TARGETING:
1. Knowing
what has to be done…creating spiritually or conceptualizing
2. Knowing
how to do it…study specifics to understand what is required
3.
Ascertain if the goal is keyed realistically to available resources and
abilities
An intention is something you make up your mind to do. To
become a goal, it must be written down. A target is something that actually
draws your attention toward it—that forces a certain line of action. An
intention becomes a target when given certain properties. Not all targets are
equally important.
A desire or
intention has no concreteness, no tangibility, it is not something you can set
your sights on or aim at—its not a target.
How to
construct a target:
1. Create a
Place for the Target (visualize a clear area appropriate for goal)
2. Set up a Visible Target (make a
real world object like an excel spreadsheet, workpage, or use a calendar,
refrigerator sign, journal diagram, note on the mirror, poster on the bedroom
door, etc.)
3. Paint a
Bull’s eye (set a deadline to reach the goal)
Here is an example of what I am talking about:
Selected phrase from blessing: Seek Him diligently in
fervant and honest prayer.
Research words diligent: Diligence is characterized
by steady earnest, energentic application of effort and is derived from latin
words meaning to select, esteem or love. Therefore diligence differs from
perserverance, where one persists against, in spite of, counter influences,
opposition or discouragement, in that it is used to indicate one has chosen or
selected to do something out of esteem or love.
Fervant: exhibiting or marked by great intensity of
feeling; hot or glowing (as with holy ghost)
Honest: Free of deceit and untruthfulness; sincere,
frank; characterized by truth; not false; Virtuous; chaste.
Prayerfully select how to implement an improvement over
current mode of prayer using these definitions: My example will focus on
showing diligence by setting goals for increasing the amount of time I spend in
my personal prayers, seeking the Holy Ghost to be with me and striving for
personal worthiness.
date began target
date accomplished fervant?
|
Prayer length
|
3 minutes
|
|
February 1
|
|
|
|
5 minutes
|
|
April 1
|
|
|
|
10 minutes
|
|
June 1
|
|
Next, set a day and time to review how well you did each
week: I.E., every Sunday at 7 am.
QUOTE: 2011
October General Conference talk by Elder Ian S. Ardern, quorum of the Seventy,
entitled “A Time to Prepare.”
“The eighth chapter of Preach My Gospel focuses our attention on
the wise use of time. In this chapter, Elder M. Russell Ballard reminds us that
we must set goals and learn how to master the techniques to achieve them (see
Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service [2004], 146). Mastering the
techniques needed to reach our goals includes becoming the master manager of
our time.”
“Time is
never for sale; time is a commodity that cannot, try as you may, be bought at
any store for any price. Yet when time is wisely used, its value is
immeasurable. On any given day we are all allocated, without cost, the same
number of minutes and hours to use, and we soon learn, as the familiar hymn so
carefully teaches, “Time flies on wings of lightning; we cannot call it back”
(“Improve the Shining Moments,” Hymns, no. 226). What time we have we must use
wisely. President Brigham Young said, “We are all indebted to God for the
ability to use time to advantage, and he will require of us a strict account of
[its] disposition” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young
[1997], 286).”
“With the demands made of us, we
must learn to prioritize our choices to match our goals or risk being exposed
to the winds of procrastination and being blown from one time-wasting activity
to another. We are well taught about priorities by the Master Teacher when He
declared in His Sermon on the Mount, “Wherefore, seek not the things of this
world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his
righteousness” (Matthew 6:33, footnote a; from Joseph Smith Translation,
Matthew 6:38). (See also Dallin H. Oaks, “Focus and Priorities,” Liahona, July
2001, 99–102; Ensign, May 2001, 82–84.)”
“To have
the peace the Savior speaks of (see John 14:27), we must devote our time to the
things that matter most, and the things of God matter most. As we engage with
God in sincere prayer, read and study each day from the scriptures, ponder on
what we have read and felt, and then apply and live the lessons learned, we
draw nearer to Him. God’s promise is that as we seek diligently from the best
books, “[He] shall give unto [us] knowledge by his Holy Spirit” (D&C
121:26; see also D&C 109:14–15).”
“Satan will
tempt us to misuse our time through disguised distractions. Although
temptations will come, Elder Quentin L. Cook taught that “Saints who respond to
the Savior’s message will not be led astray by distracting and destructive
pursuits” (“Are You a Saint?” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2003, 96). Hiram Page,
one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, taught us a valuable lesson
about distractions. He had a certain stone and through it recorded what he
thought were revelations for the Church (see D&C 28). On Hiram’s being
corrected, an account says the stone was taken and ground into powder so it
would never again be a distraction. I invite us to identify the time-wasting
distractions in our lives that may need to be figuratively ground into dust.
THOUGHT: Buy
a new 3 ring binder/notebook with dividers and ruled paper for your journal of
2012. Dividers could be used for these
possible sections:
Your Patriarchal Blessing and associated studies
Goals with appropriate charts and record keeping
spreadsheets
Daily or weekly journal entries
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