How to Set a Good Goal using your Patriarchal Blessing - Part 2

 What is a Good Goal?

SCRIPTURE:  “For I God, created all things of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.” –Moses 3:5

 “Remember to Start this Goal Setting Session with a Prayer”

            In the pre-mortal existence the plan of salvation was presented to the spirit children of God. There was conflict over how and in what manner the plan would be administered to the forthcoming human family upon the earth.

            That a “plan” was presented, is another way of saying that God had a goal…”to bring to pass the the eternal life of man,” and his plan was well thought out beforehand. Moses wrote that God said this was “creating all things spiritually.” God then broke down that goal into smaller, logical, sequential activities that were met in a specified time frame. Read Abraham 4:19

            “And it came to pass that it was from evening until morning that it was night; and it came to pass that it was from morning until evening that it was day; and it was the fourth time.”

            God had already organized the lights in heaven causing them to divide the day from night, then organized them to be for signs and seasons, and for days and for years.

            Then he watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed.

MY QUESTION FOR YOU: Can you see the logic in the creation? First spiritual (thoughts and concepts formulated) and next God ordered into smaller activities (a day, time or in other words a period of time to accomplish)? THEN God worked on his plan in the real world (the Creation in six creative periods) and then recorded what he was doing (scriptures).   

Patterning our goal setting on God’s example, we should have a PLAN (area of focus) then:

1. First create spiritually or conceptually; 

2. Second, break down the goal (area of focus) into smaller segments that can be measured; 

3. Third, place the smaller activities in a specific time frame; 

4. Fourth, write it all down.

            Also note that God was not a singular person in this process. See the phrase above that reads, “things which they had ordered,” and if you need help in reaching your goals, invite others to help share their expertise. Involving others can help with accountability in reaching your goals. If someone else knows about your goal they will usually support you as you try to reach it. Or, just you knowing that someone else knows about your goal will keep you honest in your efforts.

MY SUGGESTION:  In my 1983 journal I found some comments that might help you visualize this process of setting goals, it is called Targeting: the ability to direct behavior to recognized, predetermined objectives. It stated that this will help you deal with a variety of life situations in an effective way that will produce a minimum of stress, and produce self-esteem. Self-esteem is built upon accomplishment, or upon the ability to solve problems and accomplish what we set out to accomplish. Without confidence and self-esteem our capacity to derive joy and satisfaction from the life process itself is all but crippled. Targeting is a skill that requires practice. No one is perfect on the first try. Golly, I'm still not perfect after 30 years of goal setting using my patriarchal blessing. But, this skill that gives you more control over you life and actually frees you from being a slave to the conditions that affect you. The process of practicing (and sometimes failing to reach a goal) setting goals brings a self awareness. I always have hope to do better, next time around.

Be Kind to Yourself - Have Hope in Being Better and Better

          Although I will focus on the skill of Targeting in my next blog, don't worry if you get captivated by another book or concept on goal setting. Go for it. There are many, many books written on this topic. It is not the specific plan you use that is important. It is the attempt to engage in the process that is so rewarding.