Summary: Most people start the year full of resolution… which ends somewhere around January 5. But what if there was a way to set goals that made them easier to keep? Chris and Karlie have a few tips up their sleeves on how to start better so finishing is easier and how to help teens achieve their goals in 2022. Then join the conversation on why working till you drop won’t really work.
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
Have a question? If you have a question about something you heard or just want to give us some feedback, please leave us a comment below. We would love to hear from you!
About Us:
Chris Robey
CEO
Chris has worked with teens from a variety of backgrounds for over a decade. He has a desire to help teenagers make good choices while also giving their families tools to communicate more effectively as choices are made.
Karlie Duke
Director of Communications
Karlie was in one of Teen Life’s original support groups and now is passionate about encouraging students to live better stories. She has gained experience working with teenagers through work, volunteer, and personal opportunities.
I came across this idea from a book called One Word That WillChange Your Life. It was a new concept to me but has made an impact on me this year – so much so that I wanted to share the idea with you.
Basically, it is related to the sense that we all have a desire to set resolutions or goals, but all to often, we have a hard time following through. So to really get something done, maybe we just need to pick one work for a period and let that word help us stay focused enough to accomplish what is in front of us.
In 2015, that word for me has been “Finish”.
This has kept me focused quite a bit this year. In the past, I have struggled to finish. I like starting things but following through on them is difficult for me for a few reasons. Sometimes the task gets hard, and I find something easier to do. Other times, I run into a road block (like not knowing what to do next), and I forget about what I was working on. It could even be that I get bored and want to find something new and exciting to work on.
The truth is that finishing something carries a lot of weight in accomplishing what I have set out to do. For Teen Lifeline, that means I want to make a difference for teenagers. I want to add value to them so that they can be the best they can be. I also read about this concept in John Maxwell’s latest book, Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters, and he has been extremely successful at training leaders world wide. So each time I start something and don’t finish, I am risking not helping a teen, or a group of teens, that could really use the help.
I have even seen this apply at my house.
I like to dabble in woodworking. I started a project for my daughter that was taking a lot longer than I thought it would. But I kept going and finally finished it a few weeks ago. The joy on her face was enough for me to realize it was worth the time, but I also got the satisfaction of the process it took to start and finish. One more project done.
So what would your “One Word” be?
You don’t have to wait until the New Year or a birthday or even Monday.
Pick a word today and write it somewhere you will see it often. “Finish” is written on the whiteboard at my office.
Take a moment and share this post along with your “One Word”. Maybe even share where you will display it for you to remember and stay focused to accomplish the things you know are worth your time.
Ricky Lewis is our Executive Director and has been with us since the beginning. As a father of 4, he seeks to help parents and their kids Live Life Better.
