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Dreams vs. Goals

Let's talk about dreams. And goals. After all, a little way in to the new year, that's what everyone is talking about, right?

I am a dreamer. I always have been. As my parents will laughingly confirm, my ability to get completely lost in my own little dream world is pretty solid. Although I have outgrown the stage where this leads me to leave pencil marks on door frames (apparently, I was a princess locked in a tower and the pencil was my key) or spend 10 minutes washing one plate, I can still happily entertain myself for long periods of time with nothing but my own thoughts.

I like my dream world. Everything works out just the way I want it to there! In real life...not so much.

That doesn't stop me from having "in real life" dreams, though. I may have to wait longer than I planned or it may look different than I imagined, but I think dreams are important. Dreams keep us moving forward, keep us growing, give us purpose and hope. I believe dreams are something God gives us, and that makes them something good.

Lately, however, I've been contemplating the difference between dreams and goals. See, my dreams are good. But most of them are things I don't really have complete control over. I want to get married, have kids, see all of the children and teenagers I pour my life into walking with Jesus in bold faith and deep love for Him...there are things I can do to work towards those dreams, but in the end I can't make them happen.

Goals, on the other hand, are things I can control and can make happen. I've spent a good deal of my life "wishing I could..." with SO MANY THINGS to fill in the blanks. I wish I could speak Spanish. I wish I could lose weight. I wish I could somehow be on time, all the time. I wish I could--well, you get the idea. But these are things I can do. I can set a goal, put in the work, and make it happen. The fact that I can't speak Spanish, still need to lose weight and am so rarely on time is 100% my fault.

And I think that's where I have to start. Accepting responsibility for the things I can change. Recognizing that if I want to get to point B, I'm going to have to do something about it. Jesus does amazing things in my life, absolutely, but I can't just sit around and wait for Him to build me into my dream person. That's where goals fit in. Goals that I can break down into steps that are attainable.

So this year, I'm not just dreaming. I've got some goals to work towards. Thirteen days into 2020, I have already experienced both failure and success. I expect that's just how it goes, so I plan to keep moving forward. Keep taking those steps, leaning hard on Jesus and His strength all the way. I'm excited to see, not "where this year takes me", but where I take me this year.

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