Nebraska Synod ELCA

by Pastor Heidi Wallace, Assistant to the Bishop

How far have you gotten?

That question, much like Go And . . ., could be completed in several ways, especially this time of year.  How far have you gotten on shoveling (again)?  How far have you gotten on planning Lent?  How far have you gotten on keeping new year’s resolutions?

That last one might have been forgotten weeks ago.  It would have been for me if I were still making resolutions.  However, resolutions did not work for me for a few reasons:  1) I want the “perfect” time to start something.  2) I focus on one aspect more than others. 3) I think of “accomplishment” more than “progress.”

So, I gave up new year’s resolutions.  Instead, I write statements based on Portico’s Wholeness Wheel.  One or two statements of what I intend to do for each of the aspects of well-being are all I need to create a different mindset.

For example, under the heading of physical well-being this year, I have written “Eat more vegetables.”  I did not need to start this on January 1.  I can pull out my list in January or August and check in on how I’m doing in that area.  If I could be doing more toward this end, I can just add broccoli or spinach to my shopping list then.  No “perfect” time needed to start something.

The year before I began this practice, I tried writing goals for the year.  Now, these were SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based), but because finances were a huge concern for me at that point, they were all about that.  It was evident that while I could achieve those goals, it would require my attention, energy, and time were spent on one aspect of my life, to the detriment of others.  Now there is more of a balance.

What’s more is that since those goals were goals for the upcoming year, the timeline was usually by December 31.  That meant even more stress in an already busy time of year and very little motivation in July to be working even incrementally toward those goals.

Finally, because I do not write goals that something will be done on a certain day or by a certain date, I have not added another checklist to my life.  There are enough of those.  I can look at this list anytime and see things I want to do.  Have I felt unfulfilled in intellectual well-being?  One of my statements is “Take a class.”  How fun to feel like I’m making progress by browsing through Emmaus or community education offerings and registering for something!  And when that class is done, yes, I could check off that statement or I could feel inspired to take another class.

How far have I gotten on my statements?  They’re written (and color coded because they’re mine) and in mind as I make the shopping list or get the notice about upcoming Emmaus courses.  I’m making progress toward wholeness, health, and peace.