year YOUR A 2019 GOAL PLANNING WORKSHEET

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Barrie Lester
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1 year YOUR A 2019 GOAL PLANNING WORKSHEET

2 A goal without a plan is just a wish. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry DEAR SISTER, It s 2019! Welcome to your best year yet! I m not joking. This is not a drill! This is not a sappy greeting constructed to just make you feel good. I know that you have it in you to become the best version of yourself. You are the daughter of a brilliant and incredible King and He has so much to reveal to you this year about yourself, about your goals, about your vices and virtues and ultimate potential. But there are a few things to learn first. With all real successful change, there is a bit of required, sometimes painful, self-reflection. You don t always know there is a giant hunk of spinach lodged in-between your teeth unless you see it in a mirror. (Or a friend considerately points it out to you.) Right? This is the reason for these worksheets: Self-reflection. The goal of these worksheets is to help you take a look at your past in order to plan for your future. Not just to determine what you wish is to come but to plan the goals through the grace of God you are about to slay. Ultimately, for each area of your life (outlined in the following overview) we are going to figure out the purpose (the why) of each of your goals and the intention (the how) that will go into accomplishing each. Because ultimately, Purpose + Intentionality = Freedom. The more you plan and prepare, the more your heart will find the confidence to dispel any fear that you can t and start to believe the truth that you CAN! Belief in yourself and God s plan for you is rooted in knowledge and action and, sister, that is exactly what you are going to accomplish in This is the year to begin a new journey believing with your entire heart that you are good and beautiful and capable of great things. This is NOT the year of someone else s plan for you. It is NOT the year of other people s limitations on and for you. Other people don t get to decide what YOU do. That job is on you and you listening to God. Don t live this year based on someone else s goals, dreams or plans. This is your year! So, what do you say? Take a journey with me through these pages and, together, we ll enjoy a more peace-filled, fulfilling, and fruitful year! ALL MY LOVE, Leah

3 Overview MIND PG. 3 BODY PG. 5 SOUL PG. 7 RELATIONSHIPS PG. 9 WORK & CAREER PG. 11 FINANCES PG. 13 GOALS & DREAMS FOR 2019 PG. 15

4 Mind PRAY Lord, thank you for the gift of my mind. Thank you for giving me the ability to reason and know that I am good and loved and capable of becoming a saint. Please help me to believe in the truths that you teach me through prayer and Scripture and to root out the lies I have allowed to narrate my life. Amen. REFLECT Often in life, it is easy for our mind to become an unintentional battlefield. We wrestle with the lies that we tell ourselves or believe others are telling us: we re not good or pretty enough, we don t wear the right clothing, we say all the wrong things, we re awkward and just don t fit in. We fight with our own selfimage, or the false narrative we believe the world to be telling us to live the one that looks so attractive but really is so destructive. And, we fight like David against the Goliath of these lies until we are exhausted ultimately giving up because we ve decided to fight without asking God to assist us with His truth. Our minds are powerful. We can either choose to fill them with lies or truth. This year fill your mind with the Truth of God let it feast upon the sweet knowledge that He created you with a purpose and you, in your uniqueness, has something to ofer that no one else can! JOURNAL During 2018, what was the one lie about yourself you believed the most? Replace that lie with is corresponding truth, what is it? On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the healthiest), how do you rank your self-image? What destructive thinking or negative self-talk has held you back from seeing yourself as the incredible woman God does? What lie did you believe in 2018 about what you could not do? Why did you believe this? 4. What narrative of your life are you listening to currently: The world s or God s? What needs to change in order to live God s narrative for your life more fully this year? Mind 3

5 PLAN - STEP ONE Goal #1: How can you better listen to God s truth in your life (i.e., read the daily Mass readings every morning, write, memorize, and/or display inspirational Scripture around your room, etc.)? Goal #2: How can you better tune out the world s narrative of you (i.e., limit your social media use, read less about celebrities and more about men and women of God, etc.)? Goal #3: How can you create a routine of regular mental rest? What are the activities you can do when you need a break from whatever is going on inside of your mind (i.e., read a happy book, sing, dance, go for a run, etc.)? What helps to relieve that mental stress in your life. Create a goal that will help you to more actively insert that into your regular routine this year. PLAN - STEP TWO Of these three goals, begin with one you would like to commit to in 2019; add in others as you accomplish one goal at a time. Take some time to think through the top three hindrances to accomplishing this goal. When you know those hindrances, you know what needs to be done in order to accomplish that goal. In addition, set a timeline for when you want to have each step to your goal accomplished. MY 2019 GOAL FOR MY MIND Hindrances to this goal Three potential stumbling blocks Plan to hit this goal Three concrete steps to hit your goal Timeline for this goal Three measurable deadlines Mind 4

