Busyness of life demands a well-thought out plan to achieve your life goals.

During the past year, I found myself pulled in numerous directions by unavoidable responsibilities, such as adding new parts to one of our businesses, another family member in the household, attending to needs of aging relatives. The use of my time was not always a matter of choice. When this year began, I realized that I needed to refocus with a new, clear cut “life plan” if I was going to achieve my own goals instead of just maintaining in the face of these new responsibilities. Calling to memory last year’s posts on Dawna Markova’s book, I knew I needed to make sure I was “living on purpose” and daily creating the environment needed to live out those purposes. (If you missed those 2 posts, use the links here. Living with Purpose and Living Your Purpose and Creating Your Purposeful Life Environment) In the same way, it is essential for each of you to make a clear cut life plan now, early in the year, to ensure that you stay on a progressive track with all of your goals.

Why Bother?

Because a clear cut life plan is a form of taking control of your life! Someone said to me the other day something along the lines of “Why bother? I know what I want.” Here is the reason — without a detailed plan for your life, the stresses of life distract you. Your focus gets pulled to the issues taking place. Your energies get poured into putting out fires. A detailed life plan in writing which you can skim over every morning keeps you focused on what you need to do the present day, week, and month to accomplish your goals for the year. Secondly, as with the Law of Attraction, making yourself see or “visualize” those goals every morning creates a vital alertness in your mind to any options/opportunities that come up in a day are helpful in achieving those goals.

A Sample Plan

Here is a sample of the categories I used to make my life plan. Yours may vary but you can see that the multiple categories help me make thorough progress in all the various aspects of my life. The details under each of my categories are not listed for privacy purposes, but generally I have about a dozen goals under each category:

Business Goals (This included projected statistics as well as desired projects)

Personal Growth

Spiritual Growth

Household Goals

Charitable Goals

I encourage you to go ahead this week and make a life plan. Life goes by too fast to wait! Don’t let another year slip by and your goals be lost in the midst of life’s busyness. With a life plan, you can stay focused, become alert to daily opportunities, and make your dreams realities!

Attracting the favor you need and desire in your life this year is contingent upon believing you will receive it.

Though the “Law of Attraction” may be a contemporary term, the concept is an ageless one. We have discussed at times in the past the concept of the Law of Attraction, of believing that good will come to you and visualizing it. God Himself, in His covenant with Abraham, asked him to believe for the fulfillment of Abraham’s “impossible” dream for a son when Sarah was over 75 and to visualize the stars in the sky as being his numerous descendents. (See the post Visualizing Your Dreams)

A few months ago, I was doing a word study on the concept of favor, as I was in need of favor during an upcoming business transaction. I was truly amazed at how frequently favor is promised by God and how much it is a part of His covenant with mankind.

I want each of you to believe this year for the favor you both need and desire from your relationships/interactions with God and people.

As you read through the quotes below, visualize the favor spoken of as being yours. Put your name into the quotes. Begin the year believing that you already have the favor of God and will grow in your favor with people, regardless of the circumstance. Continue throughout this year to believe and visualize that you are a person of favor and receive the favor that is yours!

I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. Le 26:9

O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant…Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man. Ne 1:11

You will arise and have compassion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. Ps 102:13

Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to him. Da 1:9

God says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, in the day of salvation I helped you.” Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2Co 6:2 [Remember the Hebrew term for salvation includes deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity, health, and welfare; the Greek term includes rescue, safety (physically or morally), preservation, healing, and soundness.]

…Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Ac 2:47

A good person obtains favor from the LORD. Pr 12:2

You will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Pr 3:4

…Proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor. Isa 61:2

For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Ps 5:12

He prays to God and finds favor with Him… he is restored by God… Job 33:26

…God’s favor lasts a lifetime. Ps 30:5

The LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold… Ps 84:11

She won the favor of everyone who saw her. Es 2:15

Then he sought the LORD’s favor, and the LORD listened to him, for God saw how severely the king was oppressing them. 2Ki 13:4

The LORD was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor. Ge 39:21

You have said, “I know you by name and you have found favor with Me.” Ex 33:12

And the boy continued to grow… in favor with the LORD and with men. 1Sa 2:26

We each want a clear path to our destinies; do you succumb to discouragement and doubt when you are unable to see the full path, or when people and situations keep saying, “It won’t happen!”?

First, it is necessary to be clear about your destiny.

