Category: My Thoughts

It’s good to have a few good friends to remind me to set my goals for next year. So I reminded a few of my other friends too. One of them asked how I have the time to reach my 9 Power Goals? So I explained that it is due to my limited time that I need to focus on what is important, where I am heading and what I want to achieve. That way, I can spend my precious time wisely, to achieve the goals that I have set, in the important areas of my life.

For me, the basic 7 Power Goals are in the areas of: Business (Career), Finances, Family, Health, Spiritual, Growth (Personal Development) and Creation (create something – art, craft, write a blog or book, podcast, etc). You can have other areas like hobbies, relationship, whichever that is important to you.

The other two Power Goals that I have is ‘MicMarie’, which is my side business in photography and album designing; and lastly, ‘Soul’ for lack of a better word, where I feed my soul by writing this blog.

So, let me persuade you to think of the important areas of your life, and set goals to achieve for the year. This will also help you make better decisions in light of your goals and what you want to achieve. Time is so precious – spend your time wisely.

In my last post, I talked about Seasons of Life. However, there are times when our seasons have overstayed – when we refuse to move on due to being too long in our “comfort zone” or other reasons. Then it is time to discern our season.

You have circled this mountain long enough! Now, turn north! Deuteronomy 2:3

As we come to the end of the year, it’s good to reflect and think of wrapping up some loose ends in our lives – especially things or situations that we have been stuck in a season for too long – to know what are the things we need to cut loose, things that are dragging us down, or detrimental to us. Seek God’s wisdom when He tells you that you have circled in a situation long enough, and commands you to “turn north”! It could be business or job situation, a long-lost family member, so-called complicated relationship, deteriorating health, dry spiritual season that is gnawing at you, mid-life crisis that is causing havoc, etc.

Discern what is your “north” as you advance into the new year, at least move into the direction of your solution or resolution. God had made plans for the Israelite to move into The Promised Land when He asked them to turn north. Seek God’s plan for His promises to you for the new year.

It’s important to recognize the different seasons of our lives so that we know how to live according to the seasons, and not be impatient or give up too soon.

During the Planting Season, we start a new season or projects from the seeds of ideas, with the right people and tools, in the environment of fertile soil.

Once the season has started, we have to water the plants in the Nurturing Season, with our attention, love and care. We also need to build our skills and our team.

The Pruning Season is the season of facing the challenges and hardships, and persevering through them. We need to cut the excesses and excuses, and focus on what’s important for our survival and growth. This will take as long as it takes for us to learn the Lessons of Life for this season, so it’s best to ask: What is the lesson(s) here?

When we recognize this painful season, we will not give up easily, as the perseverance will bring us to the next Season of Harvesting. Many people do not know how close they are in achieving their success have they recognized that they have to persevere through the pruning season to harvest the success of their effort.

In my life, I’ve found that recognizing these different seasons in my life help me to persevere through the seasons, and to learn and grow in compassion and greater resilience.