Competencies

GOING DEEPER

Hope - Three Practical Steps

As you go through the lessons in this book, apply what you learn to increase hope in your life.

Setting Goals – This is the process of identifying what you want to be, do, or have and when you want to be, do, and have it. a. Reaching your goals must be valuable to you. Think of something that you want. b. When setting goals, be specific. Define your goals and what they mean to you. Make it simple. c. The goals you set can be short-term; something you want to be, do, or have today, in a week or even in a month from now. d. The goals you set can be long-term; something you want to be, do, or have in the future. e. Goals with dates are powerful because they create a target for you to work toward. f. Write down your goals and put them where you can see them often.

Finding Pathways – This is discovering how you will achieve your goals. Think of pathways as the roads that will lead you from where you are to your goals (where you are going). a. Pathways solve the problem of how to reach your set goals. b. Pathways are a series of small steps that move you in the direction of your goals. c. There are many roads that can lead you to your goals. d. You can change pathways on the way to your goals. e. Very few physical roads are perfectly straight; there are turns and rough places just like you will encounter to get to your goals.

Building Willpower – This is why you will achieve your goals. If goals are your destination and the pathways are the roads to get there, willpower is the vehicle that carries you there. The greatest goals in the world and best pathways are nothing unless there is willpower to succeed. a. Building your willpower means finding and developing the strength and desire inside of you to reach your goals. b. Your willpower is further developed through healthy strong relationships with people who care for you. c. The intensity of your desire, or your resolve will produce the energy to succeed. d. Willpower is stronger than motivation.