Hello, friends! I am so stoked this morning to be sharing my 2016 goal-setting process with all of you, as inspired by working through the PowerSheets over the past six weeks and following along with Lara Casey’s 2016 Goal-Setting series. I’m so excited to have all of this together, so let’s dive right in!
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Step 1: What worked in 2015? What am I grateful for and what good things happened in 2015?
- You can check out all the good things from last year in my 2015 Year in Review post.
- I am incredibly thankful for the freedom I experienced in 2015 – both personally and professionally – and for how God is using these experiences to lead me toward the abundant life He calls me to live.
Step 2: What didn’t work in 2015?
- Falling into the pits of control, perfectionism, and comparison.
- Getting down on myself, others, and circumstances at times (the vicious cycle of negativity).
- Too much time spent on social media (i.e. turning to that for comfort and satisfaction out of boredom or a feeling of needing to be nourished vs. turning to God and to my ‘real life’ in the present moment).
- Not setting aside enough time for dating, romance, and cultivating health and strength in our marriage.
Step 3: Get Visual
- Check our my Pinterest board: Making Things Happen in 2016. These are the things inspiring me and encouraging me for the year ahead.
- Using the app, Canva, I created this vision board of sorts for my iPhone / iPad / laptop backgrounds and used it as my cover photo on Facebook …
- I also created this physical vision board, as I do every year, to hang in my walk-in closet where I get ready every morning to serve as a reminder of my purpose and goals at the start of each new day …
Step 4: What I Learned from What Worked
- Putting God first every day makes a huge difference in my days. Intentional time spent in devotion, praise, prayer, and worship (with coffee of course) is the BEST way to start each and every day.
- Our marriage is strengthened when we are sensitive to each others needs, when we put the other above ourselves, and make an effort to take care of one another. And when we are invested in the same things and on the same page, AMAZING things happen!
- Balance is essential. Lightening up on myself and others, living and resting in grace, and not sweating the small stuff does my mind, heart, and soul wonders. When I am kind to myself, I am much kinder to others.
- It’s important to be honest with ourselves, and our loved ones, about the conditions of our minds / hearts, and to ask for help when needed. God does incredible things when we risk being vulnerable and are brave in sharing our stories and opening ourselves up to His healing and redemption power.
Step 5: What I Learned from What Didn’t Work
- Negativity just leads to more negativity. Wallowing in negativity gets me nowhere.
- The Enemy wants to destroy me and every ounce of joy I have in my life. Praying for protection over every area of my life is absolutely essential to experiencing freedom, grace, love, peace, and joy on a regular basis. It is important to continually ask God for His help with having His peace and love ruling over my heart, home, and life.
- Simplify. Less is more. Don’t fall into the trap of more, more, more (accumulating, consuming, etc.). Take breaks, step away from distractions, and focus on what REALLY matters.
Step 6: What Fires Me Up?
- Devotion, praise, prayer, and worship.
- Dating, laughing, and spending quality time with Kenny. Bonding, connecting, and working as a team.
- Quality time with family and friends.
- Going to church. Serving others.
- A great workout followed by coffee.
- Encouraging and inspiring others (and being encouraged and inspired by others).
- Being creative, and making time for blogging / writing.
- Reading great books, listening to music, and watching uplifting / inspired movies and television.
- Travel (near and far) and capturing adventures / moments on camera.
- Cleaning, decorating, organizing, and planning. Living a simple and clutter-free life.
- Practicing sabbath, rest, and a good night’s sleep.
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Step 7: What is my 2016 Vision?
My word for 2016 is FREE.
I will rest in the freedom God has already accomplished for me on the cross, and embrace the work of freedom God is currently doing in my heart and life, allowing Him to continue making me into the best version of myself as His daughter.
I will keep my eyes on Jesus and trust in Him for the freedom He longs to give me in my faith-life, my marriage, my relationships, my calling, my career, my health, and my hobbies. I surrender every area of my life to Him and will do everything possible to guard my heart, mind, body and soul from the snares of this world and from falling into the pits of control, perfectionism, comparison, anxiety, and depression.
Day-by-day, as God sets my heart free, I will share the freedom I have experienced with others through the various platforms God has put in my life to shine His light and speak His truth. I commit to being a bearer of His freedom, grace, mercy, and love in the interactions I have and the connections I make in the months ahead.
In 2016, I will live the wild, free, abundant, and audacious life He calls me to live in His name. I will wholeheartedly run fast toward the purposes He has for me and believe in Him to fulfill the promises He has for me in His timing and will.
Step 8: What Am I Saying ‘No’ to in 2016?
- Anything that keeps me from the dreams, plans, and purposes God has for my life, including: letting the Enemy get a foothold of me; drama, negativity, judging, selfishness; control, perfectionism, comparison, anxiety, depression; social media overload; negative self-talk and criticism of self and others.
