Goal Update: Week 2

Week 2 is over, so it is once again time for another goal report- even if I am ashamed of myself! But if there is one thing I want Titus 2 Girls to be about, it is honesty. So you will be getting the good, the bad, and the ugly around here! All from my own life, unfortunately!

1. Wake up at 5:00- I have not done that ANY this week. Later this evening I'm going to re-evaluate this goal, get the the heart of my failure, and motivate myself.
2. Work out four days a week- I did this three times. Failing in my first goal has meant failing here as well. However, I am not beating myself up too much. Going from no consistent exercise to three times in a week is still great! I've found that the more I make this a habit, the more I am wanting to exercise. This is a new and awesome feeling!
3. Finish the Bible in a year- I am still ahead here, and have been learning so much from God's Word! 
4. Write three blogs post per week- still on track here as well.

How are you doing on your goals or resolutions? If you haven't accomplished all that you wanted, like me, tomorrow begins a new week! Falling down isn't failure, but not getting up is. 

If you've been successful so far, do you have any tips for the rest of us? Let me know in the comment section!

Image courtesy http://mrg.bz/Bf0Kh4

A Time to Say No: Saying No to Perfect

One of my goals for this year is to make sure I really live, and not just survive from day to day. In order to do this there are going be some times I'm going to have to say no- no to people, and no to perfection. Let me explain.

Maybe you have both the time and desire to attend the ladies meeting at church. There will be great food and fellowship, so you have no trouble signing up. But then you get to thinking about that "great food" part.

Your schedule this week is jammed packed. When will you have time to contribute to all of that great food? 

Susie Homemaker will be at that meeting, with a perfectly decorated something or other. Everyone will rave at her creativity. 

Supermom will arrive with a delicious and complicated dish that took hours to prepare. Everyone will request her recipe.

Your sister-in-law will top everything off with something tasty, healthy, and organic. There will be praise all around.

So you can't just pick something up at the local bakery, as hubby suggests. That would be cheating, taking the easy way out. Instead, you have to pull out your most delicious and time consuming recipe. It has to be perfect.

And you can't say no to perfect.

So maybe you skip date night that week to achieve perfection. Or you skip out on some sleep and end up grouching at your family. 

And all for what? A few pats on the back by the local ladies who don't have to live with your grouchiness.

You break the budget (without telling your husband) for a new outfit and hair-do for the upcoming family reunion.

Martha is stopping by your house later, so you stress out and cancel everything else on your to do list to clean up. Everything has to look perfect.

You skip out on your prayer and devotion time to get ready for a double date with friends. The other couple is thin, trim, and fashionable- you can't stand the thought of looking "dumpy" next them.

You can't say no to perfect.

I've been there. Even tried to live there. 

But not this year. Will you join me? 

Image courtesy  http://mrg.bz/zgVcuP

Goal Update: Week 1

The first week of the new year is almost over! That means it is time for an update on the goals I have set for 2014. Technically it hasn't been a full week yet, since 2014 did not start until Wednesday, so some goals may look like they haven't been fulfilled.

1. Wake up every day at 5:00 for 30 days- I confess that today was the first day of doing this! I got up at 4:30. There were some late nights earlier in the week, and I want to take care of myself this year by getting at least eight hours of sleep a night. That meant not waking up until later.

2. Work out 4 days a week- today was day 3 of this for me. There have only been four days in the new year, so I count this as success! It feels great starting out the day energized.

3. Read the Bible through in a year- I'm actually ahead of schedule on this.

4. Write 3 blog posts per week- this is number three.

I'm excited with the way I have started out. Three out of four is pretty good!

How have you been doing on your resolutions and goals? Did you set any, or were afraid of failing so you didn't even bother? It is not too late to write a few down! I encourage you to do some research on goal setting, and then set aside a block of time (not just a few minutes either) to really thing about what you want this year. Be specific, and then get going. You will never get to the finish line if you don't even bother to start.

Image courtesy  http://mrg.bz/G5rmnB

Goals for 2014

"This is your life are you who you wanna be..." (Switchfoot)

There has never been a time in my life when I have been more thankful for a new year and fresh start than now. Last year was one of the busiest I have ever had. Involved in everything, but doing my best in nothing. Busyness without productivity. Time was stretched thin, and I was stretched thin. Just a make it to the next thing, I thought. Cross it off the to do list.

I remember one instance in December shutting myself in our half bath, near tears and ready to breakdown. I thought, I don't have time to deal with this, and then continued into the chaos. There were many prayers to God that involved me saying words like "overwhelmed" and "quit." I'm sure my patient and understanding husband got tired of me saying, "I can't take this anymore." I don't mean to sound like a basket case, because I am not normally like this, but I'm just being honest. There are some people that thrive on being busy. They have an overloaded calendar, run on five hours of sleep a night, and love it.

Obviously I am not one of those people.

There were a few times that ministry activities were canceled due to weather and other reasons. I was glad. Glad and guilty. It was not a good place to be in, and I knew it.  Thankfully, God is merciful and doesn't give us more than we can handle (although sometimes it feels like it), and gave me times of refreshing just when I thought I was at the end.

I have made it out of 2013 alive, and my biggest goal is to make sure I don't have another year where I am always "at the end." I want to live, not just endure each day going from one task to the next, feeling like a robot. I am confident that if I learn to say no, set priorities and clear goals, then this can be the best year ever.

Here are the other goals that I have set for 2014:

1. Work out to Jillian Michaels "30 Day Shred" DVD four times a week.
2. Finish reading the Bible in a year.
3. Write three blog posts a week.
4. Wake up at 5:00 every day for 30 days (going to try to make this a habit).

There are a couple of other goals I have related to my walk with God that are a little more personal, so I will wait until the end of the year to share how those went with you. I will also write a little more on goal setting later, so look for the posts! Every Saturday I will post my progress as well.

What are your goals for the year? Have you written them down and been very specific? Comment and let me know!

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/venosdale/6156635313/">Krissy.Venosdale</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>

3 Free Videos From Michael Hyatt

Have you ever heard of Michael Hyatt? If not, then it is a privilege for me to be the first to tell you about him. He is not only a successful blogger (as of last count he has 372,898 followers) and speaker, but a best selling author as well. If you have never visited his website, http://michaelhyatt.com, then I highly encourage you to do so. He has numerous posts that will encourage and motivate you to set goals and help you grow in personal development.
Right now he is offering three free videos on how to make 2014 your best year ever. I have watched all of them more than once, taking notes as I go, and then applied his advice to my own personal goals for this year. Sharing examples from his own life, he offers tips on setting smart goals to make this year your best.
I'm not sure how long these videos will be free, so I really hope you take advantage of this great opportunity.

(I am not receiving payment to promote Michael Hyatt or his materials in any way, just in case you were wondering!)