One Mommy's Memos

I have many goals in my life. But the last few weeks since this post , I've been trying to identify my #1 priority for my life (not just this year) by contemplating the question, what is the One Thing I want to accomplish some day? As a Homeschooling Mom, I draw rich meaning and purpose in my life from facilitating the education of my children. And at first, I identified as my One Thing: "I want to raise children who are happy, spiritual, righteous, serving, educated, and productive, and have a good relationship with them".  From the beginning, I knew this #1 priority was missing something. For starters, it was missing God. But, I justified this by telling myself, I serve God by serving my children, and raising great children is what I feel God wants my purpose right now to be. Raising well-adjusted children as my #1 is also problematic because, despite my best efforts, it is out of my control. They have their free will. I will do my best, but perhaps they won'

There are things about myself I want to change. And sadly, some of those things are things I've wanted to change for many years, and yet, here I am, the same. Why? I think a big part of it is that I haven't had a vision of what is possible. And another part of it is that I get overwhelmed. Here's how it goes.... I read a parenting book. I vow to be kinder and more patient with my kids. Then something happens where my expectations are not met, and I'm tired and overwhelmed by something else, and my emotion gets the better of me. I do or say something unkind. And then I get upset at myself. And after a few days of this scenario happening again and again, I give up, thinking I'm just not capable of being the kind and patient Mom I want to be. But in reading  The One Thing  this week, I gained a new perspective that I know will be beneficial in my journey of change. My goal needs to be mastery. I don't want to just be OK at being patient and kind. I want to be e

Today, during my Miracle Morning , I came across a fresh approach to goal setting. It makes so much sense. Tomorrow I will be delving in to answering these questions. I can tell already this will be a life-changing exercise. This is as close to a direct quote as I could get, listening to the audiobook of  The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results . Goal Setting to the Now: What’s the One Thing I want to do some day?  Based on my someday goal, what’s the One Thing I can do in the next 5 years to be on track to achieve it? Based on my 5 year goal, what’s the One Thing I can do this year to be on track to achieve my 5 year goal, so that I’m on track to achieve my someday goal? Based on my one year goal, what’s the One Thing I can do this month, so I’m on track to achieve my goal this year, so I’m on track to achieve my 5 year goal, so that I’m on track to achieve my someday goal?  Based on my goal this month, what’s the One Thing I can d