So how many people do you think are setting goals today? Millions? Billions? And how many would you guess are blogging about them? Well, since I'm a go-with-the-flow kind of gal, I might as well add mine to the mix.
While some people refuse to make New Years resolutions, I personally have no problem setting goals. It's reaching them that is sometimes (ok, often) a problem. But, hey. If there's nothing to strive for, what's the point, right? As mentioned in my previous post, Paul advises us in Philippians 3 that we need to press on towards the goal to get the prize. And there is a prize at every goal, whether it's points in a football game, cash that comes with a sale, better sense of well-being with that healthier weight, or just pure and simple satisfaction that you actually reached what you were striving for.
In reviewing last year's goals, I was a little disheartened to realize I only achieved 3 of the 9. I read through the Bible in one year, attended the ACFW conference, and kept up on my blog. If you want to see the goals I didn't reach, you can view the complete list HERE.
So anyway, I am posting my top 10 goals for 2010. Next year, I hope to look back and see that I've reached at least half of them.
1. Be a better Time Manager. This one always seems to be on the list. Discipline is a thorn in my side and something I always struggle with. But, I know God calls us to be good stewards of the time He gives us and I've already purchased a new planner that I hope will help me stay focused. It breaks down each day by half-hours. I'm hoping that planning every small segment of my day will lead to overall organization and, ultimately, productivity. Here's a great article on Time Management by author, Deb Raney: TIME MANAGEMENT 101 FOR WRITERS.
2. Lose 40 pounds. Just joined Weight Watchers Online and purchased The Biggest Loser Boot Camp DVD's to get me started. This is one goal I didn't achieve last year but am even more determined to do this year. Preferably by summer.
3. Get involved in church ministry. I used to work in the nursery when my kids were small. Then, for a while, I wrote a monthly column for our e-newsletter but the newsletter was eventually discontinued. Now, I occassionally volunteer in Women's ministry but have been feeling a strong sense of calling to get more regularly involved. Opening my heart to God's direction on this one.
4. Get an agent. Carried over from last year's list....
5. Be more "Others Minded." Let me be real, here. I can be, um, rather selfish sometimes. I tend to spend a lot of time in Me Me Me land. I really want to learn to look outside of myself and towards others this year. This includes stopping what I'm doing to listen to my kids, pausing to chat with a neighbor even when I'm "busy" or making the time to visit (or at least call) my 94-year-old grandma once a week. I want to be more sensitive to others and get rid of this silly notion that it's all about me.
6. Finish Dead Weight. This is the novel that finaled in both the ACFW Genesis contest and is currently in the final round of judging in the Phoenix Rattler-Does your Story have Bite? contest. It also took the grand prize of the FaithWriters Page Turner contest. I'm only about 25,000 words in right now, but my goal is to finish this novel by early summer and have it ready to fully pitch at the ACFW conference in September.
Which brings me to...
7. Attend the ACFW conference in Indianapolis. I have every intention of attending again this year. After the absolute awesomeness of last year's conference, I can't imagine NOT attending. BUT...there's that little issue of cost, although I'm thankful that due to the location, at least I won't need to fly. I am resolving to start saving my pennies now so this goal will be realized.
8. Face my fear of public speaking. This goal is scheduled to be met in August, when I agreed (gulp) to teach a workshop at the FaithWriters conference. I excused my way out of it last year when asked, but I believe God is prompting me to step out of my comfort zone and face my fear once and for all. Not even one ounce excited about it, but trying to be obedient.
9. Submit more greeting cards. I've gotten away from this in the past couple of years, but greeting card verse is something I love to write and I am making a goal to submit at least two batches of 10 this year. I hope to submit to Blue Mountain Arts and DaySpring again and would be thrilled if 1 or 2 were picked up this time around.
10. Keep a prayer journal. I've started several over the years but have always petered out. I really want to keep one going for the entire year. My goal is to write down my (and others') requests, pray over them daily, and see what God will do. Then to be able to read it through next year and rejoice over the ways God has answered those prayers - and reflect on how some of those answers might not have been necessarily what was expected but exactly what was needed - would be awesome.
So there's my list. Next January, we'll see how many of these goals I meet. In the meantime, I pray your New Year is blessed with happiness, peace, and joy.
Also wishing you lots of written words, agent and editor interest, and multi-book contracts!
11 comments:
Yes, more "others" minded is at the top of my list.
Thanks for sharing Lynda!
Lynda:
As of now, mine are writing goals. Some are Specific, then Manageable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. (The headings spell SMART)
I know the weight loss goal, mine went by the wayside late last winter.
I am trying to cut back on Television. But, its been part of my life since I was in the third grade. I gave it up for Lent one year.
Praying you through YOUR goals, Lynda - and my own (on MY blog today :D). Last year, that verse in Philippians was my theme verse - great stuff.
Wow. Those are great goals. I know I need to set some, especially for my writing. I really want to attend the conference too, but it's so expensive and I don't know if I'm ready for such a big one. My WIP is only in the first edit phase and I have so much to learn. Time management is an issue too - don't want my freelance work to take too much time from my novel.
Thanks for sharing.
Happy New Year, Lynda! May you receive many blessings.
Being more "others minded" is always a good goal, one I can add on to my list.
I'd like to attend ACFW. I'm also on a major weight loss trek and have been thinking about a prayer journal too, which goes with the "others minded" goal.
2010 will be a great year.
Great list Lynda. Be praying for you as you step out in faith with some of these.
Totally pumped to be able to hear you speak at the FW conference btw! You may not wanna do it, but we will LOVE to hear you!
Thank you for sharing. Some of your goals are close to mine and you inspired me to actually write them down. Now I'll actually look at them and work to accomplish them.
Thanks for the encouragement and the prayers. Will pray that all of you accomplish your goals this year, as well!
Hi Lynda, what an awesome list!! I like it all and I am inspired. God Bless!
Oh how I'd love to go to ACFW...I really want to go seeing it's only a 2 hour drive to Indy from my house, but the cost--of the conference as well as the hotel room--is something I'm a bit hesitant about. But I SO WANT to go!
I like your list, Lynda. And you've already accomplished some that I know of! I'd love to hear more about that Indianapolis conference sometime. I'm not ready to pitch anything yet...but maybe in 2011... And as far as your weight goes, I remember thinking you looked great and how you chose healthy items from the menu. I can't imagine you needing to lose 40 lbs. I love keeping a prayer journal too... it has really helped me to recognize His "voice" in my life too.
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