How to Have Zeal Without the Fiz”zle”
October 25, 2009 – 6:22 pm
Have you ever wanted to do something, but haven’t made the time or had the energy to do it? Do you or someone you know constantly start projects, but fizzle out before the idea manifests? Infusing your life with zeal will help you to zoom into action, but these tips will strengthen your follow-through muscles so you won’t lose steam before reaching your goal.
As you may recall from the article Clear Blockages to Get in Order , September is the month of Order. The theme for October is “Zeal.”
|
Month |
Faculty |
Disciple |
Part of the body |
|
January |
Faith |
Peter |
Center of brain |
|
February |
Strength |
Andrew |
Loins |
|
March |
Discrimination or Judgment |
James, son of Zebedee |
Pit of stomach |
|
April |
Love |
John |
Back of heart |
|
May |
Power |
Phillip |
Root of tongue |
|
June |
Imagination |
Bartholomew |
Between the eyes |
|
July |
Understanding |
Thomas |
Front of brain |
|
August |
Will |
Mathew |
Center front brain |
|
September |
Order |
James, son of Alphaeus |
Navel |
|
October |
Zeal |
Simon the Cananaean |
Back head, medulla |
|
November |
Renunciation or Elimination |
Thaddaeus |
Abdominal region |
|
December |
Life Conserver |
Judas |
Generative function |
Zeal is the power that motivates. It literally moves us to act. It’s easier for some people to be jump starters. It’s their “method of operation,” as insightfully described in the Kolbe Index, a self-assessment tool box created to identify and capitalize on your strengths. I encourage you to take the assessment to learn more about your natural way of moving to action.
It’s easier to be enthusiastic at the beginning of a project than in the middle. But if execution takes longer than expected or obstacles emerge, we’re prone to lose our enthusiasm. When excitement wanes, we don’t have to stop moving.
Here’s how not to fizzle out when pursuing your goals:
- Keep the goal in front of you. Not trapped in a journal, book, or inside of a computer. When I re-read my previous post, I saw that I was supposed to catergorize my posts. Although, I made significant progress. I simply forgot to finish, which leads me to my next point.
-
Make appointments with yourself and add it to your calendar, thus making it a priority. When you have a set time to take an action that moves you toward your goal, you have to set boundaries and protect that appointment. You’re not only protecting it from other people encroaching on your time, but you are also helping yourself.
- Turn a task into an experience. If you find yourself procrastinating, get creative about how you can enhance what you’re doing. For example, if you have to work on the computer and are finding it difficult to sit at your desk. Try working outside or at café. Enhance your environment with fragrant scents and sip a soothing cup a tea. The key is to couple the task with something that brings you a sense of delight and will build anticipation, which is the next tip.
- Build anticipation. This often requires imposing limitations, which can be challenging to do. By giving yourself time limits to work, you increase your desire to want to complete the project.
- Enlist an accountability partner. Support from a good friend or even a coach can help you to stay focused. Share updates on your progress and check-in to make sure you are following-through. Make sure this person is someone you trust.
We all go through various stages and cycles. While it is important to honor our unique workstyle and rhythm, it is equally important to do our best to stay on task. Now go out and zoom into action with Zeal!
Pray, Persist, and Prosper!
-Asia
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