In our zone meeting this past week we had the opportunity to take some time to personally plan a few things. It was obvious that as we schedule, set goals, and make plans that these things are centered around us being able to fulfill our deepest hopes and dreams, and our eternal purpose.
A few thoughts from the book 7 Habits for Highly Effective People can help us continue to help us understand why and how effective planning can allow us to govern our lives, rather than allowing others to govern it for us.
" It's a principle that all things are create twice, but not all creations are by conscious design. ... Whether we are aware of it or not, whether we are in control of it or not, there is a first creation to every part of our lives. We are either the second creation of our own proactive design, or we are the second creation of other people's agendas, of circumstances, or of past habits. "
He goes on to talk about how we have many roles in our lives, and we must identify them and have goals for each one. Otherwise we are not thinking broadly enough in terms of our growth. When we do this we often fall into traps of overcompensating in one role. We focus so much on work that we neglect personal health, we focus so much on dating that we allow school work to slide, etc.
Think about the roles you have. What are you about in these roles? What are the values that should guide you? What's important to you in this role?
Once you have identified these things, then he gives these instructions:
" After you identify your various roles, then you can think about the long-term goals you want to accomplish in each of these roles. ...
...An effective goal focuses primarily on results rather than activity. It identifies where you want to be, and in the process, helps you determine where you are. It gives you important information on how to get there, and it tells you when you've arrived. It unifies your efforts and energy. It gives meaning and purpose to all you do. And it can finally translate itself into daily activities so that you are proactive, you are in charge of your life, you are making happen each day the things that will enable you to fulfill your personal mission statement. "
I hope and pray that each of us as disciples of Christ can accept the invitation to follow Christ on a daily basis. But to do so deliberately, rather than by chance. As a teacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can and should be purposefully using every moment to grow and apply the principles we have come to know are true.
What experiences with planning and "becoming" have you experienced recently?
