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The Key to a Better Year
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Spiritual Growth

The Key to a Better Year

December 30, 2014
-
Posted by Cindi

Are you dreaming of something you’d like to see happen in this next year?  I hope so.

To have something to look forward to keeps us going — whether it’s a financial goal like saving enough money to take a family vacation, or a personal goal like becoming more healthy, earning a promotion at work, or spending more time with your children or grandchildren.

I have found that the best way to make changes and improve your life from year to year is to go step-by-step into some positive goal-making as you move into the new year.

Here is how I do it and perhaps these five simple steps will help you:

Step 1:  Reflect on the past year. What accomplishments did you make this past year? (Did you pay off some bills, attend an exercise class at least 3 days a week, draft a book you’d like to someday publish?) What would you like to do again this year? On the flip side, what didn’t go so well? What needs to improve? What was missing from your life? By taking a good long look at where you were in the past year, you can set tangible goals for where you want to be at the end of this next year. For instance, I met many of my financial and physical goals, but I wasn’t as consistent in achieving some professional goals. And I felt I could be a lot more disciplined….rising earlier and working smarter (and getting distracted less) so I make better use of my time working full time here at home.

Step 2: Make goals, not resolutions. Resolutions tend to be negative (“I resolve to never indulge in that habit again) or daunting (“I resolve to give up sweets and lose ten pounds). Instead, think positively and set tangible, positive goals in front of you. (“I’d like to complete 200 exercise classes this year so I feel better and younger by the time the year ends.”) Doesn’t that sound more inviting? (Well, the “better and younger” part, probably, but not the “e-word” right?) Be specific in your goal and think about the benefit of achieving it so you keep the desired outcome in front of you.

Step 3: Write them down and review them often.  Studies show that just writing down a goal increases the likelihood of achieving it by 42 percent!  Wow. Write away. And don’t be afraid to write down several goals…or write down one goal, several times. 🙂

Step 4: Schedule a daily or weekly step toward accomplishing your goal. Commit to doing one thing each day or each week to get to your specified goal.  For instance, I completed reading only two books this past year. (For me, that’s pathetic. I usually read one book a month or at least one book a quarter. I started several, but finished only two — the last week of December when I realized I hadn’t completed half of what I started when it came to book reading.) So this next year, it is a priority to me to finish reading at least four books, in four particular topics.  And I plan to do that by scheduling reading time in my calendar every week  so I can complete a devotional book to grow closer to God, a marriage book to grow closer to my husband, a book on managing finances to help meet my financial goals, and a book to grow me professionally in my area of expertise.

Step 5: Commit it to God. Finally, as you set your goals, commit them to God. Proverbs 16:3 says “Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.” God has a way of honoring what we surrender to Him. And He sometimes turns those goals and commitments into something far bigger or better than we had imagined. Trust Him. He has your best  at heart.

I’d love to know your top 1 or 2 goals for the new year.  Let me know in the comment section below and I’ll offer some encouraging words or verses for you so you can keep that goal in front of you all year.

 

December 30, 2014
5 Comments
Cindi
Cindi McMenamin is an award-winning author and national speaker who helps women find strength for the soul. She has nearly 35 years experience ministering to women and inspiring them to let God meet their emotional needs, grow stronger through their alone times, and pursue their dreams with boldness.
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5 Comments

on The Key to a Better Year.
  1. Linda Ford
    January 1, 2015 @ 1:42 pm
    -
    Reply

    ~~My three goals for 2015 began in December 2014…to forgive my stepdaughter for hurtful words/actions in the past, and to get past my negative feelings toward her. I wrote her a letter and sent it after Christmas, and have my husband’s support. She is not a believer and we pray daily for her salvation.
    ~~My second goal is to sell an antique car my dad left me. The car is in parts and is 400 miles away in my brother’s garage. God has started helping me get started with a couple of connections.
    ~~My third goal is to sell timber off the land my father left me. God has started guiding me in that effort. I pray I hire the right timber consultant, get an honest price, and the process moves forward without major problems. The land is 400 miles away.
    Please pray that I will accomplish these goals in God’s timing and His Way! Thank you and amen!

    • StrengthSoul
      January 1, 2015 @ 8:46 pm
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      Reply

      You have great goals, Linda. Especially the one about forgiving your stepdaughter. I’m confident you will live more lightly and freely with that burden of unforgiveness behind you and no longer weighing you down. Remember, my friend, forgiveness is not contingent upon her acceptance or response. I’m proud of you for taking that step and doing the Christlike thing. Lord, give Linda direction, discernment, and discipline to accomplish those goals of pulling together things in her family. May she sense Your wisdom and Your presence every step of the way.

  2. Amber Paulsen
    January 7, 2015 @ 12:11 pm
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    Reply

    2 goals for 2015 for me:
    1) Set up a website for me for writing – one that glorifies God and is a vessel of His love, Truth, and freedom to help other women – and along the lines of writing – write one blog or article per month (and submit some of these articles to reach broader audience.
    2) Be strategic about saving money. My husband and I are good at living debt free but need to be better about saving/investing. Praying God gives us wisdom. I know part of it is because we give away about 15-20% of our income – so part of the reason is because we are generous. Yet I know God wants us to take care of ourselves too.

  3. Chery
    January 17, 2015 @ 8:52 pm
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    Reply

    Okay, so this is kinda funny. The first two goals I wrote (on December 31st) for this year are regarding your books! I want to finish the two I have. Which is a bit of a cheat, because I only have a few pages left in one. My second goal is to read “When a Woman Inspires Her Husband”. To grow closer to God and my husband. In fact, we were recently discussing marriage and I’d like to draw attention to page 34, “Calling Me Your Husband”, of your devotional, “God’s Whispers to a Woman’s Heart”. I read that just after our e-mail conversation, over and over and over…so good! Also, you thanked me for using your devotional again this year, which was very sweet. But, what I have discovered is that even though I’ve read it/used it, I am finding the second time around, (which I actually think is my third time around) they feel like they apply in a whole new way because of what and where my life is now compared to last year. Pretty cool! Just goes to show what a GREAT devotional it is! Thanks for all your hard work Cindi:-)

    • StrengthSoul
      January 18, 2015 @ 2:28 pm
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      Reply

      Thank you, Chery, for being such a faithful and enthusiastic reader. You are an author’s dream! 🙂

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