Getting Better

I was watching the postgame interviews from the NBA championships the other morning. One of the announcers asked LeBron James about the team's potential for a three-peat. I am sure there were people who thought it might be premature to inquire about this since they were only hours after winning their second title. In fact, it may seem quite natural to refuse to answer simply based on a desire to celebrate.

LeBron's response was different from what the average person might do however. He clearly said that each person on the team was going to have to get better. Even though there would be some downtime to enjoy the completion of a season of hard work, his team would have to begin preparing physically and mentally to improve to see success again. He understood that what worked to bring victory today may not (and probably won't be) enough to guarantee success tomorrow.

Are we doing the same thing in the seasons of our life? Do we frequently pause for evaluation and then strive to find some way to improve? This introspection and adjustment is absolutely essential for growth. We won't achieve the same goals just because it worked before. The journey will become more difficult and we will have to work harder.

Resolutions

A number of people make resolutions at the beginning of the year, but don't always end up following through on them. I don't have specific resolutions, but instead focus on goals that help me fulfill the vision for my life. There is no magic formula for making this happen, but I have found that the following keys help bring about success.

Identify the problem

What is it that you want to change? What tension are you feeling in your life between who you currently are & who you want to be?

Pray about the solution

The best, lasting change will happen with God's direction and strength. Seek His wisdom as you seek out solutions.

See the end result

This is part of vision and having an idea of the man/woman you want to be at the end of this year. Envisioning the end result of your decisions will help you when you struggle to maintain discipline.

Plan out the steps

It's not enough to list an end goal--plan out the things you will do to make it reality. Losing 15 pounds is a great resolution-now plan out the dietary & exercise steps to make it a reality.

Take action

It's time to move beyond the written concepts & put it into action. Taking the first step can sometimes be the most difficult part of fulfilling a goal.

Regularly evaluate

If you don't stop to measure your progress you can fail to realize how much growth has actually been occurring. Regular, realistic evaluations help us to stay on track and make adjustments when necessary as well.

Take the necessary steps today to ensure success this year.