2020 Vision: Shine your eye!

As I write this, the year 2020 is only a few hours away here in the UK. I do hope you're looking forward to the New Year, as I am. Have you made any New Year's Resolutions? A friend of mine said to me recently, "I don't make any New Year's Resolutions because I know I'll break them before the end of January!" If you read my last blog, I hope you're one of those I've inspired to have a go at journaling or at least to pen your GHDs for 2020 (and then track their progress!). It is widely believed that most New Year's resolutions get abandoned by February. I dare say that this is because our goals are often too 'woolly'...too vague.  There is also a suggestion that making bold and lofty resolutions means that we are more accountable, and therefore more likely to see through our resolutions. This may or may not be true for you, but is something to consider.

You will know that 20/20 vision is the 'gold standard' for eyesight. If you have 20/20 vision, it means that you can see clearly at 20 feet what can normally be seen at that distance. There has never been a better time than the start of the year 2020 to gain and maintain a clear focus for your life.  As we cross over into the 2020s decade, it is time to, as we say in Naija (a popular nickname for my home country, Nigeria), "shine your eye"! This means to 'wake up! It also means to properly observe the things around you and look for opportunities that may not be obvious. Start 2020 with a clear sense of how you want the next phase of your life to be, starting this year. Set yourself no more than two or three clear goals to start with, and make sure each goal is measurable! Ask yourself how you will know if and when you're achieving that goal. What tangible evidence will you have? For instance, one of my 2020 goals is to lose weight (yes, I know...together with the remaining 99% of women around the world!). Rather than set a goal to just lose X kg as I've previously done, this year my goal is much more specific and time-bound. Step 1: Lose the 2.5kg(!) I gained over Christmas by Jan 30. Step 2: Reduce my body fat to Z% by the end of June 2020. Step 3: Further reduce my body fat % to XYZ and increase body muscle to Y% by Dec 1st.

You may have seen from my last blog post that another one of my GHDs (Goals, Hopes and Dreams) for 2020 is to give blood regularly. I have now defined 'regularly' to mean three times a year or once every four months, and am proud to say that I have now signed up to be a blood donor. This goal directly supports my hope and dream of being a life-changer, one life at a time. Giving blood saves lives. I also have a goal linked to my identity, something I have become increasingly passionate about over the last couple of years. I will write more about identity and the importance of names in my next blog, so stay tuned! Click the Subscribe link at the top right of this window, if you haven't already subscribed to my blog, to ensure you don't miss it.

As I've mentioned before, my faith plays a crucial role in my daily life. As I make these plans for 2020 and try to 'shine my eye', I do so in the context of this: that God Almighty is ultimately in charge and has the final say. The Bible reminds me that I can make my plans but the LORD determines my steps (Proverbs 16:9). In other words, as the saying goes, 'man proposes, God disposes'. So go on...make your plans for 2020, 'commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed' (Proverbs 16:3).

Have a clear vision for 2020. Shine your eye! I wish you and your families much joy and progress in the year 2020.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!