7 Steps to Focused Resolve and Goal Planning for your New Year

It’s that time—you’ve already began to evaluate your year, considering what went well, what could have gone better, what goals you’ve achieved and those that remain to accomplish. Like everyone one else, you’re uncomfortable about one thing or another left undone—dreams never acted upon or goals left unrealized. Maybe you still haven’t written that book, lost those last 30 pounds or started that Facebook group? The question is, what are you going to do different next year to make it happen?

Here are 7 steps to help you focus your resolve and your energy toward reaching your new year’s resolutions and goals.

1.) Write 5 to 7 focused goals. Well, type them in a document. (Habakkuk 2:2a “Write the vision...”)

Similar to contracts, items in print are more binding—both in your mind and legally. When something is written it becomes evidence that others can point to and use to hold you accountable for what you said you would do. Set a deadline to write your goals.

Focus on 5 to 7 major goals for the year related to a framework such as the 5fs: Faith, Family, Friends, Finance and Fitness. This will keep you from trying to do too much which can lead to discouragement.

2.) Get a clear mental image of what success looks like for each of your goals and represent that in a dream board or vision board. (Habakkuk 2:2b “…And make it plain on tablets...”)

For each of your goals, find images or photos that represent success and put them on a poster board, frame them or copy them into a PowerPoint slide that becomes your screen saver. Whether digital or print, the goal is to keep these visuals in a place that forces you to see them a on a daily basis.

3.) Break your major goals into 12 monthly sub-goals. (Luke 14:28 “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” ESV)

Think of a natural sequence of events that need to take place in order for you to reach one of your major goals. This is essentially chunking your major goal into 12 bites. If you don’t have exactly 12 that’s okay. That just means that you may achieve your goal in less than 12 months. However, take some time and brainstorm. Then, arrange your chunks into a logical order based on resources and dependencies. Are there any steps that will need to be completed before another can begin? This will influence your sequencing.

Doing this breakdown into 12 monthly sub-goals will give you a better idea of the commitment that will be necessary to achieve the goal as well as the length of time.

4.) Break your monthly sub-goals into 4 weekly goals. (Psalms 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”)

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, French writer (1900 - 1944) said, “a goal without a plan is just a wish.” By breaking your monthly sub-goals down even further, you will develop a plan for every week of your year which supports you staying focused and goal-driven throughout the entire year.

5.) Break each weekly goal in to daily goals. (Psalms 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”)

Plan out how your days will lead you to accomplishing your weekly goal. Don’t forget to plan in time for fun and celebration of milestones!

6.) Review your written and visual goals on a regular basis. (Habakkuk 2:2b “…that he may run that readeth it.”)

This is so important! In his bestselling book, The Way of Seal, former Navy Seal Mark Divine talks about how Seals are trained to win in their minds before winning the actual mission. Keeping your goals (and what success looks like for each of your goals) before you on a daily basis will help you win in your mind. Your brain makes space for what you focus on, so keep focusing on your goals on a daily basis.

7.) Find someone to hold you accountable, provide checkpoints for your progress and give you wise counsel. (Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel but with many advisers they succeed.”)

In the words of Steven Covey, “accountability breeds response-ability.” Having someone to hold you accountable to your goals can encourage you to be more committed and act more responsibly. A life or “Purpose” coach can be of service in this area, helping you set and develop a plan to achieve and stay accountable to your goals.

Lenita Reeves is an author, speaker, counselor, pastor, wife and mother of four children. As a rape survivor and former teen mom, God has graced Lenita to be an outspoken overcomer, delivering insight in an approachable yet enlightening manner. From senior class president to founder of a non-profit, leadership has been an evident mark of Lenita's calling and passions throughout her life. She is an international speaker, member of the RAINN speaker's bureau, ordained pastor and founder of PurposeHouse Publishing, PurposeHouse Christian Counseling and PurposeHouse Ministries (http://www.purposehouse.net). Lenita has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech, a Master of Arts in Dance Education from the Ohio State University and a MBA from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Christian Counseling and attended Beulah Heights Bible College in Atlanta, Georgia. You can contact Lenita at http://www.purposehouse.net/contact/.

Originally posted at http://blogs.christianpost.com/hooked-on-purpose/7-steps-to-focused-resolve-for-your-new-years-resolutions-24148/