One Thing I’m Not Doing in 2019

One thing I’m not doing in 2019? My best. Yes, you read that right: This year I’m not going to do my best all the time.

Let me explain. I was shopping for pillows (you can read about my pillow epiphany here) and used the Good-Better-Best method to categorize them. Maybe you’ve seen this before? It’s a long-time business practice to set up prices like insurance (bronze, silver, gold) and all kinds of stuff.

Good enough
A little bit nicer
Exquisite (a.k.a Expensive)

I decided this strategy might help with my 2019 goal-setting. You see, I have this awesome goal planner, all colorful, pretty, and inviting, and I’ve filled it out with colorful pens and stickers and little sketches and ideas. I came up with my Word for the Year and 8 Big Picture Goals.

Now I’m stuck.

I want to do all these things equally well. I want them ALL to be exquisite.

Then comes paralysis. I can’t do everything exquisitely, so it’s easier not to begin, not to do it at all.

Here’s an example.

One of my goals is to organize my *photos*. (You can personalize *this* with anything in your life that needs order and you’ll see what I’m going through.)

All. My. Photos. Boxes and boxes and boxes. Files and photo albums and scrapbooks. This stuff is all over the place, and it’s driving me crazy. I’ve had this goal for years.

If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this well. Something exquisite. A lovely bound family album. A family gallery wall. Photo gift books for all my loved ones.

Paralysis. It’s easier to not begin.

What If I Try?

Because if I try to do all these things to the best of my abilities? Then those other important pieces of this one beautiful life I have may disintegrate under the weight of my goals. Maybe not, but maybe I won’t exercise, read a good book, write my book. Maybe I won’t go on dates with my sweetheart, write letters to my in-laws, call my sister, make a fresh salad, go for a walk, knit the sweater, or rest on the Sabbath. “I have to work on my photos,” I’ll say.

You see, these goals can take over my entire calendar. My weeks, my months, my year. Well, that’s definitely exaggerated, but you get the idea.

One Thing I’m Not Doing

So what about Good Enough?

I can do a little bit of sorting or organizing each week or month–I can make progress. I can do it to the “good enough” standard. (Check out the Lazy Genius. Her tagline is “to be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t.) Or as the goal-setting experts say, baby steps, progress not perfection. As I see it, there are really only two things I want to try to do Best every single day.

Loving the Lord
Loving my people

I’ll work at those things in my way — and we all have different ways to do this — knowing I’ll never do them perfectly, but I’ll bring my best.

“The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.”
Exodus 23:19 (ESV)

Thankfully, the Lord already brought His best. Perfectly.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

That’s not just good enough. Or better. That’s the best.

How about you? What are some goals you’ve set for yourself? Do they control you? Or are you wise enough to rest in the “good enough.”

This post was prompted by the word BETTER at Five Minute Friday link-up where I join some wonderful Christian writers to encourage each other and share weekly posts. When you have time, check it out and you’ll find lots of inspiring posts to read on the same topic.