Relationships Impact Goals
Most of us intellectually embrace the importance of perseverance when it comes to accomplishing goals or overcoming trials. The pastor of Jerusalem's first century church wrote these words:
For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Jms 1.3, esv
Steadfastness, persistence, perseverance - not giving up, these are
the traveling companions of a successful goal-setter. Achievers go
through more testing than most because they refuse to live in
mediocrity.
If Perseverance is Key...
Christian goal setting is about answering the question, "Who do I want to become as a person, and what are my most important lifetime goals?"
Many of us HOPE to become virtuous while accomplishing other meaningful objectives. Though hope is related to perseverance, "HOPING" is not a strategy.
Hope is important but it's not a plan.
A plan includes a clear vision, mid and long-term goals, and short-term objectives.
One's vision might be to become a compassionate person. A goal is then established to cultivate and demonstrate compassion in tangible ways.
Objectives are a list of tasks that march you toward goal accomplishment and realization of the original vision.
It's true. Goals are achieved through perseverance but that's easier said than done because faith decreases when progress ceases.
When faith and hope grow weak, perseverance does not want to get up in the morning. Therefore, the question must be asked: "How do I cultivate a persevering mind while trying to accomplish goals?"
Perseverance is a stream of positive and logical thoughts and behaviors. Those who achieve, tear down anything that damns up the stream of persistence.
One of the most common damns is a wrong relationship.
Fact: In life, it's far easier to be pulled down than lifted up.
Tommy Newberry, founder of the 1% club tells us to keep our goals far away from people who shrink dreams.
Scripture teaches us that as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17) and bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Remember This: Make your closest relationships those who encourage you to be your best. Friends like that will keep your stream of perseverance flowing!
