Do you have a dream, a goal, a vision for your life? Does it seem to be just short of your grasp?
I am an author of fiction and nonfiction, but I am I certified Christian life coach also. I enjoy encouraging and motivating others. So I’ve collected 3 ways which might help you attain your dream – and change your life.
1) Pray about your dream or goal. If you’re like me, then you have lots of ideas. Not every one is worthy of our time – or is God’s will for your life.
We can get busied up in all kinds of meaningless things. So begin a journal and write down all the things you’re involved in. Pray over each one and ask God which to eliminate so you’ll have the time to journey down the God-given path for your life.
2) Practice “planned abandonment.”
In her book, Jesus Life Coach, Laurie Beth Jones writes: Planned abandonment doesn’t mean walking away from something that is difficult or isn’t working anymore. Planned abandonment means choosing between good and great, between better and best. Planned abandonment means that you are able to say no to all that glitters and discern what truly shines.
I like to tell clients to search out all the EWs in their lives. I know EWs crowd in on me when I least expect them. EWs are “energy wasters” and we’ve all got them. They can be the meaningless business I previously mentioned and they can be people who suck your time. So, you know that neighbor who comes over every night to sit on the couch and bloviate? Well, as you begin to eliminate EWs that neighbor may have to find himself another roosting place.
3) Participate in your own life. Don’t just talk about all things you want to do someday – do them!
I recently watched the movie The Music Man and near the end of the motion picture, Professor Harold Hill tells Marian the librarian something quite profound, I think. He says something like, “If you keep putting everything off until tomorrow, all you’ll have is a collection of empty yesterdays.” How true that is!
And just remember, Tomorrow and Someday are days of the week on a planet that doesn’t exist! So quit procrastinating (and I’m pointing one finger at myself too!), turn off the “boob tube” (as my father called the television) and take steps toward accomplishing your goals. It doesn’t have to be a leap of faith. Only small footsteps.
Dare to dream – and imagine yourself a part of that dream. It’ll change your life. God has put that power in us all. And with Jesus as our ultimate Life Coach, all things are possible!
4 comments:
Andrea, this is such stellar advice! I've actually been composing a blog of my own about doing instead of planning all the time, so this really ministered to my heart. As always, you have something to say on the Lord's behalf! :-) Thank you for sharing your thinking with us.
Two very important lessons I learned that helped me finally get published. John Maxwell said there are two types of people There are "dreamers" who have a new dream everyday and write them all down and look through them but never accomplish anything because they refuse to focus on one dream. And then, there are people who "make their dream come true". Focus on one dream at a time and make it happen; complete it; finish it. The other dreams are still there, but you have to finish one dream at a time.
Second lesson I learned is that there are lots and lots of "good" ideas in my life that can distract from that one "God" idea I need to focus on and complete. This goes hand in hand with what you just said. This is just another way to think of it. Focus, finish, self discipline, stay on the "God" idea and you will find success!
And those EW's? I call them "emotional black holes". They just suck all the energy and time out of you and they are like a black hole that will NEVER be filled. So, stay out of their ORBIT!!!
Very inspiring thought, Andrea! It's so important to know what we do to build ourselves up and bring ourselves down. Good post!
Who is that said a dream is a goal with a deadline? I love that. Helps me focus. Great post, Andrea. Thanks for the reminder. :)
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