In January when we set our goals and focus word or verse, we had no idea how far off the rails this year would go. But, God knew.
My focus verse for 2020 is Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
And my focus word: PRAY
This was a screenshot I took of my phone several weeks ago. Isn’t that an awesome reminder? God knew what I would need to help me focus on him during the stress of this pandemic.
On a recent social media post, I asked “What are you waiting for?” So often, excuses creep into our mind that hold us back from obedience to God’s calling or from becoming the person we are meant to be. I called these the “when” days–when I have more money, when the kids are older, when I’m not so busy, etc. But we aren’t guaranteed the “when” days, so we must work to live our best life today. Whether that looks like striving for more or slowing down to appreciate your life, I want to encourage you to start living the purposeful life God has planned for you.
Goals help us stay focused and intentional about our everyday life.
So, we are a little over mid-way through the year. How are you doing on your 2020 and monthly goals? If you’ve gotten distracted, it’s a great time for a reset.
If you didn’t set goals for 2020, it’s not too late! You can sign up to download my free 2020 Goal Setting Worksheets and finish your year out strong.
Review your annual goals
If you have made progress on them, that is great! Stay on course and do your best to achieve the remaining goals by year-end.
The shutdown did actually help me finish one of my goals and it was one that I may not otherwise have completed. With some extra time at home, I became determined to organize my digital photos–a daunting goal I had been putting off for 8 years!
Look back at the goals you set for this year and honestly evaluate them to determine if they are still the right goals for this year.
Ask yourself:
- Are my goals still valid in current circumstances?
- Do I need to add, postpone or replace any goals for 2020?
- Do these goals help me become the person God wants me to be?
If you’ve stalled
Renew your heart. Remember why you set the goal and what will be accomplished by achieving the goal. Don’t let discouragement cause you to be stuck for the next 5 months. Find motivation through accountability, rewards or visible reminders.
Connect with God. Be still, pray and be in the word daily. Ask God for guidance, wisdom, persistence and strength to complete your goals. I love Isaiah 26:12, which says, “Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.” What a relief that he is the one orchestrating the accomplishing! Dave Ramsey says, “Pray like it all depends on God, but work like it all depends on you.”
Take smaller steps. Aim for progress instead of perfection. Don’t let the size of the goal keep you from taking a step toward it. When you break a goal down and focus on a smaller piece of it, it seems more manageable and you’ll make more progress.
Check in monthly. Remember to check in at least monthly (maybe even weekly!) and set smaller monthly goals to make progress on your large goal. Checking in frequently will also help you refocus if you’ve lost momentum.
Evaluate your habits. Sometimes we allow bad habits to seep into our routines that may be sabotaging our goals. We might be coping with stress with crutches such as watching mindless TV for hours on end, stress eating, online shopping, etc. Resolve to quit the unhealthy habits that are distracting you from reaching your goals.
Ask yourself:
- What is one small task I will accomplish toward this goal this month?
- Who can walk alongside me to help me reach this goal?
- What is preventing me from continuing my pursuit of this goal?
Don’t forget to celebrate!
As you make progress toward your goal, find some way to celebrate, even in a small way. These celebrations could be impromptu as you complete a goal, or they could be used as a reward to motivate you to finish a project.
- Have a dance party
- Enjoy a candlelit dinner
- Treat yourself to a self-care service (massage, manicure, etc.)
- Soak in the bathtub
- Go for a walk with a friend
- Buy a new item of clothing
- Take a mini-vacation or travel to visit a friend
- Take time to read a good book
We still have five months left this year. Don’t write them off by waiting for your “when” moments to happen. This is your life, right now, even if it looks a little different that you expected.
Give yourself grace, then refocus and get intentional about making progress on your goals–even when it gets tough. You can do this. We shine brighter when we are living in obedience to God’s purpose for us.
I would love to hear from you! Comment below and let me know one goal you have completed this year!
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