It is important that we continue to work on improving ourselves and focus on growing closer to the Lord. One of the best ways to do this is to set goals and work towards them. While a goal may seem like a good idea, and it is fairly easy to write down on paper, executing the goal may prove to be more difficult. This is especially true if it is something less tangible, such as developing charity or relying more on Heavenly Father.
With every goal that you set and every change that you make, it is vital that you begin your planning process with prayer. After you have done that you should set out a specific plan on how to accomplish your goal. If you are focusing on developing charity you may want to start by looking for positive qualities in everyone you meet or finding more opportunities to serve others. If you are working on your relationship with your Heavenly Father you may want to focus on your personal prayers.
Once you have a plan in place you need to make sure that you will execute it. You may need to adjust your schedule or the plan so that it is realistic and achievable. You can also break the plan up into smaller steps. If you are looking for ways to serve others you may start with one service activity a week and build up from there. If you are focusing on prayers, you may need to set aside more time during the day to pray.
Regular assessment of your goal and progress are also important. Once you have reached the first stage in the plan, you should move onto the next step. This helps you to continue to grow. Once you achieve your goal, you should set a new goal and continue to improve yourself.
It is important that you be realistic in your goal setting. It is very discouraging to continually fail in one or two areas. If you find this happening you may want to make your goal more achievable or take time to figure out what is not working for you.
Related Articles:
New Year’s Resolution: Growing Spiritually