I want to begin my discussion today on the topic of setting out goals and the importance of following through on the goals we set out. 

Michael pretty much referenced the variables that we need to consider when constructing our goals. This week I want to expand further on what it will take to follow through and to perhaps evaluate scary motivations that will get us there. Look I am not a believer in the fact that fear needs to be a driving force behind the willpower to get the wheel rolling on our goals, but I believe there is real utility in using the feelings we have experienced in the past to try and avoid our actions for the future. And so, it is the time of the year where we take things more seriously and try to evaluate the success of the past and what this year holds for us. You might come to ask yourself, “What would the perfect 2022 be like?” 

How would it be best to set out and orient myself emotionally and physically so that I might just have the year that I could say, “Wow, what a year!?” I would like my message today to tie in with the message from last week to discuss the importance of daily Sacrifice to achieve our pre-determined goals. 

Main Point 1 What is Sacrifice?
Many people think of sacrifice as a bad thing or perhaps as something that we just we do because we are compelled to. But sacrifice is essentially “voluntarily” or “involuntarily” giving up something you want now to gain something more in the future. Many of us or perhaps most of us don’t take this principle seriously enough because we thrive on tangible outcomes in an immediate sense, but we all know that “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. I hope you paid attention to me saying that sacrifice can be voluntary or involuntary. You see life has a funny way of choosing our sacrifice for us. 


Main point 2 
What does it look like when we don’t sacrifice time for the future?
I think one of the biggest motivators in staying on task with our goals would be to ask, “What would my future look like if I didn’t read the books I needed to If I didn’t take out a pension fund if I didn’t eat correctly if didn’t obsessively stop playing video games If I didn’t spend time with my children by perhaps taking time off work.


Major Point 3
Sacrifice pride for humility
“Sacrifices do not mean we need to be our own tyrant in our lives.” 
Making sacrifices is about storing up good for ourselves in the future.
Start small and don’t expect too much from yourself immediately.
Michael mentioned last week that goals need to be realistic for us so that we don’t feel overwhelmed. You might think well, “What good is it for me to content myself with starting out as a Janitor?” or you might say “What good would it serve walking for ten minutes today when I should be running for 10?”. 

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