A new phase of evaluation, assessment and strategising

Do I sound like a management training course?

One year is long enough to defer thinking about my problems and engage in the 'just surviving' of it all, hoping I have enough money to pay the bills without constantly monitoring my bank account, spending money on things I don't know if I can afford, not going on with any sense of business or exercise plan and generally letting things go to pot...

So, inspired by a recent visit to my pastor and his wife, wherein I discussed the lack of organisation in one area of the church in which I'm involved and the problems therein, i have decided to put my money where my mouth is and strategise my life.

Areas of interest include:

- Doing my accounts/taxes and budgeting before the end of January and instigating a closer monitoring system over my expenditure. I like charts and graphs, and it is quite good that I actually already have systems in place to cover this lot - all I need to do is the filly in stuff. Oh joy!

- Making one or two resolutions concerning health and fitness, but no great plans to lose five stone or exercise four times a week. Reflect on self image and how this affects my behaviour, and seek to understand and embody self acceptance and how achieving thinness is not going to change how I feel about myself. Understand that I have value and significance because it has been given me by God, not becauase of anything that I do or have or am external to Him.

- Taking more responsibility and leadership in my church homegroup, to better serve the needs of those who I am responsible to, and to grow and improve as part of an 'ensemble'. To encourage open discussion and deepening of relationships and to see lives transformed. To be the one to instigate and stress the importance of verbalising goals and inspire others to create strategies and support and enable them to come to fruition, and happily understand that this is my role where God has put me right now.

- To grow and develop as a musician and worship leader, to be an effective team player and learn to deal with all the challenges of working in a team in a mature and productive way. To ensure that I learn how to communicate my concerns and frustrations in a way that is non-threatening and edifying to the whole team. To ensure that I in no way undermine the leadership, but understand the nature of service.

- Make a business plan for 'Serine's Corsets' with a mind to including the following: Learning how to become a better businesswoman and not be afraid of asking a good price for the good product that I make. Learning to communicate this better. Learning to capitalise on my creative strengths by offering several different services, like teddy bear making which will also be a good business venture. Becoming financially secure, so that I will be able to increase in professionality by being able to afford more space to work, either to rent a work room in a private home or a shop front/studio space shared with other artists.

I'm really excited about the fact of strategising, becuase it means you look at the things that are really important to you. Before you know it, you realise that you are motivated and driven by a set of VALUES that you either didn't know you had, or were frustrated about becuase your life up until now hasn't been able to reflect these values.

And hopefully the process of 'living what you believe' is fulfilling, becuase then you're not at odds with yourself. Even if I'm not making huge amounts of money, I am investing in things which are more important to me:

- deepening friendships and supporting people as they learn about themselves and their motivations

- working together in a team and getting over the challenges of being on this planet with people who differ in approach and attitude to me. (my own little private 'road trip' and 'coming of age' movie)

- appreciating creative and delightful things, and thus retaining a soft squishy centre that is responsive to and celebrates beauty.

- understanding that all good things come from God, the creator of the universe, and knowing that this belief is not about serving myself, my needs, my dreams and my desires, but is about the bigger picture and playing a part in a greater universal tapestry.

Cor, this is looking a bit like a mission statement, isn't it??? THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!! This is the 'click' that I have been waiting for near on a year, now. This is the injection of hope, and excitement and energy that comes from having a purpose and a goal and a direction to move in. Cor, its all really focussed, isn't it?

I like being me, praise the Lord!