Step 9: What Am I Saying ‘Yes’ to in 2016?
- God’s dreams, plans, and purposes for my life. I want what He has for me!
- Devotion, praise, prayer, and worship; love, respect, and intentional time spent together in our marriage; time with our people; creativity; self-care, rest, health, and wellness; encouraging, inspiring and serving others; social media breaks (analog-weekends); adventure, travel, laughter, and fun; books, music and coffee; simplifying.
Step 10: Define My Radical
I want the abundant life that God promises in His Word. All that He desires for me, I want to grab a hold of and never let go. It’s not about the blessings and gifts He gives (although those are awesome) – it’s about living day in / day out in the “sweet spot” He calls me to live from – the place where I am using my gifts, talents, education, and resources combined with my passions, to serve Him and others. I want to know that I am fulfilling all that God has purposed me for from the beginning. I want to live and walk and bask in the freedom of that each and every day, and to live my absolute best life now.
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Step 11: Sing Loud!
My song for 2016 is “Touch the Sky” by Hillsong United. Since I first heard this song over the summer, I have LOVED it as the lyrics perfectly capture the truth God desires me to cling to and the desire of my heart to surrender to Him.
What fortune lies beyond the stars
Those dazzling heights too vast to climb
I got so high to fall so far
But I found heaven as love swept low
My heart beating, my soul breathing
I found my life when I laid it down
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground
What treasure waits within Your scars
This gift of freedom gold can’t buy
I bought the world and sold my heart
You traded heaven to have me again
My heart beating, my soul breathing
I found my life when I laid it down
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground
Find me here at Your feet again
Everything I am, reaching out, I surrender
Come sweep me up in Your love again
And my soul will dance
On the wings of forever
My heart beating, my soul breathing
I found my life when I laid it down
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground
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Steps 12 + 13: Review and Set Good Goals
- Deepen my FAITH and live out loud for Jesus: 40 Day devotional / journal to start the year; seek, study, praise, pray, and worship every day; enroll in Freedom class at church; use my platforms to honor and glorify Him; attend events that bring me closer to Him and allow for connections with others; minister to and serve others in my community.
- Love my husband well and experience revival in our MARRIAGE: pray regularly for Kenny; set aside quality time for each other every week without distractions; work on projects together; support, love, and respect one another; serve one another and meet each others needs; take the leap and start a family (God-willing).
- Cultivate meaningful, loving, and supportive RELATIONSHIPS with our family and friends: host gatherings at our home and up north; make time each week to connect with loved ones; send cards / emails of encouragement and blessings; pray for loved ones; serve loved ones.
- Cultivate my CALLING: bring ‘what fires me up’ into my current work and see how that influences others and impacts them in their work; surround myself with what energizes and inspires me; view my spheres of influence and platforms as opportunities for ministry and service; receive Original Design prayer for confirmation of plans / purposes for my life; participate in monthly influence classes and professional development opportunities; seek opportunities to collaborate with others and put my gifts / skills out there.
- Develop and grow my BLOG and BRAND: develop refreshed, inspired, and purposeful content; develop new blog schedule; help design / develop a spring women’s conference and speaking content for leadership and ministry session; collaborate / network and learn from others; develop a short and long-term business and marketing strategy plan; start life coaching sessions and social work supervision.
- Cultivate CREATIVITY and INSPIRATION: read great books; listen and watch encouraging and uplifting media; continue bible journaling; photography; blogging / writing; DIY home projects; do more of what fires me up.
- Live HEALTHY, inside and out, from head-to-toe: eat whole, pure, good and nutrient-rich foods (get enough of the right nutrients every day); exercise 6/7 days per week for at least 30 minutes to an hour each time; drink water all day, every day; bake / cook / eat at home vs. going out; practice self-care and continue to manage anxiety and depression; rest and get enough sleep each night.
- Live SIMPLY: declutter places and spaces; stop buying and consuming what I do not need; take breaks from social media and technology; save vs. consume; create whitespace in my days/weeks for rest and spontaneity; pray and seek Jesus for the things He wants me to take a hold of in my life.
- Take every opportunity to TRAVEL and have ADVENTURES: make the most of every work trip; plan trips near and far with Kenny (and to enjoy by myself and with others); capture moments and adventures via camera, plan our 9 year anniversary trip.
- To live WILD, FREE, ABUNDANT, and full of JOY: love Jesus, love Kenny, love our people, love home, love work, love the opportunities and blessings we have each day. LOVE LIFE.
So, there you have it, friends – my heart and soul poured out in words for how I’m going to make FREEDOM happen in the new year!
I would love to hear your dreams, goals, hopes, and vision for the coming months. What are you going to do to make things happen in 2016?
Amazing things are in store, I can feel it! Are you ready, friends? Let’s do this!
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Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.
Psalm 119:32