Focus On Your Goals#2: Staying On Track

As I shared in the previous blog, when you are pursuing a goal failing is not the hardest part of the process. The hardest part of the process is training your mind to stay focused on the goal… As you learn to train your mind you are going to be confronted with wandering thoughts, distractions, discouragement, old thought patterns,  & negative ways of thinking. However, you have a choice of how you respond to these things!

If you find your mind falling prey to these wanderings & have thoughts like, “This is how I have always thought,” don’t get discouraged. Your mind CAN be renewed & refocused. That is why Paul encourages his readers to “be transformed by the renewing of their mind,” (Romans 12:2).

Renewing means starting again; to make like new. When you start towards a goal, but get deterred, start again! Seems simple right, seems like common sense right? Well, it really isn’t common because most people, when they get stuck in a mental rut or get derailed, believe the lie that they can’t get back on track. But, YOU CAN!

It is at the point of derailment that most people say, “I’m just a failure. Every time I start towards the goal I fail & I’m tired of feeling like a failure.” I’m sure you have heard the inspirational quote, “Failure is not an option.” Let me just keep it real, failure is not an option, it is a reality! The reality is that as you are doing things you have never done, thinking ways you have never thought, & pursuing things you have never pursued, failure is part of the process. But, just because you fail does not make you a failure! You need to learn how to see failure as a stepping stone, building block, &  teacher. 

It’s your greatest failures that can often lead you to your greatest successes.

If you fail, get back up! It’s time to “prepare your mind for action,” (1 Peter 1:13). No more excuse about how you can’t think different. This is a flat out lie & victim mentality. You have to train your mind with the truth, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

Many are waiting for Jesus to come down with a mystical wand & endow them with strength by striking them with the wand. Wake up call, He gave you the strength the minute you received Him into your life & were filled with His Spirit. No more waiting for more power to think different, you have the power. Start today! And, no more allowing the fear of failure to hold you back! Whether it is starting a new business, getting in shape, being a better spouse, doing your homework, or growing in your relationship with God; it’s time to train your mind to stay focused on the goals set before you.

Let’s Do This Together:

Take a moment to share some of the thoughts that can distract, derail, or discourage you & some of the failures that have kept you from moving forward? What are you doing to confront these ways of thinking &  getting back on track?