What Do You Plan for 2014?

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11

Goals are important for you and your family...help your children set theirs too!

If you joined us for The Call on January 15 then you will know that we talked about goal-setting.
Even if you heard it I feel very strongly that it is worth going over again.

-Did you know that eight out of ten people say that their life lacks goals and direction?
-How about the fact that only one out of five people who say that they have goals actually write them down? (According to a Harvard study you are ten times more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down)
One last interesting point is this:
-One in four people have the same goals year after year.  Examples of a few of these repeating goals would include;  losing weight, getting a better career, or finding a loving mate.  Even with these goals in mind most people still fail to properly examine themselves and their life and they continue to be whipped around like the waves on a turbulent and stormy sea.  I wonder do they really want to change?

Isn't it time you got it together and at least thought about the goals for your future? It's the only future that you have and you play an important role in directing it.  Like the saying goes, "if you are failing to plan, you are planning to fail."
Need help with goal-setting?  Check-out "The One Page Miracle"(you can read more here) This "OPM" is found in several of Dr. Daniel Amen's books.  Since I mention him so often I better tell you that "no" I am not in business with him nor do I get a reward in any form by recommending his work.  He's just made a big difference in my family's life and I want to share his research and wisdom with you.
If I can do anything to help you with setting your goals I am passionate about this so please feel free to contact me for additional help.  I am even available by phone if you don't live in my area.  And make sure you join me next month, February 15th  (and the 15th of every month) for The Call at 6pm Pacific time.  All you have to do is dial 530-881-1300 and key-in 642848# February's Call will be a follow-up to goal-setting.  We will talk about the pitfalls and how to overcome them!

Remember:  God wants you to achieve some awesome goals!
He is blessing you always.

donna@donnaschuller.com

New Year For A Better You!

 Ephesians 5:23 "Throw off your former way of life and let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes...."


Happy New Year 2014!   By now I hope that you have taken the time to review the past year.  I mean really review what it was like for you personally.
My husband and I have a yearly family tradition of getting together with our children and their spouses and sharing the answer to this question: "what was the best thing that happened to you during the last calendar year?"   Even if you have a had a really rough year;  financially, physically,  or spiritually; there is still a "best thing" that happened to you.  I guarantee it.  Most of the time this question opens the flood gates of memory and connects all of us to multiple occasions of joy and accomplishment.
The next thing we do is we share a few of our goals for the new year ahead.  We like to focus on goals instead of resolutions because goals indicate that you are taking responsibility and are going to do something  (proactive) where as a resolution usually says that you are resolving to discontinue something that you have been doing (reactive).  Lastly, we encourage one another to write down those goals and place them in a prominent place where we can see them. 
  Most of the time my goals include 7-10 things that I would like to achieve in the new calendar year.   I include spiritual goals, physical goals, family goals, social goals, and business/financial goals.  This is my time to write down what I want to accomplish, regardless of the economic climate, my family issues, my present state of mind, etc.  I think you get it.  I want to encourage you to do the same.

 In his book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life (1998), clinical neuroscientist and psychiatrist Daniel Amen says that “being goal-directed helps keep our behavior on track” (p. 134). His “One-Page Miracle” is a goal-setting exercise that he shares with his patients. Here’s how it works.

Take a sheet of paper and write down your primary goals. For example, Amen suggests four main headings: “Relationships, Work, Money, and Myself.” Under “Relationships,” Amen suggests the subheadings of spouse/partner, children, extended family, and friends. Under “Work,” he suggests the subheadings of current and future work goals. Under “Money,” he suggests the subheadings of current and future financial goals. Under “Myself,” he suggest the subheadings of body, mind, spirit, and interests.
Then, beside each subheading, write down what’s important to you in that area; what you want, or feel like you need. This process may take several days. Once finished, post this One-Page Miracle sheet where you can see it every day. This will help you stay focused on what’s important, and what’s not.

 If you want to read more about Dr. Amen or his amazing work you can click here.

 
Briefly, in review, here’s what Dr. Amen suggests:

• Write down all of your goals on one sheet of paper. 
• Write goals for all areas in your life. 
• Keep the goals short and succinct.
• Place your your goals somewhere highly visible where you can see and read them several times a day. 
• With your vision and goals highly visible and engrained in your brain, before making decicions for your life, ask yourself, “Is this action helping me reach my goals?”
• Tweak your goals as you go.  

If you'd like to be encouraged or need help with setting you new year's goals, remember to join us on January 15th at 6pm Pacific time for "The Call".  This month we will interview a very special man who knows how to live productively and positively even though he spends most of his time in a wheelchair.  Learn the secrets to how Jan-Michael Wildeman "prays like it all depends on God but works like it all depends on him."  Dial 530-881-1300 and when prompted key-in 642848#.  **Remember 6pm Pacific Time!  I  look forward to 'being' with you then!

To contact me please email:  donna@donnaschuller.com