Classify your vision/wants to avoid settling
March 5th, 2010
Posted by Chris
People seem to aim their sights pretty low. I remember visiting with a lady as a young pastor who had this to say about teenage sexual activity, “Well, they’re gonna be teenagers”. Some time later she had a grandchild on the way from her high school son. Now, I’m not saying that happened because mom’s sights were low. But the vision you have for yourself and others will affect reality.
Below is a little grid or filter I use to help me evaluate what I’m aiming for and I’ll apply it for parenting, finances, health and spirituality:
- “A” desires represent the best or great: children that have secure identities(parenting), margin to pursue dreams(finances), feeling great(health), and overflowing with love(spirituality).
- “B” desires represent the good: children that have happy middle class lives, bills paid, no illness that gets in the way of life, and no overwhelming guilt/shame.
- “C” desires represent the base line: children that aren’t involved in illegal activities, surviving but on credit, manageable symptoms through medication, and periods of relief from internal misery.
Be honest about what you’re attempting to see happen in your life. Tease this out for yourself.
- Classifying your desires helps you be honest about what you’re aiming for and can help you understand the results you’re getting.
- Classifying your desires can help you elevate what you’re shooting for. I’m not guaranteeing you always get the “A” but why shoot for less. You can’t control all the factors that shape these desires. But you can BE AWARE of what you’re actually attempting.
Right now, think about something you want to achieve or see happen (parenting, career, finances, spirituality, schedule, relationships, school, marriage, etc.) and attempt to classify these 3 levels. What are you really aiming for?
Thoughts?