6 Body PRAY Lord, thank you for the gift of my body. Thank you for another year to nourish and care for the body you have given me. May I see it as a temple fit for you and may I treat it this year with that same knowledge. May I grow from the fasts as much as I take joy in the feasts. Amen. REFLECT Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. 1 Corinthians 6:19, NIV We forget this so often huh? We get lazy, we overeat, we under eat, we exercise because we think we re less than worthy of the compliment we re beautiful. A healthy relationship with our bodies is often the most precarious walk of balance in a woman s life. No matter our age, there is always something, isn t there? Let us remember this verse from St. Paul in Let us remember that it isn t about manipulating our bodies to become worthy of God, but about remembering that God has already created us as perfect vessels of the Holy Spirit. It is time to remember and re-discover this truth about ourselves. JOURNAL During 2018, what was the one lie about your body you believed the most? Replace that lie with is corresponding truth, what is it? Have you taken care of your body this year? Explain. If the answer is no to any of the questions from #2, what is it that your body needs? 4. Have you lived with modesty? Have you dressed or acted in such a way that honors your body as the sacred vessel that it is? If not, what needs to change? Body 5

7 PLAN - STEP ONE Goal #1: First, take some time to think about one aspect of your body you love or are grateful for. Write that attribute down as a gratitude to God and post in a place you will see daily (i.e., Thank you God for my dimples ). Second, think of one aspect of your body you don t love and do the same (i.e., Thank you God for my strong thighs, may I learn to love every part of my body as much as you do ). Repeat this activity every month throughout the year. Goal #2: Besides Lent, find a time this year to fast with intention. Fasting is a great practice in that it helps us to eliminate something in our lives to draw us more closely to God. This can be a fast from food such as sweets or meat or it can be a another physical fast of sorts such as minimizing your wardrobe (check out The Closet Challenge on leahdarrow.com) or going without our social media for a period of time. What is it that you need physical space from in order to become less dependent on yourself and more dependent on God? Goal #3: Take some time to consider your overall health. What is one goal you can set for yourself that will help nourish your body (i.e., go for a 15-min walk three times a week, eat two more servings of fruit or vegetables a day, go to bed at least an hour earlier each night, etc.)? PLAN - STEP TWO Of these three goals, begin with one you would like to commit to in 2019; add in others as you accomplish one goal at a time. When you know those hindrances, you know what needs to be done in order to accomplish that goal. In addition, set a timeline for when you want to have each step to your goal accomplished. MY 2019 GOAL FOR MY BODY Hindrances to this goal Three potential stumbling blocks Plan to hit this goal Three concrete steps to hit your goal Timeline for this goal Three measurable deadlines Body 6

8 Soul PRAY Lord, thank you for the gift of my soul. You didn t have to endow us with the ability for eternal communion with you, but you did anyway out of your great love for us. May I never take for granted that great gift of spiritual communion with you. Help me to know and love you in the depths of my soul even better than before. Amen. REFLECT Sometimes prayer seems so simple it becomes complicated. What begins as, oh I have all the time to pray today soon becomes the end of our day as we close our eyes with absolutely no energy left to muster even an Our Father. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, we cannot pray at all times if we do not pray at specific times, consciously willing it (2697). Our relationship with God is just like our relationships with friends it will not grow unless we are intentional (figuring out the how ) about spending time with that person. God has so much to tell you. He is always excitedly calling you wishing to tell you His good news, but it s up to you to answer. JOURNAL In 2018, what did your prayer life look like? Was it consistent, inconsistent, non-existent? Do you value your relationship with God? How do you show Him this daily? Do you frequent the sacraments? Do you go to Sunday Mass and visit the Sacrament of Confession at least once a year? 4. When you pray, what does that time of prayer look like? Are your surroundings conducive to the environment that prayer requires? Do you fill your life with resources to aid in this time of prayer that guide you as you might need (i.e., Scripture, spiritual reading, an image of Christ or cross, the rosary, etc.)? Soul 7

9 PLAN - STEP ONE Goal #1: Make a commitment to praying for 10 minutes each day at the same time (i.e., 7am, 12pm, 3pm, etc.). Pick a time that will be the least likely to conflict with other commitments and make this time non-negotiable. Goal #2: Find a friend to hold you accountable to a new life of prayer. This person should be someone who you are comfortable praying with and talking about Christ/ your faith journey with. Goal #3: What is one discipline of prayer you would like to incorporate into your daily life? Some examples are: Adoration, daily Mass, the Rosary, monthly Confession, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, etc. PLAN - STEP TWO Of these three goals, begin with one you would like to commit to in 2019; add in others as you accomplish one goal at a time. When you know those hindrances, you know what needs to be done in order to accomplish that goal. In addition, set a timeline for when you want to have each step to your goal accomplished. MY 2019 GOAL FOR MY SOUL Hindrances to this goal Three potential stumbling blocks Plan to hit this goal Three concrete steps to hit your goal Timeline for this goal Three measurable deadlines Soul 8