Know your life’s purpose. Along life’s journey to fulfill that destiny, you have a wide variety of needs or goals you desire to reach, such as better health, more successful relationships or communication, freedom from debt, or career changes. These goals are important steps in fulfilling your destiny and the person you are meant to be. To avoid being swayed by doubts or opposition, you must first “know that you know” in your heart what your purpose for being is.

Second, you must determine to believe in your destiny.

No one else can believe it for you – a spouse or a parent – if you are going to withstand disappointments or setbacks. If you believe that this certain path or accomplishment truly is your destiny, then keep in mind during setbacks or opposition that you will get there! It was meant to be; it was destined or planned before you were born.

In the spiritual realm, the truth is similar. In Psalm 139, God says that all of your days (and those of every other person) were planned out and written about before you lived a single day. You have a destiny. And, it is a matter of believing or of “faith” in God’s promises and His power to overcome obstacles or opposition to your destiny, as well as to provide wisdom and opportunities to fulfill the goals along the way. Because you know your destiny is His plan, because you have faith that He keeps His promise to help you, you are unwavering and unmovable in your journey to your destiny. Now back to our opening title.

Here are two illustrations on why you do not let what you see destroy what you believe with regard to your destiny.

Oxygen is necessary for your every breath, but you do not see it at all. You do not go around in a panic every moment of the day, fearing that you are going to suffocate, just because you do not have scientific proof in front of you that there is enough oxygen in the air to sustain your life. You go about your day in “faith” that all the oxygen you need and more is there to sustain you.

In the same way, though you may not see the full path to your destiny or see the results of the promises of God in your life yet, it does not mean that the path to your dreams is a product of your imagination; nor does it mean that the power of God is not working behind the scenes in your behalf just because you do not yet see the proof. Continue to go about your day in “faith,” listening for wisdom and looking for opportunities.

The next illustration is not my own. I read it in the book footnoted below, but it is such an incredible illustration that I wanted to share it with you. He says to picture watching a magician saw his assistant in half. You see the person’s head out one end of the box and her feet out of the other. You see the magician cut her in half and separate the boxes, yet her head and feet are still moving. You did not believe for a moment that she was really cut it half, even though you saw it with your own eyes. It appeared to be reality but you knew it was not. You could not explain it, but you still refused to believe what you saw with your own eyes. (1)

When it appears that you will not reach your destiny, that God has failed you, that He is not keeping His promises to help you — when you are tempted to put your faith in what you see – do not do it! You know your purpose! Be determined to believe in your destiny and refuse to believe your eyes if necessary.

1. Faith to Faith, April 29 post.

I’ve recently come across another blog author whose posts I thoroughly enjoy, Jeff McClung.  He is a quality writer.  This month he put up a post about hearing the “What if…” challenge at a conference session and how it changed the life of his family.  I wanted to share with you some excerpts from Jeff’s post as well as a youtube clip of the conference session by Donald Miller which inspired him. (See footnotes at end of post for links.)

Inspiration for the “What if” Challenge

Jeff was inspired by a conference session with Donald Miller in which he said that screen writers or novelists use this method when they get stuck in their writing.  They begin asking random questions of “What if…” this happened to this or that character. Miller says the same process works to make progress in life and asks people to take the following “What if…” challenge. 

Have the family brainstorm about 25 “What if” questions and write them on a whiteboard or notebook.  There are no right or wrong answers, but some of the questions will still be in the forefront of your mind days later.  These “What if…” questions are the life changers.

Miller did this challenge with the readers on his blog and people began dreaming, began expressing new goals, their desires to overcome hurts or destructive habits.  Miller says,

Some of the questions you will realize you have to live.   You will not be able to not do it, bcause you will realize there is a beautiful story waiting for you that you didn’t know you could live.  And if you choose not to live a beautiful story, it is the same as choosing to die. (1)

 Here are some sample questions from Jeff McClung’s blog to get you started.

What if I do whatever it takes to kick that bad habit so that it’s a distant memory by 2012?

What if I wrote down one thing that I was thankful for every day this year and kept that list as a reminder for the dark days of 2011?

What if I did something to make at least one person smile every day this year?

What if I planned a surprise party for someone?

What if I were more intentional about creating memories with my wife and kids?

What if we become relentless about getting out of debt?

What if we galvanized our family, friends, and/or church to do something more about the homeless living in our city? (2)

I urge you to take the “What if…” challenge and use this innovative idea of to see which questions stay in your mind, change your life, and  help you achieve “living a beautiful story” with your life. 

1. Donald Miller’s youtube video clip from his conference session.
2. Sample “What if…” questions are excerpts from Jeff McClung’s blog post, “How to Make the Most of the New Year.” 

