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3 Ways To Supercharge Your Goals This Year

This is the time of year when most of us start thinking about our goals for the new year. In doing so, we may look back on last year and berate ourselves because things didn’t quite work out the way we’d hoped. Well, never mind, it’s not too late to work on your health goals. January has just begun and with some thought, you can set about making goals that will help you succeed this year.

In order to set goals that will give you the results you want, you must:

  1. Be clear about what you want. No one knows your body like you do, and no one knows your needs like you do. So, what do you want? Do you simply want to lose weight in order to look better? Or do you want to lose weight because it will help you lower your A1C? If yes to the latter, what would you want that A1C to be? Write your goals down in a clear and concise manner and you will be on the first step to success.
  2. Use the SMART system to define your health goals. SMART is an acronym that stands for SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, REALISTIC, and TIME BOUND. Here is an example: I will lose ten pounds in ten weeks. Specific – the amount of weight you want to lose. Measurable – you can measure your weight loss. Achievable – this is a reasonable amount of weight to lose according to health experts. Realistic – experts say you should aim at losing 1 to 2 pounds a week, and Time bound is necessary to help you achieve this goal in a timely manner.
  3. Hold yourself accountable. When you work for someone, he/she holds you accountable. In order to stick to your goals, it might be a good idea to have someone hold you accountable. Tell them what your goals are, why you are working toward them and how you would like that person to help you. This support will help keep you in line when you are tempted to give up or when you fall off the wagon.

A new year is a time to begin anew — reflect on the past, take a critical look at what worked and what didn’t and get started on those goals. By following the steps above, you can supercharge your goals and supercharge your health this year.

However, if you need that extra nudge, why not join me for a simple five-day challenge to supercharge your goals? Just click on this link.

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monday motivation – do you keep your word?

A handshake is no longer binding

Disobedient children

Our scripture reading in church yesterday included this verse: “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey” (Exodus 24: 7) NIV. But sadly, very little time had passed after the children of Israel said this than they began to disobey. God became so furious He would have destroyed them had Moses not pleaded for them.

Just a handshake

Have you vowed to do something only to change your mind soon after saying it? Long ago, all that was needed for a contract to be binding was for both parties to shake hands. Nowadays, contracts are multi-page documents with language only a legal expert can understand. Why is that? Because most of us do not keep our word, we have to have something in writing that no one can easily dispute.

Keeping your word

How about keeping your word to yourself? Have you ever said, “I’m going to exercise four times a week?” Or, “I’m going to cut down on my sugar intake?” Or, “I’m going to add some vegetables to my diet?” Whatever promise you have made yourself (or others) and have not kept, ask God to forgive you and help you keep that promise. Your body is as important to God as your soul is. He wants you healthy so you can fulfill His purpose in this world.

Have a contract

Write your contract and put it where you can see it everyday

Go one step further and write a contract to yourself. It does not have to be several pages. Just one paragraph will do. When you write it, put it up somewhere you can see it every day. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments written on tablets of stone. That’s how important they were to God. Write your contract down because it’s important to you.

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Monday motivation – stop comparing yourself to others

Recently I read a very interesting piece of scripture in my morning devotional. Jesus had just asked Peter if he loved Him. This was after Jesus’s crucifixion when Peter had so shockingly denied knowing Christ. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. The third time Jesus asked the question Peter felt hurt and replied, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you” (John 21: 17).

A very interesting conversation followed, in which Jesus charged Peter to “feed His sheep,” and indicated the kind of death Peter will suffer. “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” (v 18).

The scripture goes on to say that Peter looked back and saw John, known as the disciple whom Jesus loved, following them. Peter asked, “Lord, what about him?”  Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me” (v 21 – 22).

Profound words from a profound Master. Peter’s destiny was not John’s destiny, in the same way that your destiny is not the same as your best friend’s or your sister’s or anybody else’s. So, stop comparing yourself to others, whether in your weight, your home or your success in life. Just try to be the best you can be, and leave the rest to God.