While you may have spent a lot of time working on your goals this year, some of us are nowhere near where we hoped we would be.
I get it.
I made big plans in January, with the best of intentions, but somehow obstacles got in the way—life happened.
My obstacles were like giant rocks that lodged between me and my goals. I didn’t even notice them at first; then one day I was planning for something in the fall, and it suddenly hit me—the year is almost half over.
What happened??
What is your obstacle?
Do you have obstacles keeping you from meeting your goals? Maybe you have had to face some difficult circumstances lately in your life? I faced some health issues that soaked up a lot of my time and energy. Maybe your to-do list has been overwhelming, and you overestimated the time you would have this year? Or maybe you have some family drama you’ve had to deal with? Oh Lord, I know how that can suck the life out of me. While some things are preventable others are not; like having sick kids for weeks on end.
These obstacles are real life, but if we are not careful, they can take us away from our goals.
Is your obstacle them?
Maybe you haven’t been dealt a difficult hand so you can’t relate to some of the above circumstances. Other things can steer you in the wrong direction. Look around you—are the people you do life with in a healthy spot?
Whether it’s a friend, co-worker, or a family member, we become who we hang around.
Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces. Proverbs 13:20.
Take a moment to evaluate your relationships, who influences you, and who you spend the most time with. So often negative people will be in our life, but until we step back and take a hard look, we don’t even see it.
Is your obstacle you?
We’ve looked at life experiences and those around us, but what if your obstacle is you? Are you taking the time to take care of yourself? Are you too tired and don’t have enough energy to do the things that need to get done to reach your goal? Are your bad emotions getting in the way? I can so easily hear the voices, “I can’t do it!”, “I am not going to make my deadline, so maybe next year.” On and on my mind goes until I’ve talked myself out of the project or goal. It doesn’t matter if it’s writing a book or cleaning the grout in the bathroom. The lies get in my head, and I give up.
You may not be able to remove your co-worker or family member but you can decide how much time you spend with them or you can choose the quality of that time. If it’s your co-worker is toxic maybe you can decide what you are going to take home with you. You can decide if you are going to leave it at the office or dwell on it all night long.
Every obstacle has a breaking point. I knew I had a choice to make: Let those obstacles stop me or step over them and find victory.
You still have time this year to meet your goals, but you may need to set aside some time to define your rocks—your obstacles. It’s up to you to decide if you are going to let the rocks get in your way or if you are going to step over it and enjoy your dreams.
