In this episode, I teach a lesson on how to set family goals and I encourage you to have your family and children listen together. Defining our goals will help point us in the direction we want to go. It is heartwarming to realize that at any time we can set new goals for ourselves, to improve as individuals and as a family.
Defining our goals will help point us in the direction we want to go. The great basketball player Michael Jordan said, “I visualized where I wanted to be, what kind of player I wanted to become. I knew exactly where I wanted to go, and I focused on getting there.”
Helmut Schmidt remarked, “The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity to not dream. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is the mistake.”
Activity
We’re now going to have each family member choose three goals--one in each of three areas: physical, mental, and social. Then we’ll each list one way to reach our goals.
There are many things that compete for the time and attention of families. People are constantly making decisions about what things should have priority in their lives. Are your family’s highest priorities in life the things you believe to be the most important?
Despite what you say, what you do shows how you really feel. What you spend your time doing will show what you really want for your family.
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This is Solutions for Families – where parents come with problems and leave with solutions. I’m Paula Fellingham – thank you for joining me!
Hello and welcome! Today’s episode is how to set family goals.
A goal is an objective we’re trying to reach. Jim Rohn said, “The future does not get better by hope, it gets better by plan. And to plan for the future we need goals.” The purpose of goals is to focus our attention on what we want to achieve. We can achieve more individually, and as a family, with clear objectives.
Defining our goals will help point us in the direction we want to go. The great basketball player Michael Jordan said, “I visualized where I wanted to be, what kind of player I wanted to become. I knew exactly where I wanted to go, and I focused on getting there.”
Helmut Schmidt remarked, “The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity to not dream. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is the mistake.”
An interesting observation was made by Richard Gaylord Briley when he said, “At this very moment you are WHO you are and WHERE you are because of what you’ve allowed to inhabit your goal-box.” It is heartwarming to realize that at any time we can set new goals for ourselves, to improve as individuals and as a family. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives.
Story
There was once a farmer who hired a teenage boy to help him do the fall plowing. The boy’s first day on the tractor was disastrous. Because he was looking backwards, watching the plow turn the soil behind him, the boy didn’t realize until he reached the end of the field that the row was very crooked.
Toward the end of the day the farmer arrived to survey the young man’s work. The crooked rows prompted him to give the boy some advice: “You can’t plow a straight row if you keep looking back. You must focus your eyes on a goal straight ahead, and move forward toward it--not swerving to the right or to the left--and never look behind you.”
So it is with life. Plowing a straight way into the future is powered by goals. Focusing on the past, or what lies behind, will prevent us from effectively pursuing our future goals. Goals help us focus our energy on what lies ahead.
We’re now going to have each family member choose three goals--one in each of three areas: physical, mental, and social. Then we’ll each list one way to reach our goals.
Example:
1. PHYSICAL GOAL: “I want to be stronger.” “I will lift weights three times a week.”
2. MENTAL GOAL: “I want to be smarter.” “I will read a book once a month.”
3. SOCIAL GOAL: “I want to be well-liked.” “I will be kinder to others.”
Now we’ll set one family goal. Everyone needs to participate and share their ideas about what our goal should be. Here are three examples:
1. “For one week we’ll try not to criticize any family member or friend.”
2. “We will try to be better neighbors by being friendlier and more helpful.”
3. “Our family will try for one month to exercise more regularly and eat more healthful foods.”
There are many things that compete for the time and attention of families. People are constantly making decisions about what things should have priority in their lives. Are your family’s highest priorities in life the things you believe to be the most important?
Sometimes people spend their resources of time or money on things that bring the least reward in terms of what they really value. Families need to regularly review their goals of what will bring individual and family happiness. Then they need to see if they are spending time doing things that bring them lasting joy. If they aren’t happy they need to re-evaluate their priorities and actions and have the courage to make changes. If they don’t, they may climb the ladder of success only to find that it’s leaning against the wrong wall. Too late, families may regret how they spent the years they had together.
To help your family examine what you value most, name things you enjoy doing as a family. Now talk about how often you do the things you really enjoy. Answer these questions:
Despite what you say, what you do shows how you really feel. What you spend your time doing will show what you really want for your family.
Okay, my friends. Until the next episode, have a beautiful day and make sure you subscribe to my podcast, tell your friends about Solutions for Families, and come see me at paulafellingham.com. As always, I send you my love….
Here’s a quick question…Are you ready to have a more loving, peaceful family?With my 7 Step Parenting Course you can enjoy more love and peace in your home than perhaps you’ve ever dreamed of! If you’re ready for less contention and more kindness, this course is for you. AND, on paulafellingham.com you can sign up for my free parenting webinar where I share tips and solutions for families that really work! I’ll see you on the webinar!