Let’s do a little exercise together.
Please write down your answers to these questions instead of just thinking the answers. And, keep in mind, you will get out of this exercise what you put in.
Feel free to send your answers over to us. I would love to read them and help you. Leslie and I will answer them all.
3 years from now….
How do you envision your family 3 years in the future? Build this scene out in your imagination. What do you want this scene to be like?
What conversations do you have?
What are you doing?
What goals do you have for your family for 3 years from now?
Your marriage? Your relationship with your children?
Ok…have you got that? If not, do it now.
Now, what hindrances are there in making that vision and goal you have for your family a reality?
List those hindrances…Go ahead. Write them down.
The reason I asked you about three years from now is because when you are in the moment and in the present and things are not going the way you want, you can not see solutions. It is hard to see your way out when you are in the middle of going through an upsetting time.
But, if you get out of the moment,—the stress, the pressure, and worry of the current situation,— solutions become clearer. So, if you have not thought about three years from now and dreamed a little, do it now.
Then think about the obstacles and hindrances that keep that dream from becoming a reality. What is holding you back? Again, these are dreams that you have for your family and the relationships within it.
This exercise can be a real eye-opener on what’s really important to you. Do these dreams involve you and your family drawing closer to Jesus?
Next step, what questions do you have about making that dream a reality. As in what knowledge and skills do you lack in making that dream a reality? What answers and habits and systems do you need to make that dream a reality? Go ahead. Write those down, too. Do the best you can with this one.
Third one, what strengths do you have that will help you in making that dream a reality? Write those down. These can be simple talents, relationships, things you own, or more advanced skills that you developed over time.
Last one, what is holding you back? Now, you have developed a vision of where you want to go. Who you want to be? Who you want your family to be? What you want to be doing in 3 years? How you want your marriage to be?
Plus, you have identified what the obstacles are. As well as, you have identified the knowledge gaps and skills you need to get there.
And, you have identified your strengths that will help you make that vision a reality. All that is left is to go for it!
If you have identified your vision for your family and what you want to be 3 years from now, why would you accept the problems you have for today. You already know the hindrances to overcome and the knowledge and skills you need. Plus, you know your strengths.
With that clarity, the very next thing is action!
Action.
What does that mean to you? What does action mean to you?
I ask these questions because it is back to school time. Many of you are about to start a school year without solutions to the problems you had last year. Therefore, you are headed for similar problems and issues.
There is no reason to do that if you know the solutions.
Actually, this brings up another question. You need help and accountability to help you stay on track in solving these issues. Doing this alone is hard! Who is going to help you?
