Life by Design

Start the New Year off right...with Goals...WRITTEN goals!

I listened to an awesome training last night by Dani Johnson. It was titled "Keys to Setting & Achieving Your Goals in 2009". It was a re-play of a training originally done January 2005 and it was quite evident that the number of the year doesn't matter - the process for goal setting is the same. (You'll find this FREE training at Dani Johnson's website.)

Some pearls of wisdom:

• Nothing becomes dynamic before it becomes specific
  
• Life is short - it can be gone when you least expect it - and within seconds
• Embrace your blessings
• Part of achieving your goals is recognizing how far you have already come - what you have achieved
• God plants desires in us (and gives us the tools to achieve the desires He has given us)
  
• Live your life by design - not by default
• Most people are one (1) decision away from living their life by design
• Refuse mediocrity - it cannot be an option
• We can't expect things to get better or to change unless we are aiming specifically for it
• Nothing happens by accident - it happens by design
• Most people just repeat their past
  
• I say NOT THIS YEAR! Not ever again!
• Feel free to be who YOU want to be
• Life is about winning and achieving
• Look honestly at where you are right now
• You must be trusted with what you have before you will be given more
• for example, if time management or lack of time is an issue - spend your time wisely in order for God to bless you with additional time to achieve your goals
  
• You must sow in the direction you want to go
• Set goals in areas of:
• Personal Growth/Spritual Life
• Business/Financial Goals
• Family/Relationship Goals
• Create a "laundry list" of 50 things you want do do before you die - your own personal "bucket list"
• write anything - don't think about it
• if you weren't afraid and you knew you could not fail what would you do?

It's been proven over and over again that written goals are MUCH more likely to be achieved than a non-written goal. I've seen written on a marquee somewhere - a goal that is not written down and doesn't have a targeted date - is simply a wish.

Aim at nothing...and you will hit it everytime!

I've gotten carried away here...one of my goals is to get the rest my body needs...it's now 1:25 am and I have an 8:30 am staff meeting. Not doing to good on that one right now....

...off to bed.

Blessings to you as you DESIGN the LIFE you want to live!

Jan

My Time Begins NOW!

It's amazing how when you focus on something - you tend to see that something or see it's presence in so many places. 

Like when I was pregnant - suddenly the world was filled with pregnant women. Or when I'm thinking about buying a new car - suddenly I see the cars I'm considering everywhere. 

I posted on January 1st about 2009 being "all about me". On January 2nd, "Today's Word" with Joel Osteen was entitled "It's Your Time".

Today is the day to give your dreams a new beginning. Today is the day to allow faith to rise in your heart. Remember, what's happened to you is not nearly as important as what's happened in you, and you are stronger and wiser than ever before. It's your time; it's your season to move forward into the destiny that God has prepared for you!

Is that timely or what? 

I am beginning MY new year and this new season in my life, by beginning yoga. My first class is this afternoon. I'm quite confident it will be the topic of many posts to come. Right now I'm focusing on pushing back the fear of the unknown and making sure I'm well hydrated and have all necessary accoutrements to take with me. 

It's All About ME

Happy New Year!

I've spent an unusual amount of energy lately thinking about me. Just ME! It's amazing the guilt that creeps in when I start thinking that I'm being selfish in just thinking about me.

Well, I am kicking that to the curb in 2009.

2009 is all about me.

I love my family and have loved raising our children. The raising is now pretty much done. Meg is married. Alex just finished his first semester of college. Sure - I hope and trust that they will continue to value my opinion and thoughts and will seek me out for guidance periodically. I know I still do that with my parents.

I've realized during my mental slump this fall (empty nest depression) that somewhere along the way - I've lost who I am. Not really lost - just buried deep amongst all the layers of caring for others.

The time has come for that to change. It will only make me a better person, better wife, better parent.

I plan to plan this weekend. I've asked my husband to participate. I'm looking forward to a few hours of goal setting and looking forward to the possibilities of the new year!