The new year is a great time of the year because you can refocus. Reflecting on the past year is a great thing to do…but one thing that the new year brings me is a new adventure. The adventure is going to be whatever I make it. Dreaming is something that anyone can do…setting goals is something that many can do…but actually achieving goals is something that very few can do.

Even though we all experience failures, it doesn’t mean that we are a failure. Sometimes, failures just happen to make us better individuals. On the brighter side, if we set of our goals and have a clear direction and plan, we are more likely to achieve them.

Steps towards reaching your goals:

• You have to dream big:

  If you can’t dream, there is no way to can achieve your goals because they have not been thought of! I am reminded of a quote C.S Lewis:

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in;

aim at earth and you will get neither.

-C.S Lewis

• You have to set your goals:

Even though you set your goal, you have to realize that the “sky is your limit”. Just like the C.S Lewis quote…

• You have to count the costs:

Some common questions I ask myself before I commit or set goals for anything are “Is it worth it?” or “What will I gain by doing this?” It is important to count the costs before you commit to anything.

• You have to develop a plan to achieve it:

After you count the costs to any situation, it is important to take the next step in achieving goals: developing a plan. I can not think of any successful situation where someone did not have a plan…and to take it a step further- you need to develop a well-thought out plan. If I were to set a goal to dig a hole so deep…it ends up in China, wouldn’t I have to start with a well developed plan? I couldn’t just count the costs and develop a dull plan that consists:

1. Buy a sharp shovel

2. Buy gloves

3. Bring a flashlight (It can get dark in those tunnels…)

4. Learn Chinese?

That would be nonsense! Even though this is a ridiculous and a totally fictional goal (well…maybe not), the concept applies- a well-developed plan is necessary in achieving goals!

• You have to have accountability:

Even though all the other steps are crucial, I personally think that this is the most important one. If you have no one encouraging you along the way, it would probably be determined that you would have a slim chance of succeeding… Accountability is extremely important!

So this whole post brings me to this point:

• Are you going to dream and achieve goals this year that ultimately lead to impacting the kingdom of God?
• God wants to do amazing things through us all, but we have to be willing to take steps towards achieving them!

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

-Colossians 3:2