As we come up on a time of year where many will be focused on resolutions, goals, and positive change, I think it is healthy for each of us to look back, look around, and look forward in our own lives. We all run the risk of falling into the routine of going through the motions, checking off boxes on our to-do lists, and becoming stagnant in our faith, careers, and relationships. As the quote many of us have seen on social media says, \u201cIf you\u2019re not moving forward, you\u2019re moving backwards.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n So how can we do this? Let\u2019s walk through each of these steps together: <\/span><\/p>\n Looking Back <\/b>– As you think back on the previous year, what were the highlights? What were your favorite moments? What accomplishments are you most proud of? <\/span><\/p>\n I have many great memories from 2017. In January, my wife and I bought our first house. In April, I graduated with my Masters in Ministry from Oklahoma Christian. In September, I competed in a duathlon. I took teenagers to San Francisco, Oklahoma City, and New Mexico. I went on vacation with my wife. I helped my sister move into her dorm room overlooking the ocean in Malibu. <\/span><\/p>\n While those may seem like only the \u201cbig\u201d moments, I also have several small memories that I will cherish from this past year, such as completing my first DIY project in our new house (which wouldn\u2019t have been possible without YouTube), or taking a day trip to Austin with my wife and sister to get Amy\u2019s Ice Cream. I\u2019ll look back fondly on attending Oklahoma City Thunder games with my brother and friends, lifting weights with my brother-in-law, and Sonic runs with the students in my youth ministry. I am truly thankful for all the highs, lows, and in-betweens of 2017. It was a wonderful year.<\/span><\/p>\n My attempt at writing these things down is not to brag about how nice a year I had, but rather to help you think about the special memories from your own life over the past year. What did you do with your family? Where did you travel? What new friendships did you form? What new skills did you develop? What positive things happened this year that will affect your life going forward? <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that, for you, 2017 wasn\u2019t the best year. Maybe you\u2019re looking forward to the fresh start that a new year will bring. While I won\u2019t pretend to understand your situation or the difficulties that come along with it, I hope that you might still find lessons or important truths from your experiences over the past year. I\u2019ve come to realize that God is often closest to us as we experience trials and disappointments. <\/span><\/p>\n Looking Around <\/b>– How do you feel about the current state of your life? Do you feel overworked? Are you bored? Have you grown complacent in the areas that matter most? Are you giving too much of your time to non-essentials?<\/span><\/p>\n Recently, I began to \u201clook around\u2019 in my own life. I started asking for as much feedback from others as I could. There were several things that I learned, but one characteristic that dominated the advice I received was this painful truth: I try to do too much on my own. In a sense, I\u2019m a control freak. What I might defensively call \u201cself-motivated\u201d or \u201cdriven,\u201d others were viewing as arrogant or self-centered. This limits the ministry that I lead because as I do too much without help, my talents may be showcased, but my weaknesses will also be obvious. <\/span><\/p>\n With this in mind, I am making a commitment in the new year to never be afraid to ask others for help. I have learned that part of being a good leader is working with people, and that if you don\u2019t have people around you to work with, then you may not be the leader you thought you were. <\/span><\/p>\n What about you? What do you see when you look around? Have you developed positive or constructive habits over the past year? Or have you struggled with complacency, boredom, a lack of time, or a lack of motivation? What can you do in 2018 to get back on track?<\/span><\/p>\n Looking Forward <\/b>– If you\u2019re the type to make New Years Resolutions, now might be the time. What do you hope to see happen in your life in 2018? What do you want to be the defining moments of the next year? What habits do you want to create? Where do you want to grow? <\/span><\/p>\n In addition to what I wrote above, here are three goals I have for the new year: <\/span><\/p>\n\n
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