Revisiting 2020 Goals

By Curtis Burkholder

Take a moment to pause and remember how you felt at the beginning of 2020.  Did you have a sense of excitement and anticipation for the start of a new year and new decade?  What did you hope to accomplish this year?  What did you expect life to look like by the middle of 2020?

If you were like me, you started the year with excitement, anticipation, and goals you hoped to accomplish. However, that quickly changed as March arrived and coronavirus changed all our lives.  With schools and businesses being closed and “stay at home” orders in place, life suddenly was drastically different.  I think it’s safe to say that none of us anticipated this new “normal”:  mask wearing in public, limits on business capacity, and phrases such as “social distancing” and “6 feet apart” being commonplace.

Despite how things turned out and amid the challenges we all faced (and continue to face), I would encourage you to pause and reflect on where you are in life right now.  Were there things you were able to accomplish over the last several months with reduced scheduling commitments? Did you find some things impossible to do with businesses being shut down?  Have you had new opportunities or insights due to being required to stay at home?  No matter what life looks like for you right now, I encourage you to revisit your dreams and goals. While some may need to be adjusted, some may be even more relevant today than ever before!

Reevaluating goals can be applied not only to personal life but also to our financial lives.  Perhaps you have experienced a loss of income or increased job uncertainty. Maybe you’re busier now than ever and have seen your earnings greatly increase. Wherever you find yourself financially, it is wise to evaluate if you are doing the best job with the finances that have been entrusted to you.

In times of uncertainty, having a plan can help to guide us through difficult times.  For example, when we travel, there are unknowns that can arise such as detours and mechanical breakdowns.  However, as you remain patient and focused, even following the detour, you will arrive at your original destination.  The same is true of our financial lives. When we stay focused on our goals and values, as we come upon “detours” in life, we can adjust our actions accordingly.  Intentionally remaining focused on and revisiting our goals as needed, while navigating detours, allows us to accomplish what we set out to accomplish.

In conclusion, as we find ourselves in unexpected circumstances, I would encourage you to reflect back on the goals you set for 2020 as well as what you have learned over the last 6 months.  As you then turn and look to the future, consider what is most important to accomplish with the time remaining in 2020.  I believe God has unexpected opportunities and possibilities in the days and months ahead for you and your family!