3 Steps to Re-Start the Year

Does anyone else need a re-start for the New Year? Last year I felt like I missed the start due to the fog from a New Years cold. I just couldn’t seem to get moving in the direction I intended and was feeling a little frustrated. Can anyone else relate? This year it’s not a cold but getting refocused after a crazy holiday time move. Maybe today you’re frustrated because you haven’t been successful with the plans you determined to start off this year with a bang. No worries, we can still finish this year better off than we started. We might not be off and running like we planned and feeling passed by those who got out of the starting blocks quicker but we just need to remember a runner with a slow and steady pace also reaches the finish line.

In running events a re-start happens when someone has jumped the gun or a malfunction with the starters gun. So if you feel like you need a re-start maybe you just need to refocus on running this year like a turtle in a marathon rather than a rabbit in a sprint. I don’t know if you have the experience of participating in a marathon. If you haven’t let me help you get the picture of what I mean by “running this year like a turtle in a marathon”.

Large events like a marathon start in waves, which are led out by the professional and competitive athletes right at the starting line. Then the rest of the participants are lined up based on expected completion times to keep the race moving efficiently. If you are a walker you will be in the final waves of people. Can you see it? The crowd of thousands gathered, each participant focused on their race and their plan to reach the finish line. Each person has prepared differently and holds a different vision of a successful finish, but all aim to cross the finish line. The announcer comes over the speakers and gives the 5-minute warning. Next the starter comes over the speaker “Runners on your mark, set”, and bang goes the gun. The race has started and the runners are off. Waves of runners, joggers, walkers, and buddy teams move forward and cross the start line, one wave at a time, for the race they intend to finish.

Whether our start was what we planned it to be or not we can still finish well if we keep moving forward one step at a time. That is what it takes to finish the race slow and steady not looking back but looking forward and moving forward. How do we do that?

Here are three steps to re-start your year. First refocus. Stop thinking about what you wanted to do and do what you planned to do. Start small if you have to scale back your plan. Choose to do one new thing today. Second do it. Get up and do the one new thing today. Thirdly, celebrate your accomplishment and invite someone to join your re-start. Once you’ve done it tell someone, do your happy dance, and mark it off your list!

Okay, these three steps might sound simple but if you start to use them everyday you are on your way to “running this year like a turtle in a marathon”. The finish line is calling you! The crowd is cheering for you! My favorite part of running a race is the encouragement and inspiration of my fellow runners! So get a running buddy today.

My re-start consisted a revitalizing; with fresh bedding, a neatly made bed, and freshening up the house with disinfectant spray to keep the cold at bay. Then I did my happy dance, I told a friend about my need to re-start, and finished it off by sharing it with you. I hope this spurs you on and encourages you to persevere no matter what comes your way this year. Here are two verses that inspire me to keep moving forward one step at a time. I hope they bless and inspire you too.

Hebrews 10:24-25Hebrews 10:24-25
English: World English Bible - WEB
301 Moved Permanently Moved Permanently The document has moved .

WP-Bible plugin

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another— and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Philippians 3:12-14Philippians 3:12-14
English: World English Bible - WEB
301 Moved Permanently Moved Permanently The document has moved .

WP-Bible plugin

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Please share your three steps with me! Let’s keep inspiring one another on!

Looking for a starting point or investing in a successful finish check out “My Intentional Year” See you at the next water point!