Table of contents for Better Person, Better Year

1. Better Person, Better Year – Part 1
2. Better Person, Better Year – Part 2

We’re continuing our post on having the life you desire and the best year ever by being a better person.

This is Part 2 of a 2-Part post.  If you missed Part 1, please use the series link above.

This is a continuation of resolutions by Jonathon Edwards, a famous historical American, which focus on diligently improving his own person during the course of the year.  We are using them as examples for improving ourselves so that we will have a better year. As Jonathan Edward’s list of resolutions is in old English, I’m going to put the original quotes followed by a summary of my own in blue italics. 

22. Resolved, To endeavour to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.  More forceful than the earlier quote, it is a challenge to use extremely intense amounts of your energies and abilities to have a happy life, as opposed to pouring your energies into people or situations you cannot change.

24. Resolved, Whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavor to do so no more… Often, we easily focus on other’s failures, especially those which negatively effect us. Be a better person this year by at least putting the same amount of energy, if not more, into changing you.  When you’ve done something obviously wrong, consider why—what prompted it—so you can not follow that path again.

33. Resolved, To do always what I can towards making, maintaining, and preserving peace, when it can be done without an overbalancing detriment in other respects.  This is another aspect of bettering yourself that includes boundary setting. Do your best to keep the peace, except in a situation in which doing so would actually be harmful — be to the detriment — of the people involved.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, That I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. The same point phrased a little differently than above, but worthy of double emphasis.  Think of those you have talked with who are in the end of their lives, of the things they would have let go and the things they would have gone for if they had the opportunity to live life again. Don’t have the same regrets.

54. Resolved, Whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, that I will endeavor to imitate it. This is a fantastic point.  Every time you see or hear of someone you admire, of a great deed accomplished or of a great character trait, choose to be what you admire.

58. Resolved, Not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness, and benignity. This is another great challenge. In conversation, discipline yourself not to display even an “air” of dislike, worry, or anger. If you can conquer this, you will grow immensely in your relationships, emotional stability, and self discipline.

59. Resolved, When I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. Similar to resolution 58, this is a conscious effort to maintain a good natured disposition even when someone provokes you. Notice again, however, Edwards balance and boundary setting to do this except in a situation when it would be damaging or harmful to you, ie. disadvantageous.

67. Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them; what good I have got by them; and, what I might have got by them.  As is mentioned by many people of wisdom, a person often grows more through hardship than easy times. After a period of hardship, make a specific effort to determine how it has made you a better person.

70. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak. Benevolence refers to kindness, compassion, generosity, and goodwill. The world would undoubtedly be a better place if we each became better persons by making our words fit within these guidelines.

To read the full list of 70 Resolutions by Jonathon Edwards, click here

Table of contents for Better Person, Better Year

1. Better Person, Better Year – Part 1
2. Better Person, Better Year – Part 2

Examining how to be a better person is a key factor in having the better year that you desire.

In addition to creating a definite plan of goals and dreams for this new year, realizing specific ways to become a better person is an essential part of making this year better than any year in the past!

I came across a list of New Year’s resolutions by Jonathon Edwards which focus on diligently improving his own person during the course of the year.  As his list was extremely detailed, 70 resolutions in all, I’m picking out some for us to focus on, keeping the original numbers with them, and then providing a link below to the full list for those who want to read it in its entirety.  Edwards, a famous person in American history (1703-1758), was considered an intellectual, philosopher, and theologian. He was president of Princeton University at his death.

As Jonathan Edward’s list of resolutions is in old English, I’m going to put the original quotes followed by a summary of my own in blue italics.  This post is Part 1 of a 2-Part post.

5. Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can. Time is such a valuable gift; as we cannot get back a single moment of time lost, it will benefit you this year to keep in the forefront of your mind to make the most of every moment, treating it as the thing of infinite value that it is.

6. Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live.  Similar to valuing each moment, endeavor to use all of your best abilities and energies to live this life and enjoy living it.

7. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life. This is a great way to improve one’s person. If you are faced with a choice and you are uneasy and wavering in your decision, think if it is something you would choose not to do if you only had one hour to live.

13. Resolved, To be endeavoring to find out fit objects of liberality and charity. It makes each of us a better person when we stay outward focused; keep an eye out throughout this year for opportunities to help the poor and less fortunate.

14. Resolved, Never to do any thing out of revenge.  Very to the point.  If you are considering any word or action out of vengeful feelings, stop; don’t follow through with it and get rid of those thoughts.

