And So It (2016) Begins...

Dusting Off The Old Blog:-)

 

Looking Back...

This morning, while eating breakfast, I decided I should take out my journal and write down some goals for 2016. When I opened the journal, I started reading what was already in it. This didn't take long as I am a very inconsistent journalist. But what I read upset me to my core. I had written out some goals in June 2013, not long after we moved. 6 months later, I had written down my resolutions for 2014. I never wrote anything else after that entry.

And I met one and only one of the goals that I stated on those two occasions: to pay off our van.

That's it. Fitness/Weight loss goals: Epic Fail; Financial Goals: Just the one; Spiritual goals: Nope. Nada.

How sad is that? I was shocked to see this written proof of things that I told myself I would accomplish and then not only didn't accomplish, but somehow ended up further away from. I know, I know, New Year's Resolutions are made to be broken. I suppose.

But should they be? I don't think so. I've always been goal oriented and my Patriarchal Blessing (Mormon thing) tells me I should be. And I've typically met any goals I set for myself if I still considered them worthy in the months following their conception.

Until about 3 years ago. Since then, I've been struggling with making and meeting my goals. I don't know the reason but I have to figure it out.

Looking Ahead...

Needless to say, I did not set any goals today. I couldn't bear the thought of failing at them, yet again. But then, this evening I was listening to the LDS conference talks from October. The two I read were Your Next Step by Elder Randall K Bennett and It Works Wonderfully by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf.

In the first talk, it says, 'We fail only if we fail to take another faithful step forward. We will not, we cannot, fail if we are faithfully yoked to the Savior—He who has never failed and will never fail us!' When I heard this, I realized that I haven't yet failed. Maybe I also haven't yet met my goals, but I haven't failed because I'm still trying to meet them. They permeate almost every thought and action in one way or another, whether specifically stated or not. And if I can attune my spirit more toward my Savior, Jesus Christ, then I cannot fail as long as my goals remain worthy. This is powerful to me.

This same talk ended with, 'Your loving Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, live. They know you. They love you. They lovingly invite you to take your next step toward Them. Don’t wait. Take it now.' Exactly what I needed to hear today. Especially today.

The second talk spoke about simplifying things. Not being a perfectionist. Starting where we are. How perfect for this New Year's day. My favorite quote from this talk is, 'I learned in my life that we don’t need to be “more” of anything to start to become the person God intended us to become. God will take you as you are at this very moment and begin to work with you. All you need is a willing heart, a desire to believe, and trust in the Lord.'

These are the thoughts with which I'm ending my New Year's Day 2016. Tomorrow, I will remind myself of my goals, prioritize them, and create a plan to knock them out. But tonight, I will focus on the words that I have read and heard and remember that as long as I am alive and moving forward, I haven't failed.

~KC