One of the things about a new year is that it brings the hope that this year can be different. More specifically, it often brings the hope that I can be different.
If we’re being honest, there’s probably at least one thing about each of us that we wish was different. Maybe you’re a procrastinator; maybe you have a short temper; maybe you aren’t that good at getting back with people and it causes others to be frustrated at you.
In another vein- maybe you wish you were more consistent in pursuing Jesus. Maybe you wish you were more involved in the life of the local church. Maybe you wish you were more bold in pursuing other people and giving them a chance to know Jesus.
The point is this: we all have at least one thing that we’d like to be different.
However: unless we are willing to d0 something different, then we’re going to stay the same. As the saying goes: “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got” (which is know is poor grammar, but I’m just trying to quote what I’ve heard).
Put another way: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.”
Most of us would love to be different- but that is going to require doing something different. The challenge for many of us is we aren’t quite sure where to begin- or, if we do, we just try to do too much.
Craig Groeschel outlines six ideas that can be very helpful to identifying what you need to do different this year. I’ll list those ideas below, and will echo what he says: Choose one of these six and focus on that. I know that for me personally, where I’ve seen the greatest growth in my life, it’s been when I’ve focused on one major thought or idea at a time; and it’s amazing how one change in one area can bleed over into tremendous change in the rest of my life!
Here’s Groechel’s six ideas, with a thought or two from me along the way:
- A discipline to start: What’s one thing you can start doing this year? Perhaps it’s reading your Bible, perhaps it’s exercising, perhaps it’s waking up on time.
- The courage to stop: What do you need to stop doing that you know you need to stop doing? Maybe it’s no longer hitting snooze, maybe it’s quitting smoking, maybe it’s not going places you know you shouldn’t go.
- A person to empower: Is there a person in your life that you can give responsibility and authority to? This probably falls more within the line of leadership development specifically…but it could also be the key to tremendous personal growth by getting your hands out of doing so many things and letting someone else do something that you’re currently doing- and don’t need to do.
- A system to create: Systems aren’t flashy- but they get things done, and reality is we all have a system of some sort. Take the calendar, for instance. If you plan your calendar, that’s a system. If you don’t…it’s still a system. Systems create structure- and for some of us, structure is an absolute game changer.
- A relationship to initiate: None of us can do life alone (see Hebrews 10:23-25). We all need someone in our lives to point out our blind spots. Perhaps what you need to do this year is invite someone to get up close and personal in your life…or perhaps you need to begin investing in the life of someone else. I have found that personally mentoring someone forces me to stay on top of my game- it’s a benefit for me as I seek to invest in others.
- A risk to take: Something inside all of us wants to stop “playing it safe”- make this the year that happens! Go on a mission trip, start volunteering, invite someone to church…maybe even ask that girl that sits on the aisle across from you at church out on a date! If you want to grow, it requires risk. In fact, risk is the essence of faith- stepping out a direction without a guaranteed outcome.
Pick just one of those areas, focus on it- and I believe the change you see will be tremendous and that this new year will result in a new you.