In the beginning of the year, as you begin thinking about new goals for the coming year, you’re also reminded of the goals you didn’t accomplish last year. Maybe you didn’t run that 5K. Maybe you didn’t write the book.
And you might be asking yourself, “Should I even set new goals this year? What makes this year any different?”
One way to make this year different is by breaking your big yearly goals into smaller daily, weekly, and monthly steps.
Don’t say, “I want to run a marathon this year.”
Instead say, “I want to run around my block first thing in the morning.”
Don’t say, “I want to write a book this year.”
Instead say, “I want to publish a blog post every week (or month).”
Now, you might think running around the block won’t get you to a 5K, any more than publishing a blog post will automatically produce a book. And you’d be right. The point of these smaller goals isn’t instant achievement, it’s habit formation. Small beginnings lay the foundation for long-term growth.
Running around the block every weekday builds the habit that grows into running a mile each day. That becomes running a mile Monday through Thursday and three miles on Friday. Soon, you’re running three miles every weekday. That steady foundation makes a 5K not only possible, but likely.
Zechariah 4:10 reads, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” (NLT). Small goals are not wasted goals. They’re the starting line of the bigger victories ahead
Application Questions: What’s one big goal you’ve been hesitant to set because it feels overwhelming? How can you break it down into a smaller step this week?
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Nick Chellsen 