“I have the right to do anything” you say, but not everything is beneficial. 

“I have the right to do anything” you say, but I will not be mastered by anything.

A new year is upon us. We just completed the first quarter of 2021. Many have set resolutions. Others have set goals. All the same in intent, I suppose. 

The difference, for the most part, is that setting goals should be a continuous endeavor over the year. Along with goals should be a detailed plan of execution and along with a detailed plan of execution should be action.  Once a goal is accomplished, another should have already been in the pipeline ready to go; to keep propelling us forward. 

The passage above is a great passage to consider as you set goals. Not just for the year, but in general. 

There are many things we do day to day, week to week, month to month, and year to year that aren’t necessarily bad; they just simply don’t make us better. And anything that doesn’t make us or those around us, better, must be disposed of.

A great way to make sure you’re on the right track is to simply use this four-step process:

ANALYZE

Past.  What have you done or been doing? Systems, habits, goals, lifestyle.

Present.  What are you currently doing? Systems, habits, goals, lifestyle.

Future.  What is your VISION for the future? What do you need to do moving forward? What do you want? Where do you want to be? How are you going to get there? What are your priorities?  What habits are getting in the way of you living a full life?  What kind of thoughts/mindsets are getting in your way?  What system, routine or lifestyle do you currently have that isn’t working to make you and those around you better and move you closer to accomplishing your goals?  What are your current goals?  Are they moving you forward and making you a better man?

PRIORITIZE & PLAN

What are important parts of your life?
What are five key areas of life that are most important to you?
What do you value most? 

While complete balance is not necessarily attainable, what areas of your life are most out of balance?  
Maybe your marriage is great but your health is out of control? 
Maybe business/work is the best it’s ever been, but your home life is in shambles?

Take the areas of your life that are most important to you. Organize them in order of greatest to least. 
Assess which areas need the most attention. Set goals in each area. If your most important area is an area that is thriving, maybe you need to be more aggressive in another important area…never neglecting the area that is thriving of course. 

The keyword is  BALANCE. Again- I understand complete balance is for the most part not attainable. but striving for balance is crucial. 

A word I like to use is rhythm. Find the right rhythm and the dance of life becomes much smoother and more enjoyable for you and those you are leading in the dance. 

ELIMINATE

This is the simple part. I said simple, simple in concept, but not easy to execute. Either way, it’s necessary.

Now that you have examined your life, prioritized the most important (key) areas of your life, set goals for each key area, and created a plan to execute, it’s time to eliminate any habits, systems, mindsets, excuses, lifestyles, and goals that aren’t serving you well in accomplishing those goals as you strive to become a better man, improve your life, and improve the lives of those around you.

This is where the original quote comes into play. 

“I have the right to do anything,” you say.
But not everything is beneficial. 
“I have the right to do anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything.
– 1 Cor 6:12

What is it that is not beneficial to your life? What is it that you must avoid being mastered by? What is it that’s holding you back from the goals you want to accomplish in the key areas of your life? 

It’s true, I can work on things in areas of my life that may not necessarily be bad… but are they optimal? 
I can work on bench pressing 400lbs. Yes, it would make me stronger and it’s part of my health, but is it optimal for all of the other things in life I care to accomplish? 

Probably not. Eliminate! 

Saying yes to something means we say no to something else. We MUST be sure to evaluate our lives and be willing to eliminate the things that are not producing maximal output if we expect to level up as a man, crush our goals, and fulfill our purpose. 

EXECUTION / ACTION 

You have analyzed your life, your priorities, your habits, systems, lifestyles, etc. You have identified the key areas in your life. You have identified which of those areas need the most attention… again, while not neglecting the other areas. You have set goals. You have determined your path. 

Now what?

You can read all the books you want. You can attend all the classes you want. You can set goals all you want. You can create plans all you want. You can make the absolute best plan for accomplishing your goals.

Here’s the thing- to accomplish those goals and get maximal output, the one thing you must remember is this – it requires  ACTION. 

Now is the time to put boots to the ground and make it all happen.

It requires effort, perseverance, self-discipline, practice, and intentionality. It’s going to be a battle. The only way to win a battle is to first engage in the battle. And then never quit.  Action !

The right action and then…  execute !