15. Resolved, Never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings. This is one of several that I have highlighted as a focus for this year, as irrational people are a particular source of irritation for me. What a good way to free oneself of countless negative feelings and thoughts this year by not wasting your energy with anger towards irrational people.

16. Resolved, Never to speak evil of any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good. This is one of several which I was impressed with by the balanced view of “boundary setting” which we have frequently discussed on this site. Notice the balance and boundaries—he will not speak poorly of anyone for the purpose of slander or venting. He will only discuss someone in a negative light if it is a situation in which something actually needs to be dealt with, ie. constructive actions are being implemented.

17. Resolved, That I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.  Another of my favorites!  Like Dawna Markova’s themes, do not die having lived an unlived life.  Live now, every day as how you will wish you would have lived it when it comes to your dying day, as you would if looking back in retrospect on your life!

20. Resolved, To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.  This was of interest to me again for two reasons.  First, as Jonathon Edwards was a very spiritual man, it shows balance.  He knew it was also essential to his person to be disciplined in his food habits.  Second, it is interesting because, compared to the major cultural push we have now for health habits, this was an innovative concept to focus on in the 1700’s.

21. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him. Another good point, not only for self improvement, but in lessening bitterness. In a negative situation with a person you cannot change, turn the focus on changing yourself!  Resolve never to do the despised behavior you have just seen take place in the other person.

I hope you are getting excited about becoming a better person and having the best year ever!  We’ll continue these resolutions in the next post, Part 2 of Better Person, Better Year.

To read the full list of 70 Resolutions by Jonathon Edwards, click here

The terms may vary at different points in history, but visualization is a healthy, effective concept that has been used for achieving one’s personal destiny for 1000?s of years. Whether you call it dreaming, vision casting, or the current term of visualization, creating mental images of your dreams and goals is a technique emphasized now by life coaches and other career experts.  Scores of people have turned their lives around from points of sickness, destitution, and failure to health,  financial progress, and successful careers.

I came across a quote this week by Pablo Picasso, “Everything you can imagine is real.”

I thought it was very fitting to this concept. What you imagine, dream, or visualize may not be tangible (where you can touch it or see it) at the present moment, but imagining or visualizing can make that dream tangible. Jesus spoke a similar concept in Mk. 11:23,

I most certainly tell you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he will have whatever he says. (WEB)

Notice two things: Jesus said this is “absolutely” a true concept when He said, “I most certainly tell you…” and second, if a person believes that what he is saying is actually happening, such as moving a mountain, he would definitely be visualizing it before saying something with such an extreme level of belief. He would have to be seeing it as already done in his mind to speak it and believe it done with such confidence. Jesus said the result is then that you will have what you have said.

Visualization is often associated with various philosophies, such as the Law of Attraction, yet most people are unaware that it is a scriptural principle that was personally recommended by God to Abram.

Abram, whose name God later changed name to Abraham (meaning Father of Nations), was waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promise to him that he would have descendents. When Abraham was about 75 years old, God spoke this promise to him,

I will make you into a great nation…all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Gen. 12:2,3

At that time, Abraham did not have any children at all, and 10 years later, he was 85, still childless, and experiencing doubt with regard to the fulfillment of God’s promise, which was also Abraham’s personal dream. He said to God, “What can You give me since I am going to die childless? (Gen. 15:2)” God’s response to Abraham giving up on his personal dream and the promise of God to him was instruction on visualization. See it in this quote:

Then God brought Abram outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And God said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Gen. 15:5,6

Visualization allowed even Abraham, the father of many nations and faiths, to receive his personal dream and the promise of God.

It was not until God gave Abraham a visual picture of how many descendents he would have that he could believe God for those descendents. As we can now see, nations literally did come from a man who had been unable to have children his whole life after visualization made him believe the dream and promise.

What are you visualizing for your life at the present?

Are you visualizing only your problems and disappointments or are you visualizing your dreams and the promises of God for your life. Visualize your dreams and the promises of God to you until you can speak with such confidence about them because you will “have whatever you say.”

We had recently listened to a few podcasts by Chip Ingram on iTunes. He posts the outlines for them on his website. We had not listened to this series yet, but we came across one about going from good to great. Without even hearing the podcast yet, the titles alone are insightful and motivational enough for anyone to use to make major progress in their lives to go from good to great.

I challenge you to take a look at Chip’s points, meditate on them, and begin to implement them in your life. Again, why settle for the mundane, the ordinary, when things can be extraordinary?

