Okay, as promised, I’m writing out my New Year’s resolution list. Everything inside of me is screaming, “No, no – don’t do it!” On the inside I know, that if I share these, if I make them public, I risk disappointing myself and others. I risk something by setting high goals that stretch me. I risk people knowing that I failed at goals I set. I risk vulnerability because goals I set reflect what’s on the inside… the quiet places that are sometimes hard to talk about.
But despite the risk of failure and the feelings of vulnerability, I also have a higher desire to embrace authenticity. I desire and wish to be more MYSELF. So, because of that, I’m putting goals out there for all the world to see. I’m putting my goals out because I know that sharing with others creates accountability. That putting goals OUT THERE in the WORLD, allows others to encourage you.
So, in the spirit of authenticity, vulnerability, and accountability here are my goals for 2018.
Spiritual
- Increase my time in the Word and prayer by 10 min every day
- Read 2 Christian books
- Be still and reflect
- Honor a Sabbath day (probably going to be Fridays)
Mental (Because I am committed to lifelong learning!)
- Take a class
- Teach a class
- Complete a tennis coaching certification
- Read a leadership book (looking for recommendations!)
- Learn something new (currently exploring photography!)
Physical
- Be active throughout the day
- Exercise 30 minutes 4x week
- Be stronger at the end of 2018 than I am now
- Meal plan each week (also helps with financial goals!)
Financial
- Increase my passive income from previous year by 25% (this one I took from a financial blog I love to follow Military Financial Report)
- Buy a rental investment property
- Save 40% of our annual income
- Build a portfolio on Upwork
Family
- Read a parenting book (Currently I have Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Tripp on my list… I’m open to more suggestions!)
- Read a marriage book (looking for recommendations!)
- Family travel to 6 tournaments with my husband
- Date with my husband twice a month
- Date each kid once a month
- Adults Only travel vacation
- Oh… and have a baby 😉
Well, I should probably leave this list here because the more I look at it the more I add it. Haha. The thing about this list, is some of these are stretch goals, some of these are comfortable goals, and some of these are pure dreams. But, if you don’t dream about your dreams, you will never begin to take steps there in the first place. What’s your New Year’s resolution??? One of my favorite quotes is one from Goethe that a teacher gave me at the end of our semester together in college. It says,
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of iniatiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves to.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.