Make No Small Plans

Every new year we’re always bound and determined to set resolutions from great to small. It’s like this clock that resets in our heads and hearts as well as on the calendar. We do a mental inventory of where we are and where we would like to go. Sometimes it’s depressing. Sometimes it’s the kick in the seat of the pants we need. Thank goodness for new years.

I hear and read the phrase all the time, “New Year, New You,” but often I wonder “Am I really all that bad right now?” After all, needing a complete life makeover is a little drastic wouldn’t you say? I’d prefer not to run totally away from who I am or who I’ve become and rather honor who I have always been but perhaps dig a little deeper to come out just a little better. Not necessarily all out NEW, but definitely improved.

But even though we must take baby steps to reach our goals, or, we have to crawl before we walk, we still must think big. We have to create a grander vision for our lives and what we can do.

Michael Port, author of The Think Big Manifesto (Wiley, May, 2009) and founder of The Think Big Revolution, consistently says as one of his catch phrases, “We must think bigger about who we are and what we offer the world.” I believe one of the reasons he’s so successful at inspiring his core audience is that he has an ardent approach to life.

In his latest book, Port says, “Death is a destination we all share, like it or not. ‘Time is all you have…and you may find one day that you have less than you think,’ as Randy Pausch wrote. Would you rather think small, succumb to a wasteful subexistence, living others’ lives? Would you rather play it safe? You might just as well bury yourself early–or how about now? So what if someone makes fun of you? So what if someone tells you that you’re crazy to even try? So what if in fact you do fail?”

Exactly. So what if you fail? Fail better next time.

Life doesn’t wait. There really are no do overs. Remember, once upon a time you knew what you really wanted out of life. Get back in touch with those dreams, those plans, those goals, those wishes. Remember those silent tugs at your heart or those daydreaming thoughts that often keep you from doing a task at hand.

Besides the top regular resolutions we so often make (like lose weight, quit smoking, spend more time with family or friends, get out of debt, etc.), we have to get in touch with our inner ambition. Why? Because in a way, it’s our purpose…our calling…some would even say our destiny.

A prayer I often silently whisper was actually authored by Oprah Winfrey. She said, “Use me God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.”

I find no better way of saying it than that.

Think big. Dream big. Love big. Plan big. Do big things. Small plans will always be a part of our lives, but holding bigger things in your heart and mind will keep all those necessary small things going…and with purpose.

“Make no small plans for they have no power to stir your soul.”     - Anonymous

Make it a great big luscious year….

All my love,

Kelley Taylor

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
- Teddy Roosevelt

Revamp, Review, Re-try

It seems I am better at writing to you than video blogging.

Let’s face it…I’ve slacked off. Not because I haven’t recorded the vlogs, but because there simply isn’t enough time in the day to be a mom, entrepreneur, writer, and friend and upload them in the meantime.

So, I’m revamping my over-zealous plans for this site as I do most goals I make. I always bite off more than I can chew. But maybe that’s my personality. Or flaw. Maybe I believed Les Brown’s quote too much: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

I don’t want to stop reaching just a bit farther, stretching my capabilities, mining my strengths, and….um….eventually facing my reality. I know that when there is change that I want in my life, I have to adjust.

So why can’t I know that going into the resolution making business anyway?

I don’t want to lose steam from failing so much. I want to keep plugging on when it really doesn’t seem like I’m making much headway. It’s not about being ambitious or driven, it’s about trying to be better than I was the day before – the year before.

The thing is, I can always revise. I forget that. Do you?

If we fear failure or perfection – that we might not get it right, or the way we want it – we’ll never set any goals higher than things we can reach without really trying. And that’s not stretching oneself, that’s succumbing to the pain of the stretch while we’re in it.

I don’t advocate setting unrealistic goals. That’s just setting yourself up to beat yourself up. But I do think we should look at what is truly important to us, of what we want to get out of life, and go for it! If we don’t we’ll still keep waiting for someone to hand us something that might never come, or even worse, just sigh and say something like, “oh well, maybe it’s just not meant to be.” (more on that later)

Maybe we’ll tell ourselves that we’re OK just where we are. And maybe we are….and maybe deep down we’re not. I think I’m afraid of saying that because it looks like I’m not thankful for what I’ve been given.

Pshaw! (I’ve always wanted to write that word. LOL)

It’s because of what I’ve been given, what I’m thankful for, that pushes me on.

I believe we are all born with innate talents - those God-given abilities that are blessings as well as curses. I feel if we are truly thankful….grateful…we put those to use. And sometimes that is hard. Why can’t we just sit on them…think about them….protect them….

Perhaps it ends up that we ignore them because at times the risk is too great. And sometimes, we just get sidetracked. But let’s not let that stop us!

So, if you have fallen short of achieving your resolutions for this year, don’t worry. You are soooooo not alone.

So maybe we do this together?

Let’s dive right back in, reviewing what works and what doesn’t and move on. Can you forgive yourself for not meeting your goals? I know. That’s the tough part. But we have to try.

Forgive yourself. Revise your plans. Keep trying.

No matter where you are in your new year, remember nothing is set in stone and we can change where we are right now. It all begins with a change of heart and mindset.

And we can do that!

“Make no small plans for they have no power to stir your soul.” - Anonymous

From my heart to yours,

Kelley

Deep and Peaceful Sleep

I wish for you deep and peaceful sleep today.

Take a nap and dream of all the things you want to do in the upcoming year… and don’t forget to remember to list some of the things you don’t want to do also (like say yes to everyone, or not take more down time for yourself, etc.).

Don’t worry about rushing about today.  Just sleep, rest, and write down in a fresh journal all the things you want out of this next year.  You will love it.

 What do you wish for?  Share it below in the comments section.