Set your sight on a better life by visualizing how you can implement these 10 steps to go from good to great! 

See the links below to Chip Ingram’s website with podcasts and outlines. For more details, you can listen to the podcasts through iTunes or take a look at his outlines:

Think Great Thoughts

Read Great Books

Pursue Great People

Dream Great Dreams

Pray Great Prayers

Take Great Risks

Make Great Sacrifices

Enjoy Great Moments

Empower Great People

Develop Great Habits

1. There are 5 pages of outlines at this link. Use the alphabet links to go to the other pages.
     You can find the podcasts in iTunes under “Living on the Edge.”
2. Overview outline of 10 Steps for Good to Great
3. Think Great Thoughts outline
4. Read Great Books outline
5. Pursue Great People outline
6. Dream Great Dreams outline
7. Pray Great Prayers outline
8. Take Great Risks outline
9. Make Great Sacrifices outline
10. Enjoy Great Moments outline
11. Empower Great People outline
12. Develop Great Habits outline

A vital part of goal setting is to be able to literally visualize your goal.  You need to see yourself there.  Once you see yourself there, you will become much more successful at staying in a state of mental alertness; this state of alertness enables you to then see the goal-related paths and opportunities as well as make decisions which help, and not hinder, your goals.

Evaluate what percentage of your mental/emotional focus is on your goal.

Present situations can be a hindrance if you allow yourself to stay focused on them instead of your goal.  You will set yourself back if your focus is on where you are, and all the present circumstances you are unhappy with, instead of where you want to go or what you want to achieve.  Abraham is considered the forefather of many nations.  Before he ever had any children, Abraham was travelling from the land of his ancestors to a new country, at God’s direction.  However, Abraham and all his household, which consisted of numerous flocks, herds, and attendants, were still living in a nomadic state, without a place to settle and call their own.  Look at what God said to Abraham in Genesis 13:

 -Look FROM the place where you are (v.14)
 -All the land you see I will give to you forever (v.15)
 -Walk the land and I will give it to you…So Abram moved (17,18)

Look from where you are to where you want to go.

For Abraham, this was a God-given directive for vision casting.  Look FROM the place where you are to another one, to the place of promise, which for him was a permanent place to settle his descendants.  How much of your focus is on your present circumstances?  Are you looking from where you are to your goal?  Are you seeing it or just your present surroundings?

You will make progress toward whatever is “in your sights.”

Notice again the example from Abraham’s life.  God not only told Abraham to look from where he was to the goal, but then he was to begin walking in that direction.  Once you set your eyes on your goal, walk in that–walk in the way you need to walk to reach the goal and live there. 

 I’ll ask you again.  Do you see your goal?  Do you see a place of promise?  Now begin moving toward it, keeping it in view so that everything you do is in view of the place.

Living life as if in a constant state of emergency in your attempt to reach your goals or be a superachiever is an enormous drain mentally and physically and is completely unnecessary.

Best-selling author Richard Carlson, in “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff and It’s All Small Stuff (1),” challenges the commonly held belief—sometimes even unknowingly—that a hurried, frantic, and competitive mindset and lifestyle are necessary for success. 

Dr. Carlson eradicates the idea of living as a franctic superachiever: 

1. Put to rest the idea that, if you stopped being frantic and competitive, you would become lazy and apathetic. The opposite is true.
2. Fearful thinking actually drains your creativity and motivation.
3. A frantic lifestyle immobilizes your greatest potential.
4. Fearful competitiveness empties your life of its enjoyment.(1)

Being gentle and relaxed are actually the superachiever’s unlikely, but best, partners.

Dr. Carlson speaks in his book of his own experience of achieving success and that of numerous colleagues.  He chose to surround himself with relaxed, loving, peaceful people who were all superachievers in life, either as best-selling authors, counselors, CEO’s, computer experts, or loving parents.  He noticed that being a gentle and relaxed superachiever caused them to live life fulfilled and highly proficient. Dr. Carlson sums up this important life lesson in this quote:

When you have what you want—inner peace—you are less distracted by your wants, needs, desires, and concerns.  It’s thus easier to concentrate, focus, achieve your goals, and give back to others.(1)

(1) Dr. Richard Carlson, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff and It’s All Small Stuff ISBN#0-7868-8185-2  This is a fantastic, best-selling book which teaches you to live life unbothered by the little irritations so your energy and joy are readily available for the best things in life.

Here are links to 3 past posts for your enjoyment that reference Dr. Carlson’s best-selling books.

 How to Love

 Thinking Yourself to Health

Improve Love