Goals

Look to God, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. – Psalm 34:5

Goals are important. A noble goal that is clear and precise gives an individual a sense of direction and purpose. It helps to keep one on a healthy track. For a goal to be noble it must be for the good of all involved. The great psychologist Albert Ellis once said, “When we choose to create profound meanings and long-range goals for ourselves and our community we tend to lead more satisfying and less disturbed lives”. A noble goal brings honor to one’s-self and to others.

The other day I was getting a haircut. The lady cutting my hair shared a story about her step-daughter. This step-daughter is fourteen years old and entering high school. Get this. She already has a four year plan. She has a dream of becoming an anesthesiologist. She has already planned her course of action for getting the most out of her high school experience. Frankly I’m impressed. How many middle-aged people have a four year plan? This youngster is an inspiration.

Yes, goals are great. However there is a danger. The danger comes when we use goals to determine our value. This is a miss-use of goals. A goal is best used as a tool to help us live productive and happy lives. A goal must never be used as a tool for the measuring of self-worth. A human being’s worth comes simply by the fact of being human. As a Christian, I believe our worth comes from being made in the image of God.

This is an idea that needs to be taught and embraced by our society. Quoting again from Albert Ellis: “To help people gain unconditional self-acceptance and to believe that they are okay or are good just because they exist had better be taught to all children in the course of their schooling, from early childhood onward”. Simply being human makes one worthy of value and respect. This is why we respect ourselves. This is why we respect everyone we meet.

Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers) said, “If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person”. You are valuable simply because God made you. You are radiant. By all means, have noble goals in your life. Go after them with gusto, but never let your successes or failures determine your self-worth. You are worth more than can be measured.