With the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's Youth Program I've had a lot of time to think of the best way for my family to implement it.
I'm a big fan of setting goals, but I'm also quick to forget about them and not take the necessary steps to accomplish them.
I want my kids to be better at achieving their goals than I am. So I've come up with a FHE that is designed to helping ALL of us establish better techniques and habits of mastering our lives and developing ourselves into who we want to be. More like Christ.
Fulfilling Our Potential on Earth: Setting Goals
Start with a fun jumping activity.
First have one of the kids line up behind a line (we used tape but you could use anything).
Next tell them to jump as far as they can. Be sure to emphasize doing it hard as they can, giving as much effort as possible so that they couldn't possibly go any further. Tell them they can even jog and stretch to get ready.
Once they land mark their spot they made it to.
Now tell them to go back to the starting line and to try and beat their last mark.
Almost 100% of the time they will beat their original jump. ( I say almost a 100% because our toddler did not get the concept of trying to jump furthest and therefore didn't jump further). But this will work with practically everyone. Even adults. So give everyone a try
Discuss with your kids why they think they were able to go further the second time even though you specifically told them to jump as far as they possibly could the first time?
It was because they had a target or goal to stretch for! Our brains and bodies are hard wired to go further, do better when we have an actual target to aim for. There is a lot of actual science to back this up but for the sake of time, this activity is enough to get the point across.
Next share with them this quote:
“I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.”
–President M. Russell Ballard(Talk given to Salt Lake area young adults, Oct. 18, 1981)
Share with them them how excited you are for the new youth program because as a family you will all get to set goals that help you become your best selves.
Then read:
Explain that just as Jesus worked to develop himself spiritually, intellectually, socially and physically, you too will be setting goals to improve yourself in these areas so you can become more like Christ.
Have printed these goals sheets for each of you to ponder and write you goals on.
I laminated ours so that we could write on them over and over. But the idea is for them to write their goals down and then hang this sheet in a very visible place in the house in which they can be reminded of their individual goals.
Lastly here are some tips or suggestion I have found helpful when setting goals you could share with your family (some of which you are already doing if you're doing this activity but still good to mention and teach your kids why:
- Write it down. Not only is writing down goals just a good habit it makes them more real, makes you form them into articulate, achievable statements but it also gives you somewhere to return to when you loose focus.
- Tell others. It holds you accountable to have others who know about your goals and studies have shown that sharing your intentions/goals with others increases your chances of accomplishment (by nearly 65% in some cases).
- Set a deadline. Giving yourself a benchmark or deadline to achieve can help you focus when it matters and keep you honest in your efforts.
- Plan in out as step by step as you can. When we write down a goal such as buy a house. It isn't just going to happen simply by writing it down and telling others. You need to write down specific, daily steps you can take to achieve it. For example if you wish to save to buy a house one of the steps you could do would to create a weekly budget for yourself. Then go even further by setting up a specific amount you actually put in your savings each week. Figure out ways to save more or make specific plans on what you will do with any extra money you may come into that year such as bonuses, taxes or more. Think of as many little steps as you can to help you get there.
- Give yourself realistic options. This is called the floor and ceiling effect. This idea suggest that you have optimal goals but you also set lowest level goals. For example if your goal is to become more healthy by exercising everyday, your optimal goal would be something like a one hour, vigorous workout everyday. Your lowest level goal would be 5 min of yoga. So each day you work towards doing your ceiling goal of one hour workout but on those days in which life things get in the way like sickness or busy schedules you can still accomplish your goal of 5 min of yoga and thus keep your habit towards a healthier you.
- Just remember
"The beginning is always today." - Mary Wollstonecraft
It is never too late to start. Even if it is a rocky start you can always keep trying. I think that is the biggest beauty of this entire new program for our youth. It will teach them the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ and that the real development and growth comes from trying over and over again.
Hope this FHE plan helps you and your family develop yourselves into the children of God our Heavenly Father set out for.
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