There are two types of people when it comes to gospel goal setting. Myself, and my wife. I love to set LOTS of goals. My wife is the exact opposite. A lot of goals would overwhelm her and she prefers instead to have 2-3 really solid goals. These two extremes make it hard for people to ‘write a guide’ for goal setting, but as I’ve already written a LOT about goal setting in my style, for people who love to work on lots of things, I am going to take a page from my wife’s book and talk about setting just 2-3 goals.
What are you Awful at?
Ask yourself, what is ONE specific thing you wish you did better at? Where are you “awful” so to speak? For me, it is fasting. Straight up. I am awful at fasting. I have no issues with fast offerings, nor do I have issues with the concept or doctrine behind fasting, I’ve even seen miracles from it. And I totally start a fast every Fast Sunday. But come lunchtime, I become hungry, and honestly, I end up breaking my fast early, almost every month. So my goal is to actually do the prescribed 24 hours 2-meal fast.
So what about you? What are you awful at? What aspect of the gospel do you know you could do a little better at and if at the end of the year you had accomplished it, would make you happy? Perhaps it is fasting like me? Maybe it is doing Come, Follow Me? Or maybe it is paying Tithing, going to Church in person, going to the temple, holding FHE, kneeling for your prayers, or maybe even it is simply actually saying your prayers?
You don’t need to make a big list of gospel goals! And certainly don’t beat yourself up if you realize there are a lot of gospel goals you could choose from. In the words of Elder Michael A. Dunn, “Instead of trying to perfect everything, what if we tackled just one thing?”
So pick one or two things, and know that if you did these one or two things you are a better disciple than when the year started. One of Satan’s most successful tools against us is the thought that we are not enough and need to do everything. Simply put, God has eternity to help you become a god, so don’t worry about the velocity but rather the direction!
VGPA.
My mission president was a hedge fund manager and taught us the secret of goal setting, it was to set a vision, goal, plan, and an accountability partner. Also known as a VPGA. Now, this might sound like a lot, but you are already halfway there!
Your vision: Be a better disciple.
Your goal: The 1-2 things you just decided on. For me, it is fasting.
Your plan: Goals without plans are like daydreams. What are you going to do to get to your goal? For me, I am going to make sure I start my fast right after dinner on Saturday night so that I will be on track for the 24 hours AND the 2 meals.
Your accountability: Accountability is the MOST important step of goals. There needs to be someone you tell how your plans and goals are going to. So, who are you going to account to? Who is someone that will hold your feet to the fire and not buy excuses? For me, whereas my wife is amazing for most goals, for my weight loss goals I found I had to get a friend to be my partner. Someone who I was in regular contact with, someone who I knew would follow up and someone who would, like he did two weeks ago, tell me that I need to do better or I won’t reach my goals. For my fasting goal, my accountability is my wife, she’s setting the goal too and we will hold one another’s feet to the fire.
Don’t cheat! Don’t skip a step of the VGPA as they are all needed to reach your goals. As a missionary, I helped dozens of people set VGPA’s for everything from getting an education, to joining the Church and being sealed as a family. The concepts are rock solid and based on true gospel principles. I testify they will help you in your gospel goal setting. (For a more in-depth dive into VGPA see Learning How to Set And Reach Your Goals)
The means vs the ends.
Never forget that the goals you set are merely means to an end, the end being your vision. I want to be a better disciple. That is so broad and complex, the goal is a specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely thing I can do to see how I am working towards my vision.
If you find yourself in March and your gospel goal has either been mastered or is not producing the desired results it is 100% ok to adjust or flat-out change your goals in pursuit of your vision! Remember, the goals are merely means to the end and not an end unto themselves!
Therefore what?
So once again, what are you awful at? What do you want to do better at? Is it fasting like me? Or is it something else? It does not need to be gospel goals only, you can set one goal in each of the four fields of human endeavor, mental, physical, spiritual, and social. Maybe your vision is that you ‘want to be healthier.’ And rather than the overused ‘lose weight,’ your goal is to “master going to bed by 10:30 PM and waking up by 6:30 AM.” The key is to set the vision, choose ONE to TWO goals, make that plan, and find a friend who will help you to reach it! Soon regardless of the style of goal setting, you will become a master of progression!
If you need some ideas for goals, here are a few suggestions that are worth considering!