Setting Goals

Happy New Year
“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” (Psalm 20:4)

Each year I set personal and professional goals for myself. I was a little concerned about how the pandemic would affect my 2020 goals. Imagine my surprise when I reviewed my goals and saw that in some areas, I exceeded what I set out to do.

I am a firm believer that an idea is just an awareness until you write it on paper. Ideas on paper are goals. When you write out your goals, you have something that you can work toward. Setting goals helps me to stay on track. I’m less likely to yield to laziness when my goals are documented. When there is a measurable goal in front of me, it’s easier to stay on target. I can record my progress along the way. Writing out my goals aid in providing clarity regarding what steps I need to take.

I also like to challenge myself in goal setting. My father used to tell us to reach for the stars. He said, “you may not reach them but as long as you aim up you won’t hit anything on the ground.” At least one of my goals each year needs to be something that will require me to step far outside of my comfort zone.

This year, one of my goals is to be more skilled in my writing. Here are some steps that will help me achieve this goal. Enroll in a writing class and read a book each month unrelated to what I’m studying or preparing for. I will continue my involvement with my writing group and attend two writing conferences in 2021. Lastly, I will submit an article or devotional every other month to a magazine, or some other outlet.

Now, why am I telling you this? Will you help to hold me accountable? Follow me on social media to be sure I am following through. And you have my permission to call me out if I’m not doing what I have set out to do. We are helpers to one another. Working together we can accomplish our goals.

FYI: That’s only one of my goals for 2021, there are several others on my list.

Evelyn Johnson-Taylor Ph.D.