by Donna Gibbs
It’s 2019 and many of you are pushing successfully towards your New Year Resolutions.
But many of you are already at a quitting point.
Did you know that a large number of New Year Resolutions are dropped by the end of the first week of January?
Here’s why. We fail to achieve a goal because of a few correctable stumbling blocks:
- We made a superficial goal to begin with and our heart is not fully engaged. We just impulsively picked a goal because it seemed like the popular thing to do, but we don’t really, really want it.
- We failed to write down our goal. Without a measurable goal in mind, it’s hard to know when we have achieved our objective.
- We forget the why. We lose sight of how life could be once this goal is achieved. We quit imagining the outcome and become complacent.
- We give up too quickly. By definition, a task that requires a goal, or requires resolve, is a task that has brought intimidation. The quest of a goal typically brings discomfort. It requires more work than we expected. It may cost more than we were prepared to pay. Pursuing a goal may even create conflicts. In an effort to squelch the discomfort, we quit. And we quit prematurely. We even give up on a goal that is very important to us, or very much needed.
If God has laid on your heart an objective for 2019, then follow Him in obedience. Resolve to accomplish that which God is leading. Then, write down your goal. Display words or phrases related to your goal on chalk-boards or bulletin boards in your home and/or office. (These must be displayed in convenient locations that you will see throughout the day. You will certainly need the reminders.) Then, stay the course! Don’t give up! Persevere! Tell a trusted friend about your commitment and invite their accountability. When you have a failure, evaluate what you can learn from it, dust off your boots, and continue your course. A verse I clung to last year was “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). I kept that verse in front of me all year long, cheering me on towards my commitment, and validating me when things got tough. What does that verse mean for you? Yes, the beginning is going to be hard. But it’s the end result that you can look forward to celebrating!
Donna Gibbs, co-owner of Summit Wellness Centers, PLLC, is author of the recent releases, Silencing Insecurity and Becoming Resilient. Donna has authored numerous other books, and is commonly featured on radio broadcasts across America, and occasionally internationally as well. Donna has been providing individuals and families the hope and help they need for twenty years as a national certified counselor, board-certified professional Christian counselor, and licensed professional counselor supervisor. A member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), she is a leading professional provider for Focus on the Family, Christian Care Network, r3Continuum, FINDINGbalance, and Samaritan’s Purse. Follow Donna’s author page at https://www.facebook.com/DonnaGibbsResilience/ for daily encouragement, the weekly blog, and updates regarding events and speaking engagements.
