As we discussed yesterday, the ability to set goals can be severely compromised when you are grieving…actively or otherwise. For some of us, setting goals has never been a particularly honed skill, myself included. But I don’t want to find myself drifting aimlessly through life. I believe there is a grand plan…that God knows all He has in store for me for every day of my life. I don’t think of setting goals for myself as trying to take the reins. I see it as suiting up and showing up for the game. I look at it as active participation.

So, how do we go about setting a goal? Using the mnemonic device SMART can help. Let’s go through it, one letter at a time.

S is for “specific”. Be specific about what it is exactly you want to achieve. For example, a non-specific goal is “I won’t spend so much money this Christmas.” A specific goal is “I will create a budget for holiday spending and create a list of gifts with amounts I can afford.”

M is for “measurable”. A measurable goal is written in such a way that you can actually measure your progress. Instead of saying “I need to get out of the house more.” say “I will ask _____ to walk with me on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next month.”

A is for “attainable”. It does absolutely no good whatsoever to set a goal that is impossible to reach. It’s better to take small bites…as in, “I will walk three to four days a week and work up to 5 miles per walk.” Setting a goal of running a marathon by the end of summer may be unattainable and so far out in left field, you may not make it off the couch.

R is for “realistic”. Again, this is an attainable goal, but one that will push you…not overwhelm you. An unrealistic goal would be “I am never eating dessert again.” A realistic goal is “I will only eat dessert once per week.”

T is for “time-bound”. This seems so easy but it’s probably the one thing that trips us up repeatedly. I’ve been telling you I’m going to publish a book. I have it written. I left it with a friend for preliminary editing. I got it back in August with a list of ideas for changes that will make it more marketable.

So, why isn’t it at least in the throes of getting finished? Because I have not been SMART. To use the mnemonic, my goals are:
1) I will finish editing my manuscript for publication.
2) I will create a list of items that need my attention and check them off as they are completed.
3) I will sit down with the manuscript and my laptop on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for no less that 2 hours and write.
3) I will edit a minimum of one chapter per sitting.
4) I will have the manuscript ready for publication by March 12, 2016.

So, there you have it. My commitment to have a completed manuscript ready to publish by the angelversary of Mr. Virgo’s death….a fitting goal and one that will keep me focused during the winter. And, now that I’ve committed, I’m accountable. It really helps keep your focus when you have someone hear your goal. Try using SMART and come up with some goals for yourself.

❤️

“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance…”

2 Timothy 3:10-11 NIV