12 Week Year - Goals

 

A few years back, my husband Joel worked for a company that utilized the concept of a 12 week year. While I haven't yet read the book that this is derived from, I have been intrigued by the idea of it and decided that 2023 would be the year I would try this out. Basically the idea is that you break the year into 12 week sections and set goals for each 12 weeks block. I really liked the idea of taking larger calendar year goals and breaking them down into smaller chunks to focus on for these 12 week intervals. So that is what I did this year. 

My first 12 week year began yesterday. A week ago, Joel and I sat down and wrote out our goals for the first 12 week year - while some of them are individual goals, others are things we want to accomplish as a couple. Notice I have used the word goals as opposed to resolutions. I am never great at resolutions - I honestly fail at them. However, as a SPED teacher I am all about setting goals for my students that are SMART - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reasonable, and Time Bound. That is the framework that I used for setting my first set of 12 week goals. Another thing I have learned in SPED is to have action steps or objectives to help reach those goals; so I have done that as well. I also have learned that accountability in meeting our goals is so crucial! So - I am sharing my goals here, writing them out and making them known. At the end of my 12 week year, I hope to write a post with the progress but in the meantime - feel free to reach out to me and ask me how I am doing! 

Spiritual Goals: 

* Quiet time 5 days a week
    - Set time each morning
    - Record Prayers/Answers to Prayers
    - Journal Daily

* Read 2 books of the Bible 
   - Daily
   - Record lessons and revelations

Physical Goal: 

*Lose 24 pounds
   - Exercise 5 days a week
   - Drink 8 glasses of water daily
   - Limit Soft Drinks to 1 per day

Relationship Goals: 

*Invest in 2 meaningful friendships
   - Reach out to them
   - Share openly with them
   - Once a month schedule 1 on 1 time with them

*Invest in Connection Group Members
   - Have them over for dinner
   - Weekly texts of encouragement

*Foster independence with my adult children
  - Ask "My Wonder is..." style questions 
  - Release them to make mistakes

Financial Goals: (made with my husband)

*Meet living expenses within our financial means
  - eliminate unnecessary expenses

* $1000 paid off of credit card

* $1100 paid in tithe

Home Projects (made with my husband)

* Clean up all the trash/excess wood on our property

* Laminate flooring in Tyler's room

* Back Patio cleared and set up for use in the spring/summer 

There are my first 12 week year goals! The 12 week year is from Jan 1 - March 25. I am excited to really FOCUS on these goals and areas of my life! 

2023 Word of the Year

 For about 12 years now, I have adopted the practice of asking the Lord to give me a word of the year to dial into and provide direction for the year. In the past I have had words like joy, embrace, anticipation, perseverance, and missional. 

As I prayed about my word for this year - two actually kept coming to mind. I was really wrestling with which one to go with and then I realized that the two actually tie together and when you have one; you can also have the other. So - my word for 2023 is FOCUS which will then allow me to dial in and attend to PURPOSE. I want to be so focused on the Lord this year that there is no doubt in my mind what purpose He has for me in all areas of my life! 

Proverbs 4:25 states this, "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly ahead of you." This is where I want to be. I tend to get so side tracked, so distracted by things that really have nothing to do with God's purpose or plan for my life! I need to FOCUS on the plan HE has for me and not stray from that. 

As Joel and I have been talking about our words for the year, the direction of ministry as well as our family this year we both came to realize that over the last year we have slowly lost sight of our purpose and calling. God called us 8 years ago to come to Delta and plant HIS Church. At first, it was easy to stay focused and dialed in because that was honestly all we had to hold on to. However, as we became more settled here and we began living our daily life...keeping our hand to the plow became harder. The past year we hit some serious potholes in the road...if you know anything about potholes you know that they can cause damage to your vehicle and also get you off the road quick! I can tell you that is what has happened for me. I had lost sight of the purpose, I had allowed the enemy to sidetrack me, and allowed fear, anxiety, doubt cloud my way. 

So this year - it is all about FOCUSING on Him so that I can remain steadfast in the PURPOSE that He has called me to!