You may have noticed that the title of this episode is “Don’t Set New Goals for This Year.” A surprising admonition, isn’t it? Well, now that I have your attention, let me explain.
Mike Foster, a personal and professional life coach, made a very counterintuitive statement in one of his recent newsletters. He said basically that he thinks we should not set new goals for 2025. Here is his logic:
When we set big, ambitious resolutions on January 1, we generally don’t achieve those goals, for a variety of reasons. We generally try to start something completely new, or we try to stop something entirely. But because the goals are so big, we usually do not succeed. The result? Frustration, guilt, and a sense that we have fallen short.
Instead, Foster suggests a better way: build on what’s already working in your life. This approach is consistent with this biblical principle:
2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; (6) and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; (7) and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (8) For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Foster suggests some practical ways to do this:
· Practical step 1: Identify your wins.
o What habits, routines, or choices have brought value to your life? What things are working? Write down 2 to 3 examples. I suggest that you include spiritual habits in your consideration. For example, do you see the spiritual habits in the following verses?
§ Psalms 1:2 NIV [Blessed is the one] whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.
§ Philippians 4:6 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
§ Jeremiah 30:2 NIV "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.
· Practical step 2: Commit to building on your wins.
o Look for ways to take your current wins a step further. For example, if you are spending 5 minutes in Bible reading and prayer in the morning, consider getting up 15 minutes earlier and expanding your time with the Lord. If journaling has helped you to clarify what you are experiencing and learning, then consider expanding your journaling from an occasional practice to a weekly practice. Paul encouraged Timothy to continue diligently in incremental steps that lead to progress:
§ 1 Timothy 4:15 AMPC Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody.
o Paul also encouraged the Philippians to “live up to what we have achieved so far.” (Philippians 3:16 ISV)
· Practical step 3: Celebrate progress, not perfection.
o You don’t have to do it perfectly. Even small steps forward are worth celebrating. Celebrate the wins, no matter how big or small:
§ Philippians 3:12 NASB Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
· (and I would add this point) Practical step 4: Look for the blessings in everything, as an encouragement to keep going.
o For example, Paul realized that even his imprisonment was actually resulting in more opportunities to spread the good news of Christ. He therefore considered it a “win”:
§ Philippians 1:14 NIV And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
§ Ephesians 5:20 AMPC At all times and for everything [give] thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
o Paul also saw the benefits that came from his suffering, and so regarded these benefits as wins as well:
§ Romans 5:1, 3-4 NIV Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… (3) Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; (4) perseverance, character; and character, hope.
So, as we start 2025, I plan to utilize this approach of 1) identifying the things already in my life that are bringing value, 2) committing to building upon these things in meaningful ways, 3) identifying and celebrating big and little wins as progress, and 4) looking for the blessings in everything, to motivate me to keep going. Will you join me in this approach to this new year?
Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”