Alright, it’s almost the end of January. Let’s have a little
conversation. How are you doing on those New Year’s resolutions? I’m going to
take a wild guess here and presume that lots of us have given up on at least
one of
them…probably more. It’s so easy to start strong, but life happens and
we get busy…we make excuses. 
Perhaps the biggest problem behind our ability to follow
through is more that our goals are unrealistic or we set too many. It’s not
about aiming lower, it’s about aiming just beyond where you know you can hit. And
every time you hit the mark, you can push a little further. I was inspired by a
suggestion that I’m going to propose to you today!
Think about all you want to achieve this year. Is there ONE
WORD that can sum it up?
Persevere. Productivity. Discernment. Patience. Hospitable.
Connect. Explore. Family. Friends. Finish.
When you’ve discovered what this word is, let this be your
“goal” for this year. This will become your root goal for the year. In all you
do, you’ll work towards achieving this over-arching goal.
Let’s say your word for this year is “Connect”. When you go
through your day, you are constantly thinking “How can I connect more effectively and deeply with the people I meet?” So
when you’re heading into a meeting and you’re sitting next to a fellow employee
before the meeting starts, instead of checking your phone, you set it aside and
ask them how they’re doing? Or, when you get home from work, instead of
flopping down in front of the TV, you go play outside with your kids. Instead
of texting someone, you pick up the phone and give them a call.
Having a one-word goal is so much easier to remember than 10
different goals. It also goes beyond just one area of your life. It covers all
of who you are and all of what you do, from your individual character to your
social interactions, from how you work to how you play.
So what is your goal for this year? Make a decision. Write
it down. Do it!
