What’s holding you back? Part 1 – Knowing Your Goal

8-27-17

Welcome to the first post in this series. Chasing a dream takes courage, and we’ll talk about how to deal with what holds you back. Today’s topic: knowing your goal. 

You can’t pursue a goal that you can’t put in words. So the first step is to figure out what your goal is. Let’s say you have a general idea that you want to be able to do something. If it’s a vague idea let’s make it more specific. Maybe you want to learn to make apple pie like your grandma. Now, there’s a goal you can work at. 

Maybe you already have something in mind, and that’s great. Now it’s a good idea to think about whether that goal is a good use of your time. Not everything we do in life has to be tied directly to religion for God to be pleased with it. Pie making doesn’t affect my Christianity, but it could be part of showing hospitality or being a good wife. 

Now that you picked a goal and decided it is worthwhile, you have the foundation for something you can pursue. Think about why you want to do it, because when it gets frustrating this will help you keep going. I happen to really like apple pie, and my grandma makes good ones, so I want to be able to make them too. Pretty straightforward. For another example, I want to write for two main reasons. One is because I need to. Having a creative outlet helps me deal with stress. Second, I want to be able to share God with people. Writing will hopefully let me do that with people I would never meet in person. 

Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established. – Proverbs 16:3

Alright, so you have a goal put in words. You know why you want to reach it. Now, think about whether it’s something you want badly enough to spend the time on it. A simple goal like making apple pie wouldn’t be a disaster if I abandoned it after only a couple tries. But my writing I have spent several years on already. If I throw in the towel now, all that is wasted. I could have done something else with my time. At this point, take some time to yourself to think about it. You’re the only one who can decide if it’s worth it to you. There’s no shame in realizing you don’t want something enough to start working for it. I would like to be able to play basketball well, but I know that I don’t want it enough to dedicate the time and money to make it happen. 

If you’ve still got your goal in mind, then you’re ready to start working for it. Think about what kind of support you’ll need. Maybe you need someone to actively help you achieve it. I would need someone to help me practice to get better at basketball. Preferably someone who knew what they were doing. To write, I need my computer, a writing program, and occasional human support. Sometimes I just need some encouragement. Other times I need advice from someone who knows more about it than me. Whatever it is you’ll need, make a plan to have it available. 

We’re well on our way! Next week we’ll talk about not letting fear of what other people will say hold you back. 

Does anyone have a goal they’d like to share? I’d love to hear yours!

By the way, I’ve started a podcast! It’s a slightly expanded version of the posts here. You can check it out here and if you want to be updated feel free to subscribe!

May the Lord bless and keep you,

Heather