{"id":93,"date":"2010-01-01T12:12:58","date_gmt":"2010-01-01T12:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/redletters\/2010\/01\/how-to-accomplish-your-dreams-in-2010.html"},"modified":"2010-01-01T12:12:58","modified_gmt":"2010-01-01T12:12:58","slug":"how-to-accomplish-your-dreams-in-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/redletters\/2010\/01\/how-to-accomplish-your-dreams-in-2010.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Accomplish Your Dreams in 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

New Year, New Results, New Life<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Every year I take some time to review the past year and focus on the next. This is the best exercise I've ever seen for turning dreams into action.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Success and failure has to do with remember our abilities. Getting bogged down with past patterns paralyzes our future. Make your goals real by extracting everything you can from last year.  Use it as a weapon and learn from the past. Extract the best and learn from the challenges. If there\u2019s one thing you can use, it\u2019s something to look forward to.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s missing in your life? What\u2019s keeping you from accomplishing what God has called you to do? Likely, it\u2019s the fact that there is no compelling future to guide you. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Seven Step Process for maximizing your year:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Get clear about what happened in 2009. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

First, what were the magic moments in 2009? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What did you accomplish in 2009?  You can only build on success, that\u2019s where momentum comes from.  Whether depression, sadness, or fruitfulness and happiness.  You\u2019ve got to get that initial momentum. What were the decisions that shifted things, health, business, relationships?  <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What are some things you want to duplicate? What would like to repeat?  What choices worked for you? What great things would you like to carry over?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What was frustrating in 2009? What did you hate? What was disappointing? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What do you not want to duplicate? What will you not stand for? What made your life weak when you settled for lower expectations? What did you learn from these experiences?  What was painful, but valuable?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What decisions did you make that were empowering?  A real decision you acted on that may have been hard but got you where you wanted to be? Maybe it was a decision of something you stopped. What did you decide to change?  Which decision do you want to carry over to next year? Squeeze the juice out of 2009. Two things are sure to shape your life: big rewards and big pain.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Get certain!  If you\u2019re going to change anything, certainty must drive your decisions. The difference between David Beckham and others is this: the     person who is most certain dominates things.  Learn how to lock yourself in place.  Change your state and your physiology\u2026a metaphor for the     fire in your life. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Write down as many things as you can think of that are in your life today that use to be goals.  Is there somebody in your life today you didn\u2019t     think would be there?  Do things exist now you used to take for granted? We forget that if we can dream about anything, we can make it real. You     simply need to show yourself how you did it. I\u2019ve always dreamed\u2026and now I have it. How did you do that?  What was the dream that\u2019s now reality?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Circle two or three things that were impossible or difficult.  How did you accomplish it? You decided this is something you must have\u2026you     focused on it continuously.  Wherever focus goes, energy flows. This is called, \u201cFormative Causation.\u201d There is something connected with your ability to decide and the results that occur.  Thoughts are things.  Thoughts with certainty start to manifest. We always think about the negative,but when you focus on this, what happens? The negative happens. It\u2019s called,  \u201cself-fulfilling prophecies.\u201d Get really clear and go for what\u2019s in your heart. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Get excited. Energy is the force that makes life work. There is power and energy inside of you. Let go of your fear to get your hopes up. Take ten     minutes and write down everything you wish to do to master, helping people, personal development, a foundation, non-profit ministry, your     spiritual life, writing a book, becoming a public speaker, or going on a trip What do you want to see, how do you want to give your life away,     what do you want your life to look like? Write as fast as you can without thinking.  <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Get focused. Now, circle all of you top goals. Which of these will I achieve in 1, 5, 10 and 20 years? What are the top 4 one year goals you will achieve? What will get you up early and keep you up late? Write a paragraph as to why this is a must for you.  Reasons come first, answers come second. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Get committed.  Now that you are focused on these four goals, schedule some action.  The big question is, \u201cWhat are some things you need to         do right away to move toward this?\u201d Never, never, never leave the site of making a new distinction and learning something without taking some action in the next moment of attainment. People make goals and never look at them again. When you are \u2018in state\u2019 make a decision! Do something in the moment. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

6. Get momentum. What\u2019s the hardest part of working out? Getting to the gym of course. Progress works for you. The first step is the hardest. Think of     one of those goals, what\u2019s one of the most important things you want to accomplish in 2008?  What will give you more joy, and how can you give     more to the people you love? Change happens in a moment. The second you say, that\u2019s it, I\u2019m doing it.  I\u2019m completely out of shape, so I\u2019m     going to walk for 30 minutes a day. Don\u2019t wait for the right shoes, or the right time, now! What\u2019s one small thing you can do to make a step     toward your goals? If you were serious about changing something, no more excuses, if you were committed to changing your career, or time off,     what\u2019s the big step that would commit you? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

7. Get smart.  Make sure you follow through. Do something immediately. Set up a system of measurement. You\u2019ve got to be able measure yourself.     Write it down and create a strategy. Keep that strategy in front of you at all times so you can weigh your progress. You can\u2019t manage something     you can\u2019t measure. Knowing someone\u2019s going to call or follow up, gives you that edge you need to succeed. Check it once a month, and you get     twelve times to make it better, once a week, once a day, it\u2019s going to happen!  Get a system or hire a personal coach, the accountability is worth it. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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A tireless advocate for fatherless children, Davis has spent most of his adult life calling U.S. believers to become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the 143 million orphans living around the world. Through those connections, thousands of orphans now have the bright and hopeful future--one that is filled with opportunities and the love of the one true Father. Davis speaks hundreds of times each year at churches and conferences, mobilizing the church to action on behalf of the poor. He is the author of four books. His most recent novel, SCARED is a fictionalized account of his first-hand experiencing living and working with orphans in Swaziland, Africa. Davis' blog is the premier resource for the latest developments in Christian orphan ministry. Davis also currently teaches courses as adjunct professor at George Fox University in Newberg, OR. When not traveling the globe, Davis resides in the mountains of Colorado in the small community of Palmer Lake. 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