As we look forward to 2017 I am thinking about my vision for more than this next year, but for my entire life. How do I want to live? What do I want my life to look like? I am thinking Bigger than I have ever thought. I am really trying to create a God-sized dream.
God-sized dreams are BIG. They take what we feel is impossible and make it possible. What are your dreams? What do you want to do with your life? What has God put on your heart and in your mind to do? Let’s explore this together.
I have been reading a new book . . . surprise. It is a take on the work and focus I have been doing for over two years. It is called, The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran. He claims you can get more done in 12 weeks than most people get done in a year. Impressive. I want to focus on one part for this week. Your Life Vision.
The first thing to approach is the way you think. We are going to look at it on four levels. This is chapter 13 of the book but I want to help you work through your mindset. That is what is most important. We will go from the impossible → possible → probable → given. Are you ready to Dream Big?
Impossible
What would you do, could you do, if there were no restrictions? Don’t think about the credentials you need; the education you don’t have or the training it would take. What do you want to do? What is the deepest dream that you have not dared to even think about before? Go there, write it down. What is it? Write without thinking about the how for now. Just dream.
Luke 18:27 (NLT) He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”
Possible
From there, you can look at your list, your dream, and ask this question: What if? What if this dream happened in your life? What difference would it make for your life? What are the benefits to your life if this were true? At this point list all the benefits to you when your dream is realized.
One thing I have come to understand is that even if I can dream big, God always has a view bigger than I can imagine. I am always astounded by His adventure for my life. 1 Corinthians 1:25 (NLT) This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
Probable
At this stage it is now time to go into planning for your new life. The question here is, How might I? How might I get from point A to point B? How might I put things in place that move me toward my goal? How might I take steps to see the dream a reality? I have found that it is not hard to create a plan; it is hard to take the first step. Inertia is the reason it always takes much more energy to get started than to continue once you are going. Get going. . .
Proverbs 16:3 (NLT) Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 21:5 (NLT) Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
Given
This last part is your final mindset shift. Now you take action and start to see results as you work your plan. This is the exciting part! Once you see small successes the momentum will carry you to have bigger and bigger successes. Make sure to write down your wins as they happen. Keeping an account and celebrating when you hit a goal is very important. Why? Because when the going gets frustrating and you think it may not be worth it these victories keep you focused and help you persevere.
Romans 5:3-4 (NLT) We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
This breakdown for me is a process I can think through in order to create the life I want. I hope it is inspiration for you. Of course there are more tools to use to actually set the goals, write the plans, and decide on the activities. Breaking it down into those 12-week plans is key (I actually like 8-week plans). I am here for you. If you want support, accountability, coaching I can help.
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