I agree with Tony Reinke that an emphasis on goals is more helpful than focusing on resolutions. This in mind, he has written a post that challenges me personally. He reflects on writing goals and being responsible with his health: both areas to which I relate.
To “resolve” is to determine to start doing (or to stop doing) something. It’s all about habits, really—breaking bad habits and starting good habits. I don’t set resolutions. The reason I don’t is because I find that my habits usually change only once I have a goal in view. So I tend to put the emphasis on goals. I tend to get better results by setting a target first. That’s why I am not a resolution guy, more of a goal guy.
In 2010 I set out with one big goal: to write a 55,000-word book. So on January 4, 2010 I sat at my desk, opened a new Word document on my computer, and began writing a book. It was really frightening at first, but as the days and months passed and the book began to take shape, I started to realize the incredible potential of 12-month project.
The lesson I learned from the experience is that 365 days is a period of time long enough to achieve one BIG goal. I guess I knew this. I’m reminded of this importance of long-range goals by a quote that I keep on my computer desktop from Mark Dever. He says, “Young men tend to overestimate what they can accomplish in the short term and underestimate what they can accomplish in the long term.” Over time I have discovered the deep wisdom of those words
Read the rest here.
