Setting Goals That Matter:
Reflecting on 2024, Preparing for 2025”
As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on my goals from 2024. If I’m being honest, I didn’t achieve all of them. One goal I missed? Getting visible abs again. It turns out that too many trips to Chick-fil-A while traveling through the States, combined with not enough sit-ups, took their toll. But you know what? That’s okay. While I didn’t hit every mark, I achieved many other goals, and I’m a firm believer in the power of setting goals. After all, if you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.
As we stand on the cusp of a new year, it’s a perfect moment for reflection and preparation. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there’s a time for every activity under the sun. The turning of the calendar provides an opportunity to take stock of where we’ve been and make plans for where we’re going.
The Importance of Holistic Goal-Setting
For leaders, there’s a saying I love: “You have to be well to build well.” This truth extends beyond church leadership to every area of life: marriage, family, business, or any organization you’re building. As we approach 2025, let’s think about our whole lives—our souls, relationships, habits, and ministries. Let’s not just focus on what we want to achieve but also on who we want to become.
Here’s a simple guide to help you reflect on 2024 and prepare for 2025:
Reflect: Looking Back
What are you most grateful for in 2024?
Write a list and turn it into an opportunity to thank God.
Who do you need to thank and appreciate?
Write a card, send a text, or make a call.
Who do you need to forgive?
Pray a prayer of forgiveness and blessing over their lives.
What would you do differently?
Be honest. The beauty of recognizing where you went wrong is that you’re now less wrong moving forward.
What went well?
Celebrate those wins!
What didn’t go so well?
Be honest, feel the disappointment, mourn, grieve, and release it.
What do you need to leave behind?
What do you need to take with you?
Prepare: Looking Forward
What habits will you take forward?
What habits will you leave behind?
What habit will you begin? (Yes, just one.)
Where will you take time to rest, play, and be with your family?
Put it on the calendar now.
What opportunities do you want to make the most of?
What books do you want to read?
Order them now.
What’s something you want to learn or an area you want to develop?
Goal-Setting for the New Year
When planning for the year ahead, I like to pair each goal with a specific habit or plan that will help me achieve it. Here are some examples:
Goal: Deepen my relationship with my kids.
Habit: Spend at least 30 minutes of one-on-one time with each of them weekly.
Goal: Enjoy my marriage.
Habit: Plan and take my wife on a date every two weeks.
Goal: Grow as a leader.
Habit: Find a mentor or coach and connect with them monthly for an intentional hour.
Key Areas to Reflect On and Plan For:
Soul: Your inner world and relationship with Christ.
Relationships: Marriage, family, friends, and fellowship.
Practical: Finances, physical health, vacations.
Vocation: Work, ministry, leadership.
Fun: Enjoying God’s good world and the life He has given you.
As you approach 2025, remember that goal-setting isn’t just about productivity—it’s about becoming the person God is calling you to be. Take time to reflect, plan, and embrace the new opportunities that await. Here’s to a year of growth, gratitude, and grace!
If this content helpful please share it and subscribe to my newsletter below
If you're a leader and want some helping mapping out your year ahead, please reach out.
