Reframing Resolutions - Natural Reflections by Donna Hoyack

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”0%” padding_right=”15%” padding_bottom=”0%” padding_left=”15%” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=”” min_height=””][fusion_text]At this time of year, my husband always asks “Have you been thinking about your resolutions?” To which I respond, “No, I hate resolutions.” I’ve tried to do them over the years, but the result is always the same. Fail. Yes, I know how to set reasonable and realistic goals with time, dates and frequent checkins and how to establish good habits. I know the “rules.” And I’m quite good at lists, projects and deadlines and getting things accomplished. However, sometime after January, I don’t think about my resolutions again because life is “full steam ahead” and I’m getting things accomplished! Come the end of December, here comes the question – and I get anxious because I feel like a failure at resolutions. Therefore, I hate them.

Every year, it’s the same. My husband asks the question and the “shoulds” kick in. I really “should” do them. This time, I remembered that I had started making resolution documents on my computer, so I went digging. Sure enough, I find 2012, 2013, 2014…then nothing. Opening 2014, I find I had updated it for 2015! Not bad. I definitely recall refusing to “should” on myself in 2016 and 2017, feeling guilty and boycotting them anyway.

Reading through the categories of Faith, Family, Finances and Health, I realize the progress I’ve made in the last five years. Real progress! Being a bit older and wiser, I think it’s time to reframe “resolutions” for myself and just use them as a growth checker. [/fusion_text][fusion_text]

I believe our transformation comes through personal growth and development and the concept, “When we know better, we do better.”

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Spending time reflecting and asking God to help with the exploration, at the very least, will establish good principles and provide a launching point for the new year and an annual baseline for tracking my growth.

Here is a list of questions that really help me focus in on things that are important for Growing Personally and Spiritually. I collected them from the internet years ago and have no idea for whom to give credit for which I apologize. I’ve separated them into categories and a couple of the questions are repeated. The list is not exhaustive – just a starting point. Feel free to cut and paste. I like to type my answers in red at the end of each question. Let me encourage you to make your own Resolution file and spend some prayerful time reflecting…And watch God work!

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none” last=”no” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all”][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”35″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=”” /][fusion_content_boxes layout=”icon-with-title” columns=”1″ title_size=”” title_color=”” body_color=”” backgroundcolor=”” icon=”” iconflip=”” iconrotate=”” iconspin=”no” iconcolor=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_radius=”” circlecolor=”” circlebordersize=”” circlebordercolor=”” outercirclebordersize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”” icon_size=”” icon_hover_type=”” hover_accent_color=”” image=”” image_width=”” image_height=”” link_type=”” link_area=”” link_target=”” icon_align=”left” animation_type=”” animation_delay=”” animation_offset=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””][fusion_content_box title=”” backgroundcolor=”” icon=”” iconflip=”” iconrotate=”” iconspin=”no” iconcolor=”” circlecolor=”” circlebordersize=”” circlebordercolor=”” outercirclebordersize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ link=”” linktext=”Read More” link_target=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]Growing In Deeper Dependence

What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?
What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?

Relationships with Family and Friends

What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
What’s one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?
For whose salvation or redemption will you pray most fervently this year?
Who do you most want to encourage this year?
What’s the most important decision you need to make this year?
What’s the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?
If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?

Do you know why God created you? Do you know your unique spiritual gifts? Most of us have read or have heard of “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, who states our ultimate purpose is To bring glory to God. This is true, however, I believe we can drill down to more specifics for each individual Christ follower. We can know and understand our unique calling and turn our purpose into passion to Glorify God in our “sweet spot.” But more later on this subject.

Purpose to Passion

What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?
In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?
In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?
What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what’s one way you could simplify in that area?
What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity?

Your Local Church

What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
What’s one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor, minister, elder or to another who ministers to you this year?
To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount of time or treasure this year?
What’s the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?

Work, Money, and Purpose

What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?
What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?
What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?
What’s the most important decision you need to make this year?
What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?
What’s the most important new item you want to buy this year?

Recreation

What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?
What’s the most important trip you want to take this year?
What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?

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