What do you see when you look at this collage?

It contains a few of my favorite things, you see, even though it was put together by someone who no doubt understands how to arrange beautiful images in a unique way.

I love so many things about it.

I love the theme and the beautiful blueness of it all. 

The classic lines of the navy blue dress with the sumptuous leather belt.

The blue apartment building, which represents the incredible fun of owning real estate.

The golden-hued hat on shoulder-length, sun-kissed hair.

The pretty and vibrantly blue wheat puff stems.

The blue jeans paired with leopard and a classic white shirt.

The blue pencils scattered on a mint desktop.

The book near the coffee and the keyboard.

Oh—and those blueberry pancakes—scrumptious looking, aren’t they?

If I were in search of inspiration for a few new goals, I would not need to look much further than this collage.

Where do you find your inspiration? In books? Listening to others? Scanning Pinterest? Maybe reading magazines?  

All of those have provided me with a few tangible goals throughout the years.  

For myself though, the number one place I have found inspiration for my goals has been from looking within. Introspection. Reflection. Quiet time with God. 

This is where I have found the source of the most meaningful goals for which I have sought.

Sometimes though, looking within oneself produces not much more than worry, doubt, and blankness. It happens, and it happens to all of us.

Sometimes, looking within is an unenviable activity because our minds and our spirits can become heavy laden, burdened with the struggles and the strife of the world. 

Know what I mean?

You sit down, fully intending to design the next phase of the life of your dreams, and you come up…empty.

When this happens, don’t give up on your dreams.

Instead, ask yourself to think about something new, something big, or something not considered ordinary.

Here are a few ideas to get you going:

1. If I did know what my burning desire in life was, a few ideas that I find intriguing are:

2. If I could pursue one thing, and neither time nor money were obstacles, the one thing that I would love to do is: [fill in the blank].

3. When I look back over the past year, when I [fill in the blank], I felt the [happiest, most peaceful, most fulfilled, greatest sense of gratitude, etc.].

4. I have always thought to myself that it would be fulfilling to volunteer here [fill in the blank].

5. If I could create [fill in the blank] over the next 3 months, I would be gratified.

6. If I could donate [$$$] to [person or organization] I would count myself blessed to be a blessing.

Even writing these statements just now, I could feel myself wanting to fill in the blanks and set some new goals.

In my opinion, reflection, introspection, quiet time…these are absolutely crucial to our God-given mission to set and pursue worthy goals.

Take some time today to sit with yourself, and don’t hesitate to invite our great and mighty God to join you. Think about your life and the time you have left to devote to goals. 

Use your time wisely my dear friend and understand, every day—you get to choose whether you set and pursue goals you and God agree to, or-- be used in the pursuit of someone else’s goals. 

My advice: don’t give up on your goals.

Always for your success,

Monica