The Number One Goal of 2021
Good morning!! Happy New Year!!
Really?! How are you going to approach this year?
Looking back at 2020, we have all gone through a barrage of difficulties on different levels. Everyone has been affected in one way or the other. We do not want to go through another year like it. There is nothing in the future that promises a better year, or is there?
Looking back
On our own, going through the pandemic, we realize that there are many things we do not have control over. As a result, people all over the world are going through untold hardship.
People are dealing with health issues and financial issues.
People have faced social unrest to varying degrees; we have seen a side to many that we never knew existed.
Never have people been so alone. We were not made to be by ourselves but made for relationships.
Our world has been turned upside down. Our usual means of rest and recreation have been stripped away.
Is there anyone we can hold onto during these challenging times? Who or what are you looking up to to get through this coming year? Is it your bank account? Is it someone you know? Maybe you have no one………
Presently
I can tell you there is someone you can hold on to. There is someone who will walk with you every step of the way. There is someone who remains faithful no matter what, whom you can trust with your life and with all that you have.
The one thing that has not changed and the only thing that has remained constant is our God. He has stayed true to His Word that He will be with us. Two passages in the Bible remind us of this.
Psalm 23 and Isaiah 43:2 talk about God being with us in good and bad times. It talks about Him being with us when we go through difficult times. It is God who gives us rest when we’re exhausted and when we want to give up.
Looking at our problems, looking at all the things that could go wrong, and worrying about all the upcoming months’ uncertainties only increases the anxiety, fear, and helplessness many of us are already feeling.
What we need to do is keep our eyes and trust the only constant, unchanging One, the one who knows and holds our future in his hands. How do we do that? By daily turning to the Lord for guidance and strength to face each day.
We need to commit everything to Him. Any time worry and fear seem to resurface, go back to the Lord until you get to the point where you refuse to worry about what you cannot control and instead focus on what you can.
So, our number one goal is to stay plugged into the Lord daily, on a moment-by-moment basis. Once we have resolved to do that, we can now focus on our resolutions for the year.
Looking to the future
So what do we do?
Instead of creating resolutions that we most likely will fail to uphold in the upcoming days, weeks, and months, we should do something different.
Let’s create goals or aspirations. Let’s strive to achieve, to progress towards a better you.
Why do we set goals in the first place?
I believe that deep down, we all feel we need to grow, look better, and feel better about ourselves.
In creating goals, we need to break them up into different categories. You could consider the following: spiritual growth, travel, personal growth (knowledge), relationships, career, finances, and health.
With each goal, you want to make sure they are SMART. These goals need to be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant (your why), and time-sensitive. They are your road map, your guide.
My 2021 Goals
Here are some of my SMART goals for 2021.
Goal Category: Spiritual Growth
Specific/Time-sensitive:
Have daily devotions in the mornings for 30 minutes
Measurable/Attainable (How):
Start with 10 minutes every day, waking up at 6 am
Increase by 5 minutes every month until I reach 30 minutes a day
Maintain for the rest of the year
Relevance (My Why):
I want to grow closer to God.
In the next year (2022), I will consider spending 45 minutes instead of 30 minutes.
Goal Category: Health
Specific/Time-sensitive:
Lose 20 lbs. by the end of the year
Measurable/Attainable (How):
Lose 0.5 lbs. every week
Exercise a minimum of 30 minutes at least five days a week.
Relevance (My Why):
I feel better about myself.
Decrease my BMI of 32 (obese), which will improve my health status
Reduce my risk of heart disease.
In the next year (2022), I will consider dropping another 10 lbs.
Goal Category: Personal Development
Specific/Time-sensitive:
Play a difficult song on the piano for the 2021 Christmas recital
Measurable/Attainable (How):
Practice daily for at least 15 minutes
Relevance (My Why):
I have always wanted to play the piano well.
I love music because it is a way for me to destress and makes me happy.
In the next year (2022), I will consider learning how to sing and play the piano.
Mindset
Make sure you do not fall into the following traps.
Remember, As long as you are progressing and you are not where you started at the end, you have made progress. I hope this helps you think about the goals you may want to set this year.
Final Thoughts
So, what do you do when you have achieved the goals you have set?
As mentioned, you want to maintain the goal first. You may then want to consider tweaking your goals, such as raising the bar higher or cutting back if you find it too challenging to attain.
Remember, as long as you have made progress, you have done something better for yourself.
Here is to a prosperous, goal-setting, and achieving year!!
