A Goal-setting Mick’s up

My husband and I are excited to start off the new year debt free!!  Whew!  What a load off our shoulders!

We have made many dumb decisions over the years, but with the help of family along the way and financial common-sense taught in settings like Financial Peace University, we dug ourselves out of the mess, and now we can have a fresh start, doing it all the RIGHT way.

It is a wonderful feeling to not be in debt:  no car payments, no business debt, no college debt, no credit card payments.  It is amazing how much stress we don’t even realize we are putting on our bodies, when we are under the weight of debt.

It’s the same with all areas of our lives.  Do you have dreams, goals, a mission in life?

God wants us to be successful.  Follow His guidance.  Seek His direction.  Write out goals and a mission statement to help you be more productive where God wants you to be, so you can bring glory to Him.

To be more successful at reaching our goals, Dave Ramsey gives us some goal-setting techniques:  set a time limit, make it specific, take ownership, make it measurable, put it in writing.  He also guides us in clarifying our dreams and missions.

If finances is an area of focus for you this year, start out with developing an emergency fund.  That is an extremely important first step! From there, work on a budget, maybe even learning along the way through a class, like Financial Peace University. 

Of course, Dave Ramsey isn’t the only resource out there, even though my husband and I found his M.O. to be the most effective. There are other resources, such as Larry Burkett’s Financial Matters renamed to Crown Ministries, as well as Kerry K. Taylor’s blog Squawkfox, where you can find budgeting tools and the free eBook Frugal Food and Fitness.

If workouts is an area of focus for you this year, try using a workout log, and remember to only do a short amount at a time.  (Don’t discourage yourself!)  Why not add nutrition to that focus?  It does, after all, work together with exercise to bring you fitness. 

Now, just add proper rest and a healthy nervous system, and you’ll find yourself heading toward overall wellness!

While the holiday memories are still fresh in your mind, why not make use of the Holiday Expense Tracking Worksheet and be a step ahead for planning next Christmas?

Well, one of the changes I’m making for 2012 is not posting daily.  I will be changing my schedule to one or two posts weekly, instead.  I truly enjoy sharing my research with Mick’s up Life readers, and I can still supply the same amount of information, while reaching goals in other areas of my life at the same time.  Let me know if there are certain days, topics, etc. that you prefer reading. 

Now, go set those goals!  Happy achieving!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

~

What’s a Good Read, Mick’s?

Driving in the car and running errands this morning was refreshing, as I listened to some great stuff on the radio.  It was a wonderful way to start the week.  Getting a good mindset on a Monday morning can mean nothing but a positive outlook for the rest of the week.

Setting goals, like we did in the meeting I attended this afternoon, can get the week off to an excellent start.  What do you plan to accomplish this week?  How about this month?  Take some time now to block out segments in your calendar to adequately get you on your way to success.

I have recently set for myself a goal of reading one nonfiction book every month - preferably on management, leadership, or lecturing - especially since a business acquaintance highly suggested it.  I plan to stick to it.  Being a mom, wife, and business lady, I run into challenges with the scheduled reading time.  I know you know how it is.  You probably have more challenges than I have.  I can almost guarantee it.  However, we owe it to ourselves, and those we are taking care of, to do our best to reach these self-improvement goals.  I’m going to do it!

"Nourish the mind like you would your body. The mind cannot survive on junk food." Jim Rohn

I’m going to start making a list of books and blocks of time.  I’ve already considered Dave Ramsey’s suggested reading list, as well as other good reads I hear about and write down.

A book mentioned on the radio this morning is “Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild.” I would not normally pick a book like this myself, if I just read the cover and brief introduction, but the reviews are good.  I might have to look into it.

Later on the radio, I was reminded of another book that has been suggested to me several times:  “Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, Deluxe Edition.”  I guess it’ll have to get put on my list, too, especially after I enjoyed reading a similar book this summer:  “The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven: A Remarkable Account of Miracles, Angels, and Life beyond This World.”

You might have some other goals in mind.  Write them down.  Visualize them.  Imagine the feeling of accomplishing the goals.  Use the formula I heard about today that is from an inexpensive e-book titled, “The God Formula.” 

Whatever you do, be sure to allow time in your schedule for you!

Mmmmmm… A nice cool evening is a great time to curl up with a good book!  What do you think?

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips;

meditate on it day and night,

so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

Then you will be prosperous and successful.” 

Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

~