I set a goal for January. Not really a New Year’s Resolution (you know, like declutter, lose weight or get organized), but something I wanted to work toward, to help me focus my time and energy. A goal for this blog. I’ve so enjoyed sharing and connecting with my readers here at Apron Strings & other things that I’d like to grow this little family of friends. I am working on reaching 100+ viewers each and every day in January.
For the first 12 days I did! YAY! I was so excited! And then for the next 3 days I didn’t. boo. My natural tendency is to dwell on the negative, to quit and accept failure. Not today. This day I am choosing to look at the positive, to find the silver lining, to learn and move forward anyway.
I ask myself, on the days I did not meet my goal, what did I accomplish? I was able to be with my daughter as she birthed her first babe, I spent time with my newest grandson, I set up my very first online Lilla Rose party, I enjoyed a mini-in-house date night with my husband (you know, since I’ve been busy helping daughter and her little family), I enjoyed story time with my 7 year old, I’ve posted pictures and sent emails announcing the newest blessing in the family.
And so this day I will dwell on all the good things God has brought my way and not come down hard because I have not met my goal. I will embrace each new day with a “Good Morning, Lord, what will we do together today?”
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
How are you doing with your New Year’s Resolutions or Goal-Keeping or Project-Tackling? I’d love to hear so I can celebrate with you or cheer you on.
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I have had a year of not meeting goals, finding a lot of unknown weaknesses, and honestly finding that I am not she-woman. I became very depressed towards the end of 2013. I, too, have decided not to beat myself up so badly when I don’t meet all my goals, but instead to focus on the ones I do, and the people/things in my life that are positive. My writing has always helped me to see when I get off track or helped me share my victories. I love my blog, and my writings, and a great cup of coffee to help throw out the negatives. You can accomplish your goals, I have no doubt! We each just need to remember that we are perfectly imperfect and perfectly individual!
Hello, Salli 🙂 Thank you for sharing today! I can relate to your comment. It is so important to focus on the positive and see what is working in order to move on past what isn’t. Blogging, writing, creating and a great cup of coffee help throw me out of the negatives too! You’ve encouraged me today, thank you. Have a blessed weekend.
My biggest goal is to be a good example to my children, regarding faith, family, patience, and learning. This is going to be a challenge for me, as it seems that I’m always being pulled in 100 different directions, but I’m determined and, with God’s help, will do my best.
You’ve just described Life As A Mom, Shelly 🙂 You are so right, with God’s help, we CAN do all we need to do. I pray for you and all of us moms that we will be able to discern between what we must do and what we want to do and find a good balance of both as we care for our families. Enjoy your weekend!
Don’t give up. Link up!
Amen!
Congratulations on the birth of your grandchild! I have 5 grandchildren and time with them is a blessing. I have the opportunity to give guidance and enjoy the delight of their eager curiosity.
I’m you neighbor at the Weekend Brew. Have a blessed weekend!
Thank you Carol 🙂 Grandchildren are most definitely a joy, a way of multiplying God’s love exponentially. This little guy is our 6th and we are very happy to welcome more in the future! I’m am so glad you have the gift of grandchildren to enjoy.
Hello Linda! Wow! You are doing great things! Even though you did not meet your goals on those days…wow, the excitement and blessings!
I am not meeting all of my goals, but I am trying to just make steady progress forward, for God is in control! I’m so thankful that He is or I would surely mess things up!
Thank you for your sweet words, Amanda. I doubt we really ever meet all our goals, but we can count our blessings every day. I’m glad you stopped by today, have a blessed weekend!
I’m still striving to meet my goals. I feel like I fall short most days. I am so thankful for God’s grace. Thank you for visiting my blog today! Blessings!
I think it’s wise to step back and evaluate when you don’t reach a goal. Sounds like you were more focused during that time on real life activities than virtual activities — and that’s a good thing! I have a lot of goals for this year: decluttering my entire home, losing weight (baby #5 is now 8 months!), and growing my blog. Working on putting action steps in place for each of those. Thanks for linking up at Family Fun Friday.
You are right, Stephanie – my real life activities were good and important. Plans were made to be changed, goals were made to be re-evaluated. Praying you have great success in meeting your goals this year! I remember well what it was like losing that extra weight after baby #5 😉 I always appreciate your sweet comments. Glad you stopped in today!
Love your perspective here!
Thanks for sharing at Essential Fridays.
Blessings
Mel from Essential Thing Devotions
Thank you, Mel. Always happy to see your smiling face in the comment box!
Thank you. This has been on my mind lately. I am great at getting started, but not at finishing. I do well for about 2 weeks and then the novelty wears off and I do not accomplish. I have resorted to not even setting goals because I get frustrated when I don’t accomplish them and give up the whole thing. I think that I will never achieve the ultimate goal because I can’t even accomplish the little goals that eventually lead up to the big goals. I give up way to easy. I get so upset that I do not even try.
I am in a new adventure with my husband and they want us to set goals. I have a desire to achieve, but no desire to set goals because it frustrates me to the point that I do not even want to accomplish anything. The though of goal setting is so super negative for me right now. I have set myself up to feel the disappointment and failure before I even begin. I am working toward changing my reaction to it all. Getting rid of the big bad ball of energy that I have surrounded myself with has been a challenge. I am trying to be ready to set goals again especially for my husband and children. They are becoming the motivation to try again.
This is what I needed to hear today. This is what I got from this post. I did not accomplish my goal, but what did I accomplish? I can use that in my life. I would then ask myself. “Does what I did accomplish help me or distract me from getting my ultimate goal?” It also helps me to realize that I am not a total failure in everything. Knowing that I accomplished something rather than dwelling on the negative thought that I accomplished nothing could be a helpful skill. Thank you again.
I am so glad my post encouraged you, happy momma 🙂 I can relate to that overwhelming feeling of never being able to accomplish my goals. Honestly, I avoid goal-setting. I feel it automatically sets me up for failure. This post is all about changing that mindset, my attitude, my heart. I like your follow up question – “does it distract me?” – because I am easily distracted. I am working on evaluating my expectations and breaking goals down into baby steps, so I can more easily focus on the task at hand.
Thank you for stopping in today, and sharing your heart. That encourages me! Enjoy your day, and I pray you will be able to look back on it and find the positive in it. Blessings!
Hi, Linda.
I’m taking a much more gentle and reasonable approach to goal-setting in 2019. So far, so good . . .
By grace.
That sounds like a wonderful plan, Michele 🙂 Blessings to you as you venture into 2019!
I’m actually doing pretty good with most of my goals for January (just not my weight loss goal!). I have been exercising and drinking water and trying not to snack so much though so I’m not all that concerned with the numbers… I was just really hoping to finally reach that Weight Watchers goal I set last spring.
You are doing great, Joanne! Keep up the good work and you’ll read that goal 🙂