Blog/Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAPGPlid8FQ
I’m going to try a little something here…Instead of creating the same content twice, I’m going to expand on this content in the Vlog. Let me know how you like it. There will always be a link here to the expanded content, and always a link there so you can get the basic info. Panning for 2023 includes thinking about what will make things more fun for YOU, my unicorns!
Announcements:
I am feeling a lot of peace in getting things done that had gotten behind. I’m working on building my student load up–man, I missed my kids during the break!
Two Big Questions
Let’s talk about planning trajectory for 2023, and how you can structure that differently from “resolutions” and “goals”. This is Part 1, by the way, and Part 2 will come out next week. I don’t think there will be a part 3, but we’ll see.
There are so many goal-setting techniques out there, and courses, webinars, books, and self-help blogs that will encourage you to THINK BIG and make S.M.A.R.T. GOALS so if that kind of planning works for you, there’s lots of info out there. BUT it doesn’t work for me.
For me, that process only produces reluctance, fear, and, within a short time, shame. I freely admit that I’m a born rebel and would rather stick myself in the eye with a fork than to follow painful goals regardless of the fact that those goals are intended to make my life better. That’s scriptural, by the way…made me feel so much better when I realized that God isn’t surprised by that aspect of my personality at all. The following describes me to the core!
As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13 “Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
The New King James Version (Ro 3:10–18). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
Hopefully you will benefit from what the Lord has taught me over the years about how to handle my own rebelliousness in regards to the process of examining myself to make better decisions in the new year.
Jump in where you are
Just because it’s January 13, you’re not too late! It doesn’t matter when you begin. And there’s no rush. It’s better to pray and wait on the Lord to lead than to jump in and DIY it.
WRITE IT DOWN. For me, I am a verbal processor, and writing counts as verbal. Get it down where you can see it and re-read it. Digital doesn’t work as well for me, but it would be better for you to DO IT than to worry about HOW you do it.
Figure out your “Why”
Understanding WHY I am motivated to do certain things certain ways is more important to me than understanding what those things are. I find scripture to be the best place to discover who I am and what I’m meant to be than any place else.
Keep everything else in perspective of that thought first. ‘Why’ is the biggest and most important question. It’s also the easiest place to self-deceive, because you can, for instance, kid yourself that you want to make a lot of money so that you can do charitable deeds when really you’re just greedy. Go carefully and be as honest with yourself as you can.
The Two Questions
Having said all that…here are the two BIG questions I address in my Big Book (see link) starting sometime in November-January. Notice that there’s no set time, although it does seem to work best to do this when the whole world seems to be considering the upcoming year.
- Question 1: “Imagine there are no limits–what would you want to be/happen/have in [insert year]?”
“But,” you might say “there ARE limits! How is this supposed to help me?”
It will expose your heart. If you write it down and then you realize things like…wow, that’s all about me isn’t it?…then you’ve learned something.
But also, God is not limited. He can accomplish things you cannot.
And lastly, consider this as practicing your creativity. Letting that right brain get in there and loosen up your thinking without the constraints of what you believe to be limits. It will be good for your art, too, if you’re an artist or creator.
Remember to ask yourself “why?” over each of the items you list in answer to the question.
- Question 2: “Imagine it’s the end of [insert the same year as before]. What looks different for you now?”
More practice with your creativity! I typically base my answers on the items in question 1, but when I answer this question, it sometimes reveals that another surprise item needs to be added to the answers to question 1!
The Secret
Those are the 2 BIG QUESTIONS, but what do I do once I’ve answered them?
Here’s the SECRET: I close the book. I put it away. I don’t look at it again unless I feel I’ve lost my way or need to change things or until it is again November.
What do I find when I look at it again? I find that most of the items have been accomplished!
The gurus and life coaches will tell you to paste those goals up on your mirror so you have to see them every morning. They’ll recommend you evaluate at the end of each week or month and see what you can do to improve. That is a lot of pressure!
How does it work?
Why does this method work as well as it does for me? I don’t know for sure. I expect that some of it relates to the fact that my heart is in those pursuits anyway. The Lord hears those heart prayers, and He knows what they are because He knew what I was going to write down anyway.
O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
The New King James Version (Ps 139:1–6). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
The New King James Version (Ps 37:3–4). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
Do you see it? Not only does God know the things in my heart. He put them there. Do I trust my heart? No, but I trust His heart for me.
I’d love to know if you decide to try answering these questions for yourself, and whether it is helpful or not.
As you’re planning for 2023, I hope that you make seeing the music, hearing the colors, touching the magic and awakening the wonder and worship in your heart part of your trajectory. It’s a beautiful way to live.
Godspeed
This Week in the Studio
Do you enjoy this section of the blog? Let me know in the comments.
I’ve been having fun painting! I have a fairly new process for producing abstracts–one I learned at a conference last year and then developed it, adding my own twist and some extra steps. I found a product that really moves that along! Check out my YouTube video.
Here are two pieces I’ve recently created using the process and that product.
This painting was featured last week with some philosophizing…if you’re up for it, visit here
Both of these will be uploaded to the gallery shop soon!
That is fixed, by the way. Thanks to a helpful member on the Woocommmerce Facebook page who is going through some hard times (like floods and having to evacuate!) and makes a practice of turning anxiety and stress into good deeds for others…that’s an AMAZING concept! Likely we could all try that and find some anxiety relief. I certainly will be giving it a try.
You can see the progress of the top one, Orange Marmalade Overture, by visiting my Instagram reel here