Week 70 How to Set Goals

How to Set Goals with the Spirit

Something that I have learned in the mission is how to set goals by revelation and through the spirit. It’s something I have studied almost my entire mission and every time I learn something new that helps me achieve my objective as a missionary. I was thinking a little this week and decided that I could apply this same principle to New Years goals. I have found that when I apply this process and when I truly listen to the spirit I always finish with goals and plans to achieve those goals that are in line with the goals and plans the Lord has. My "goal" today is to give you ten steps and a few resources to help you make goals and plans to help you achieve your objective, whether that be a missionary or in your daily life.

First a mission update: Things have been a little rough here in Taulabé but we finally caught a break! We brought 5 people to church, 4 of which were grown men. Do you know how hard it is to bring a grown man to church at 9 in the morning? We are seeing a lot of miracles after a lot of hard work.  Elder Co is the greatest and we get along well.

Almost forgot I turned 20 this week till familia Avila gave me this malanga 

Step 1: Make an environment where the spirit can be present.

           - Clean the room up a bit and put everything in the room is order

           -Make sure that no one is going to interrupt you

Step 2: Pray to have the spirit with you

-Surely the spirit will not be there if you do no invite it

-John 16:13 "guide you to all truth"

Step 3: Analyze

           -What is the best you have ever achieved? What is the lowest you have ever achieved? When did it occur? Why did it occur?

           -This step is about acquiring information

           -No one knows you better then the Lord, look to him to find what you are good at and what things you don’t do well.

Step 4: Discern

           -Find what isn’t obvious. What is the Lord trying to show you?

           -D&C 8:2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. 

Step 5: SET GOALS

           -Set goals that help you stretch and grow.

           -Ask yourself these questions (preach my gospel chapter 8)

·      Is the goal specific? Is the goal realistic? Will the goal make us stretch? Are we committed to this goal?

Step 6: Plan

           -To set a goal and not make specific plans on how to achieve that goal is to make a commitment that you                                    know you aren’t going to achieve.

           -Who? What? When? How?

           - Set Goals for the day, week, month, and year.

Step 7: Put the Goal in your heart

          When Cortez came to conquer the Americas he soon found himself with a bunch of homesick soldiers that had next to no motivation to work. He gave the order to sink the boats in which they had arrived. When the men saw that they no longer could return to Spain they had no other choice but to fight. SINK YOUR BOATS. If you don’t feel committed to your goals, and committed to the Lord to complete you objective, at whatever the cost, when the hardships come you quickly will give up on your goal and forget you commitment to the Lord.

            -Look at Nephi's great example of getting the brass plates. 1 Nephi 3:7 but we see how truly committed Nephi was as the chapter continues in verse 15. Then after two failed attempts, Nephi again goes to get the plates 1 Nephi 4:6-7

           -Why do you want to achieve the Goal? Ask yourself if your intentions are pure and if you have real intentions to complete with the goal.

 Step 8: Present your goals and plans to the Lord

            -D&C 9:8. You have been making goals and plans with the help of the spirit but now you are going to present them to the Lord himself

-Offer a kneeling prayer with your plans laid out on the table and speak with the Lord. Focus on truly communicating with him.

-I promise you, the Lord will respond and help you correct something, he always fixes something.

Step 9: Do it

-The secret is in what you do everyday. You have to strive to remember your goals and keep them fresh in your mind.

-Put your Goals somewhere where you will see them regularly. Not just daily but through out the day

 Step 10: Measure and Report your progress

-Frequently share you progress with friends and family members

-In your morning and evening prayers report you progress to the Lord.

-This will help you both remember you goals and have deeper commitment in completing them.

“When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates.”

–President Thomas S. Monson

“I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on your life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.”

–Elder M. Russell Ballard

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