Tapestry of Goals for the New Year

As the New Year bustles toward us, many of us are making goals and resolutions. It is often a time of reflection, and thought on the year that is coming to an end.
* What happened in last year, in your lives?
* What are you planning in for this year?
* Is the Lord working a theme in your lives?
* Is He creating a tapestry in your life?

The theme the Lord keeps whispering to me is discipline. This year is going to be the year of Sweet Discipline in our lives. From the food we eat, to moving more, Bible study to homeschool, paying off debt and especially The Prudent Wife, all require more concerted, and disciplined effort in the new year!
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:11
This verse keeps running through my mind, entwined with the thoughts of discipline and endurance, which often boil down to obedience. Obedience always results in walking closer with the Lord, and in this context I see discipline as a wonderful word, a freeing word to wrap a frame around this fresh, new year!
We have been prayerfully reflecting on our goals all week. Considering what the Lord wants in certain areas of our lives, thinking through other areas, trying to winnow our lives down into a tapestry that pleases Him, not just one that we think we want to do.

What is the Lord’s vision in your life this year?
If you are like us, last year was a year of change and difficulty. Turning the page, somehow makes the future seem alive with the promise of a fresh year full of new possibilities, new life, and new days on a crisp, clean calendar! What will honor the Lord the most as we fill it? How can we attack our debt snowball? How can we narrow down what we will eat for maximum nutrition and savings? What are some natural health and beauty tips to help save money? How will we navigate this new economy? How can we pray at this time in HIStory. How can we keep our focus on the Lord, when our lives seem in turmoil?
We will be addressing a lot of these issues when we unveil our new The Prudent Wife site very soon! You are going to love the bright and clean new look, and the easier navigation! I can’t wait to share it with you!
How are you doing on your goal setting for 2012?
For now, we are writing our goals on paper. We have all heard that 97% of the people do not write goals down at all. Only 3% do, and they accomplish much more than the 97% who do not commit them to paper. If you don’t aim at anything, you will hit it every time.
This year, we are making our goals high impact and front and center by writing them on foam boards, keeping them easily visible for motivation. We are going to make it a fun project, breaking each large goal into smaller steps. Breaking down goals into quantifiable chunks with specific steps and smaller goals leading toward the larger goals helps you succeed. We can track progress monthly, quarterly and yearly. There is nothing as motivating as actually seeing yourself hit your target goals in small steps, climbing that disciplined ladder to success.
If you don’t have some spare foam boards, maybe you have some poster board that you and the kids can write your goals on. Perhaps tucking them into a journal is the better option for you, or writing them on your calendar or planner. Either way, break them down and see how much easier they are to achieve. Celebrate when anyone hits the little goals, and when you hit the big ones!
We all want to live life purposefully, with a plan, a direction, a vision moving toward goals. Let 2012 be the year that your goals propel you to action and a terrific, fresh, new year!

The Prudent Wife is a new website showing you how to navigate today's economy, while having fun and paying off debt. Signature how-to videos explode open easy cooking techniques with simple meals and maximum nutrition. Enjoy the healthy recipe archives with fabulous food, strategies for incorporating maximum nutrition leading to vibrant health, how to create restaurant favorites at home, natural alternatives and women's health, simplicity, homekeeping, decorating on a dime, seasonal ideas, a Prudent Wife Bible Study & more!
When you join The Prudent Wife Membership Site you will learn the concepts of creating your own prudent journey and how to save time, money and sanity in your home as you go GREEN, saving $$ and the environment while honoring the Lord with your homekeeping and living on ONE income!!
Sign up for our FREE newsletter full of prudent tips!
Copyright 2012 by Lisa Baughn of www.ThePrudentWife.com ~ No part of this article may be reproduced, emailed, forwarded or blogged without the author's permission
Lisa Baughn shows you how to save time, money and sanity while learning to thrive in the “new economy,” equipping you to get out of debt faster. Creative ideas to live again, nail one debt at a time, revamping your lifestyle and attitude. Enjoy signature how-to videos which explode open easy cooking techniques with simple gourmet meals and maximum nutrition. Thrive in the new economy! Great ideas and tips can be found at her website www.ThePrudentWife.com