Terrence @blexyfit on IG
Last week, Terrence, my son by another mother, flew in early to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. He is a USATF Certified coach who competes with the Atlanta Track team. Terrence is committed to the necessary workouts to improve his performance no matter what. He doesn’t wait until track season to train. He prepares year-round. Terrence’s dedication to track and field is no different from what we prepare for our new year’s resolutions. If we wait until the New Year arrives, the time to prepare has passed.
Too often, we fall into complacency and rationalize why we are unsuccessful with our goals and dreams, but what are we doing to prepare to reach our targets in the new year?
The Bible story of Daniel is an excellent example of preparation. Daniel, a Jewish youth, was taken into captivity to serve the king because of his loyalty and ability while remain faithful to his God. Daniel was devoted to praying three times a day. His enemies knew that he prayed to God, so they tricked the king into making a new law that anyone who prayed to God would be thrown into a lion’s den. Despite the new law, Daniel chose to pray to his God anyway. The king’s wise men saw Daniel praying and told the king that Daniel was breaking the law. Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den to be devoured, BUT GOD sent an angel to protect him, and he emerged miraculously unharmed. Daniel prepared for opposition, distractions, and enemies by praying consistently.
We want results without preparation. To manifest our goals, we must prepare what we need to execute and execute what we’ve prepared. There are three steps to help achieve your aspirations in the new year.
First, begin with your why. Why resolves? Your response must be more than a desire. You must be devoted and committed to it. Desiring it is not enough. You must be eager and willing to dedicate time and effort. Like Terrence, be ready to do it whether it is convenient or inconvenient.
Secondly, allow yourself grace and room to fail. We are not perfect and tend to quit when the going gets tough. We put too much pressure on ourselves to do everything exactly right, and when we miss the mark, we admit defeat. Everyone has missed the mark and fallen short. We can press through anything when we understand that our imperfections are part of the journey that helps us learn, grow, and evolve. Your journey is perfectly imperfect. Permit yourself to forgive your mistakes because no one is perfect.
Thirdly, fall in love with the process. Commit to celebrating the wins no matter how small. Don’t be so obsessed with the goal that you miss the joy along the way. Fall in love with life.
The decision to prepare is yours. We struggle to decide because we have no idea what we value. What do you love and want in the new year? When your values are clear, your decisions are easy. Preparation sets you up for success in life and business. Decide ahead of time and prepare for the New Year!
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By Rachelle Law
Writer | Author | Blogger
Founder & Director of How Come, How Long