10 Relationships PRAY Lord, thank you for the gift of the people in my life. Thank you for the many ways that they bless me and the ways that they challenge me to be a better person. Help me to see how I can be a better daughter, sister, niece, wife/girlfriend, or friend this coming year. Amen. REFLECT Relationships. Oh, relationships. This may-as-well be a curse word among women. We work at them only to become discouraged by their imperfections, we let our emotions take over, we over-analyze and under-estimate the power others have on us. But it doesn t have to be this way. God has given us the power of both emotion and reason. And through both of those great gifts, we can learn how each relationship can grow us and bless us this new year. JOURNAL In general, how did you view your relationships with others this year? Were they a blessing to be enjoyed or a challenge to be endured? Explain. Which relationship in your life was the most challenging to maintain this year? Why do you think that was the case? Which relationship in your life grew the most this past year? Why do you think that was possible? What specifically did you and that other person do to grow your relationship in such a positive way? 4. Which relationship in your life do you wish was better? What can you do to help this relationship grow this coming year? Relationships 9

11 PLAN - STEP ONE Goal #1: Choose one relationship you d like to improve upon this year. While you can t change other people, you do have the power to create change within yourself. What is one concrete act you can do to make this positive change happen? Goal #2: When you think back on the year, what is one virtue (i.e., patience, humility, chastity, etc.) you need to grow in so that you can better love those in your life? Goal #3: Is there a relationship no matter how hard you work at it that isn t bringing peace to your life? Make it a goal to take to prayer whether or not you need to say goodbye to this relationship in If your discernment leads you to answer yes, ask God for the courage this year to do so. PLAN - STEP TWO Of these three goals, begin with one you would like to commit to in 2019; add in others as you accomplish one goal at a time. When you know those hindrances, you know what needs to be done in order to accomplish that goal. In addition, set a timeline for when you want to have each step to your goal accomplished. MY 2019 GOAL FOR MY RELATIONSHIPS Hindrances to this goal Three potential stumbling blocks Plan to hit this goal Three concrete steps to hit your goal Timeline for this goal Three measurable deadlines Relationships 10

12 Work Career AND PRAY Lord, thank you for the gift of work. I pray with gratitude for the joy that comes in pursuing a passion. I pray that you continue to guide me in the work that I commit myself to. May all that I do and strive to achieve be solely for your glory. Amen. REFLECT Life s a grind. You ve heard that phrase, right? You may have seen in written in pretty script on a sign in your favorite cofee shop or joked about the cunning use of the pun. But, in reality, isn t that how we feel each weekday as our eyes are locked on Friday just barely visible on the horizon of the week. We work hard to achieve our goals but sometimes to an end that they don t deserve. We are meant to conquer our work not be conquered by it. Keep in mind, that work doesn t always have to mean a 9 to 5 job. Holy work, given to us by God, can also encompass motherhood, sisterhood, etc So, how do we go about our work in a way that will fill us and not drain us of our energy? Balance. This year let us strive to work hard but to keep a greater perspective in all that we do so that our work can be oriented toward the greater glory of God. JOURNAL In 2018, did you find joy in your work/career? Why or why not? In 2018, what work/career accomplishment brought you the most fulfillment? In 2018, what work/career goal do you wish you would ve put more efort in to accomplish? 4. Balance. That's a trick word. Balance is not about carrying everything equally, but CHOOSING what to carry at a specific time and what needs to be put down momentarily, so that, you don't go crazy. Give yourself permission to NOT carry everything, but consciously choose what to orient your time and attention towards at specific times of your day. What needs to change or be maintained in order to achieve a healthy choosing (aka balance)? Work / Career 11

13 PLAN - STEP ONE Goal #1 Look ahead to your work in 2019, what is one passion (i.e., photography, painting, writing, running, reading, etc.) that you can grow in that you find joy in? What is one concrete goal you can set for yourself in that area? Goal #2 Looking back at your work/career in 2018, what goal did you seek to accomplish but failed to? Make a re-commitment to that goal this coming year. (This doesn t have to be a goal related to the work itself, it can be a goal related to any area of your work experience relationships with co-workers, work-ethic, project goals, etc.). Goal #3 Take a look at the number of hours you spend at work versus the number of hours spent with family/friends/prayer. Is there a healthy balance? What is one goal you can set to help achieve this balance or maintain the good balance you already have going on? PLAN - STEP TWO Of these three goals, begin with one you would like to commit to in 2019; add in others as you accomplish one goal at a time. When you know those hindrances, you know what needs to be done in order to accomplish that goal. In addition, set a timeline for when you want to have each step to your goal accomplished. MY 2019 GOAL FOR MY WORK/CAREER Hindrances to this goal Three potential stumbling blocks Plan to hit this goal Three concrete steps to hit your goal Timeline for this goal Three measurable deadlines Work / Career 12

