Why You Should Have Gobs of Goals
When you first glanced at the title of this reflection, you possibly thought it read "God’s Goals." Actually, that’s where my thinking began. Then my approach changed as I started thinking about how plentiful God is in his generosity and goodness towards us. He makes available to us gobs of goodness. So why not have gobs of dreams and goals in our personal and professional lives.
God Is a God of Purposeful Plenty
Is it possible that God, in all his glorious benevolence and purposeful plenty, wants us to start out with many dreams and gobs of goals? It sounds tasty doesn’t it? Give me a piece of apple pie and gobs of whipped cream.
Think about what happens when you have dreams and focus on several goals to fulfill those dreams. You choose goals in a certain mental and emotional environment, and factor in external influences.
What happens if the internal and external environments change, and two out of the three goals become untenable? There you are, standing with one goal.
Having a Goal Insurance Policy
As a Christian life coach, I encourage clients to identify their dreams, set goals, create a plan, and take action, remaining flexible and reevaluating their goals on a regular basis. I also encourage them to set goals for every sphere of their life and areas of their influence, even multiple goals for each.
This is comparable to buying a goal insurance policy. If a goal or two doesn’t work out, perhaps you save them for later in life, a better time and place. Many people give up on goals, hide them in a drawer, and never revisit them.
I encourage clients to write down their goals, so every day when they read them, they get excited about their day, about living, about fulfilling their dreams.
Importance of Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals
When you set your goals, make sure they’re S.M.A.R.T. goals.
S.M.A.R.T. goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. Regardless of how many goals you make for yourself, write them down and make sure they meet those five criteria. If not, you may be pursuing unachievable goals that are simply pie in the sky. Aha, another reference to food.
Finally, as Christians who should be pursuing goals that are compatible with our Christian walk in all areas of our lives, we should prayerfully turn to the Lord and the Holy Spirit for guidance. After all, who’s better to advise us on smart goals.
Additional reading:
Listen to God’s Words
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. (Proverbs 16:3)
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)
Also read: Psalm 20:4, Micah 6:8, Romans 8:28
In the Words of Others
“The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting and achieving goals.” Og Mandino
“Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.” Brian Tracy
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis
Think About It
When you set goals, are they specific? Do you spell out exactly what you want to accomplish?
Are your goals measurable? Can you look at your actions and see if you are making progress?
Are your goals realistic and capable of being accomplished under your control? Are your goals relevant to you, achievable in a timely way?
Are you making yourself accountable for achieving the goals?
Is the Lord involved in your goal setting? Do you pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance?
