth, discipline, and hard work that led to some pretty successful accomplishments. What I realized during that time was, when it comes to goal setting, we typically don’t have a plan of action on how to reach our desired outcome. And when this happens, we are left at the end of the year wondering why we weren’t able to achieve any, or most of our goals. According to U.S News, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February, and when you think about it that statistic makes sense.

I’ve been in that same position countless time, often wondering why it was so hard to change my lifestyle and reach new goals I set forth at the beginning of the year. Which is why I made some changes in 2018 that I hope will resonate with you today.

Now, I’m not a goal setting expert, but after reaching about 75% of my goals in 2018 I have a few lessons that I think can benefit someone else in 2019. Of course, there will be many additional things to consider when trying to reach your individual goals, but here are five things you should definitely think about regardless of what you are trying to achieve:

1. Write the vision, make it plain

Habakkuk 2:2-3 reads “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (NLT). This particular scripture has been a favorite of mine since 2013 and for good reasons.

When I came across it, a few weeks before graduating with my Bachelors Degree, I wasn’t sure what my next steps would be post-grad. Granted, I was headed to Bible College in a month to pursue a ministry degree, there were so many areas of my life that still seemed unclear on how I would ultimately achieve my goals of going to graduate school one day and becoming a professor. What I did in that moment was write a letter to myself – (more like a vision statement) of where I saw myself in 5-10 years. Unknown to me at the time, writing that vision was an act of faith, with the scripture to remind me of God’s promise to bring it to pass someday even when things seemed to be going in a different direction.

The act of writing down any vision is 2-fold. It is a demonstration to ourselves and to God that we believe in the desire He has placed in our heart even if our current circumstance does not align with what we write down. It also is an acknowledgment that we believe that God will one day bring it to pass. And now, two years into my PhD with only two more years to go, I can testify that the vision I wrote down 7 years ago has come to pass and will continue to manifest itself in even greater ways!

2. Meditate on the why

When we write down our vision and goals, a lot of us will stop there. But I think its important to then meditate on why you want to achieve that thing. The meditation (or reflecting process) allows you to evaluate if this is something you truly desire and also the magnitude of what it will require from you to get there. For instance, during the meditation phase, we can ask ourselves why do we want to achieve this goal? Is it to prove something to someone else? A passion of ours we can’t seem to let go of? Or, is it a lifestyle change that needs to be made? Whatever the case may be, meditating on your goals reveals your true intentions and will also reveal what it will require to get there (i.e additional training, getting a degree, eliminating something from your daily routine, etc)

3. Create a Plan of Execution

So, you’ve wrote your vision and now you know why you want to achieve this goal and what it will take to get there. But, do you have a plan? A plan of execution is crucial and if you don’t make it to this phase you will likely not reach your goal. When you take time to make a plan of execution you can map out critical steps you’ll need to take that you didn’t realize before. For instance, if your goal is to save 1,000 this year you might start by mapping out how much money you plan to save each month based off how much money you have left over once you’ve paid monthly bills. Breaking your large goal into smaller ones makes it easier to track your progress and see what is working and what you can improve on.

Another important factor to consider in your plan is what to do when you mess up or fall behind. Because lets face it, the path will likely have some hills, valleys, zig-zags, or even cracks to trip you up. Will you start from the very beginning, or pick up where you left off? The important thing to remember here is recognizing you don’t have to stop if you mess up, but you may need to adjust or reevaluate your steps.

4. Reward yourself for milestones along the way

There is a misconception that rewards only happen for major milestones or when you finally reach your goal, but actually- each step along the way should be treated as a major milestone. When we reward ourselves for progress, our desire to keep going stays strong and we are more likely to continue when things get hard. Rewarding ourselves is also a way to stay disciplined. When I am working on major writing assignments, I like to set weekly writing goals, and when I meet those goals or get close to the word count I typically will reward myself with something small like buying a speciality drink from Starbucks or watching a few shows on Netflix since I don’t have time to do that during the week. Cutting out something from your lifestyle and rewarding yourself with it for progress towards your goal will keep you motivated and feeling good along the way!

5. Don’t give up until you reach your desired outcome,

We’ve heard this time and time again – don’t give up. But more importantly,  we shouldn’t give up until we the desired outcome. Striving to achieve something new in your life will not be easy because it will require small or major changes in your routine – but it is possible with discipline, consistency, and accountability. Rewarding yourself along the way for progress will keep you going, and believing that God will ultimately help you get there is the fuel you need to continue moving forward. And when you reach that goal. keep going! Don’t stop there but continue to challenge yourself to go after the dreams and desires that seem impossible.

“Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” – Mark 9:23 (NKJV)

What are some ways you’ve managed to reach your goals? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

Blessings,

Ja’La W.

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New Year, New Me?

Dear Gems,

It’s finally 2018!!!  A new year is here, so you know what that means: New Year’s Resolutions and the chance to start fresh. Many people have already thought of or written theirs down, and some people are even declaring the phrase “new year, new me” But is that really true? Does a new year automatically equate to a “new, you?”

I want to take some time to interrogate this popular phrase and wrap up our becoming series as we step into 2018. To recap, our last article in this series talked about trusting the gift within (you can read all about it here) and how we have to step out on faith to truly become the person God has created us to be. Just like the phrase “new year, new me” it will require more than a new year to become a better version of yourself, and I want to share a few ways how.

So what does it actually take?

For starters, recognizing that you are already called and chosen to greatness from birth is key. It’s hard to become a better version of yourself this year if you don’t believe that deep within, you are chosen, worthy, and loved by God. He has set you apart for himself and has called you to do great things. When you recognize that, you are well on your way to achieving great things. Don’t believe me? Check out our first article in the becoming series here.

Next, you must take inventory of yourself and begin to write the vision you have for your life down. Habakkuk 2:2-3 says, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, But at the end, it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.” One thing I love to do at the beginning of every year is to write out a vision plan. I dream big and don’ question if I am capable of achieving what I put on paper. I take some time in prayer and meditation and write what’s in my heart. By writing your vision down, you are taking a step of faith and declaring on paper that it will come to pass in God’s timing like Habakkuk 2:2 says. Even RG4C was birthed out of a vision I had in early 2014. I wote it down back then, but it took a few years of planning and preparation to see the manifestation – and now we are here!

I encourage you to do this periodically (and even now) if you haven’t. It is a great faith booster and a reminder of what you are working towards. As you pray over them and let God do his thing, you will be amazed at how He will give you the desires of your heart, at just the right time!

After you have written down your goals for the year, creating some doable actions steps is key. Many people fail to achieve their goals simply because they stop at the point of writing them down. It’s not enough to believe – you must take some action! If you are believing God to bless you with a better paying job,  what are some ways you can position yourself to receive it? Sitting at home or watching other people thrive on social media certainly won’t cut it. You have to actively start looking, spend time in prayer, and reach out to folks who may be able to help you. As you take a few steps, God will bless your diligence and is already preparing the way for you to step into that open door.

If you are desiring to start a business, what are you doing in your current season to cultivate your skills and brand? Dreaming about it and writing it down is one thing, but is not enough. God wants you to actively get ready for your blessing, and if that means writing out your business plan or watching online seminars about being an entrepreneur while you still work at your 9-5 or are in school full time, then so be it!  As you take leaps of faith and work on yourself, its one step closer to walking into the greatest season of your life.

In summary, yes its a new year, but in order to become a “brand new you” it will require some movement on your end. As you take steps of faith, even when it looks like the vision you have written is stagnant- God is on the move. Always remember, delay is not denial. Position yourself to receive your blessing in 2018 and watch God work!

Peace, Love, & Blessings,

Ja’La W.