14 Finances PRAY Lord, thank you for the gift of financial freedom. I give you thanks for the many ways that you provide for my physical needs and the hope that through you I can achieve my financial goals. Please help me to remember this gift this year and grow in the virtue necessary to gain better control of my finances. Amen. REFLECT Have you ever overpacked a suitcase thinking, I ll totally need all of these options only to find yourself cursing that attitude when attempting to shove your obese carry-on into the overhead compartment? Like this option-ready packing attitude, we get ahead of ourselves sometimes when it comes to our spending. It is easy to mis-translate our wants as needs and spend from a sense of what if. But, as evidenced above, this burdensome attitude will only leave us fatigued. Our relationship with our finances is an extremely important one. Money has the power to bind us in debt if we allow it to. But we also have the power and responsibility to be purposeful and intentional in our spending. Like sin, we have the choice to bring our bad habits to the light so we can repent and correct our behavior. It is only in right relationship with money that we can find freedom from debt. JOURNAL Take a look at your finances from 2018, did you spend your money wisely? What is one example of a wise financial decision you made? What area of life did you not act frugally within food, clothes, hobbies, hair/makeup, etc.? Is this an area you can commit to spending less on this year? How would you define your relationship with money? Is this a healthy relationship? If not, what needs to change? 4. Is there someone in your life that can you hold you accountable for your financial goals? Who is that person? If someone doesn t come to mind, pray for the wisdom to know that person. 5. How much debt do you have? Count it up, all of it. Don t let that debt grow tackle it! What extra expenditures can you cut out and put towards a debt free life? Choose a debt payment plan that will help you organize your finances so that you experience financial freedom. (I highly recommend Dave Ramsey) Finances 13

15 PLAN - STEP ONE Goal #1: Give away. Do you tithe to your church or give of your income to a needy charity? Remember the widow in March 12:41-44? Even though she did not have much, Jesus praised and blessed her for still giving what little she could out of our poverty. Set a goal to give out of your wealth (or poverty) a set amount each month. Goal #2: Save. Are you taking actionable steps to free yourself from debt? What is one area of debt (a student loan, credit card, car payment, etc.) you can take concrete steps toward paying of in 2019? This goal should be something measurable and attainable to hit in 12 months. Goal #3: Spend. Do you have a budget? If so, make it a goal to look over your budget at the beginning of this year and make adjustments as needed over the course of the next. If not, make a goal to look at your monthly income and expenses in order to set limits to your spending that fit within your means. There are some great budgeting apps out there, such as You Need a Budget, Mint, Dave Ramsey s Financial Peace University, etc. Utilize one if needed. Either way, commit to looking over and balancing your budget every month so you know you are spending appropriately according to these goals you have set for yourself. Don t be afraid to readjust your budget, if needed. PLAN - STEP TWO Of these three goals, begin with one you would like to commit to in 2019; add in others as you accomplish one goal at a time. When you know those hindrances, you know what needs to be done in order to accomplish that goal. In addition, set a timeline for when you want to have each step to your goal accomplished. MY 2019 GOAL FOR MY FINANCES Hindrances to this goal Three potential stumbling blocks Plan to hit this goal Three concrete steps to hit your goal Timeline for this goal Three measurable deadlines Finances 14

16 Goals Dreams AND FOR 2019 Now that you ve taken time to reflect on each of these areas of your life, it s time to commit to some concrete goals for the year. Take some time to fill out the following worksheet that you can post somewhere you can see all year long. FIND SOMEONE TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE Whether you have one goal or ten; whether they are written out step-by-step or simply one line, WRITE them down, SHARE them with someone, and COMMIT to seeing them through. You are much more likely to accomplish something that you have a plan for and are held accountable to. Who will you ask to hold you accountable? Write their name below: and make plans to invite them into your journey this week. Goals 15

17 my 2019 Goals Dreams AND MIND BODY SOUL RELATIONSHIPS WORK & CAREER FINANCES THE GOAL I FAILED TO ACHIEVE IN 2018 THAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE IN 2019 IS THE MANTRA OR WORD I WOULD LIKE TO ADOPT TO SET THE TONE FOR WHAT I D LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN 2019 IS

18 Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover. Mark Twain NOW GET OUT THERE. SET GOALS AND SLAY THEM. YOU GOT THIS. REMEMBER, THIS IS YOUR YEAR! AND, I M PRAYING FOR YOU! ALL MY LOVE, Leah

Your Money Relationship. Quiz. If money was a person, what would your relationship with them look like?

Your Money Relationship. Quiz. If money was a person, what would your relationship with them look like? Your Money Relationship Quiz If money was a person, what would your relationship with them look like? Is your relationship based in love, respect, and gratitude? Or is it based in fear, scarcity, and avoidance?