2017 is the year to shine, a year for taking no prisoners. This is your year!
We are notoriously accustomed to entering January charged up and rearing to go. Our resolutions and goals are noted and our dreams are alive – we intend to change but our plans often remain just that, good plans. Our lack of “know how”, our feelings of inadequacy or our habits of comparing ourselves to others slowly start to erode our good intentions. We are left with a sense of disillusionment when we look back, suddenly aware that four months have passed and we’ve become caught in the web of busyness, not having actually achieved much at all.
As a working mom of three little children (with one that still wakes up through the night to be breastfed. Don’t worry, it will stop soon, just haven’t had the strength to wean her!) this feeling is all too familiar. But this year it is going to be different.
This year I am stirred with not only a dream but a vision. Inspiring author, Andy Stanley, says: “Dreamers dream about things being different. Visionaries envision themselves making a difference.”
This statement for me was a catalyst for change.
The light was turned on when I realised the significance of a vision. The difference between who you are and what you want to be, is what you do, and a vision guides that “what you do”. What you do to make a difference to not only your own life but the lives of those around you, is the very essence of what will put you in the place you dream of being. My mom has a beautiful saying that she truly lives by – she says “there is nothing more therapeutic to the human soul than to do something for someone else.” (Quote by Nadine Wright)
- Find out what dissatisfies you the most. Let this stir you from deep within.
I believe that a vision comes from a place of angst. It may be injustice, people with unrealised potential, inequality, poor service in your industry, bad creative content, stupid ideas or over-complicated processes. Whatever it is that dissatisfies you the most – herein lies the key to the vision that will cause you to rise up.
- Have a strategy, a detailed plan and a set of goals.
I believe that the recipe to achieving your vision is a combination of a clear strategy (which is a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim), great faith, great connections and a whole lot of passionate prayer. If you don’t pray, maybe you should try! Wonderful things always happen when I pray detailed and specific prayers.
- Fan your flame of passion
When one is fuelled by passion and driven by a clearly defined strategy one can walk confident, unperturbed by what others around might say. Passion fuels perseverance, courage and character and these qualities are what you will need when life throws curve balls.
How does one stir up passion?
Surround yourself with passionate people. Read passionate books.
My good friend of mine says “find ways to do what makes you come alive and make time to do these things, not only on the weekend or when on holiday, but every day.”
- Be generous with YOUR gifts
There is a scripture in the bible (Proverb 18v16) that says “a gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.”
Use the gifts you have been given as these are the very tools to unlock the God-given purposes in you.
If you are an accountant don’t dream of being an artist (unless you are gifted at both art and accounting – there are some of those). Don’t compare and wish for the gifts of another, walk boldly in the talents and abilities that were given to you.
If you don’t know what these are then ask those closest to you to help identify them. We all have gifts and they are meant to be “given”, not stored up but generously displayed for the world to see.
I think it’s time. Let’s change the world together…
