Starting Strong

F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "Strength shows not only in the ability to persist, but the ability to start over." There comes a time when starting over is the best thing to do.

I recall a time when I really didn't want to start over. I felt that starting over would have meant that I had failed. But I found that just the opposite was true. I had not necessarily failed but had ended a season to start something new. The statement that "nothing remains the same but change" is hard for me to digest sometimes. I think it is human nature to want to hold on and make moments last forever. But in all realness it is impossible for things not to change.

Since things don't last forever it is imperative to position our new beginnings to be successful. To have a successful start requires a successful plan. What are your goals and can you start in the direction of success. Start like you would if you were running a marathon. You wouldn't start off by running 26.2 miles the first day. You would plan ahead and gradually increasing your running distance to be prepared for the great day.

As you transition from old to new schedules and goals, make them strong by making them (SMART) Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reasonable, and Time-bound. Rick Hansen said it this way, "Make your goals challenging enough to make you stretch, but not so far to make you break." Make your starting strong!

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