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Work Life balance – goals and planning for the future!

by Mark Hassall

Mark Hassall February 2011

In the pursuit of ever greater success, it is easy to become so focused on the future that we forget that the point of life is to live, yes really live! The world of short lived goals and plans abandoned with regrets can be clearly seen for many- stress, burnout, divorce, heart attacks....suicide.

Let me share part of my story.

Count your blessings! It’s important to remember that, while it’s good to have a positive outlook for the future, we need to celebrate what we’ve accomplished thus far and cherish those things, which along the way have made our lives and the lives of others so rich today. How much easier is it when you can look back and see God’s guidance and provision along the way?

Balance! Striving toward a better future is admirable but it should never be at the cost of the present. Living in the moment, ignoring the rear view mirror and all of our past contained within it without any sense of regret, we will fail to recognise what God is trying to teach us through our experience. By focussing our thought on where God wants us to be and what He wants us to be doing, we can go forward towards a shared heart’s desire in full knowledge that the Lord will be with you and support you throughout the years ahead.

Common desire! Whilst success is something that we all strive to achieve, we must balance the demands of our business life with the care and understanding of our loved ones. Every single person in the world has their own goals and dreams but, as Christians we must never fail to submit them to God’s direction and His will.

Young or old, male or female, black or white, rich or poor, all have the same drive and desire to live life in the best way they see possible. Trying to succeed is an integral human behavior that pays no heed to superficial and emotional factors. We are built to want something more, to improve ourselves, and to be a better person than who we were yesterday and, as Christians, this should always be in line with the Lord’s will.

New York or bust! It is with these thoughts that I would like to tell you a little about our year 2010 the sharing and saving for a united goal between two people. Denise and I married on the 1st June 1985 and we made a plan in addition to our vows that by the time we reached 25 years of marriage we would sail to New York on an ocean liner.

The goal was vague at first but we sort of knew what we wanted to do and back in 1985 it was a long time in the distant future. We knew it would cost a lot of money, and that we would have to save and plan and live. We set the Goal in motion - we saved money, we faced challenges in our relationship, our careers, job losses, job changes, house moves, recession. The arrival of children brought joy, whilst the loss of one of our babies and other family losses brought sorrow and soul searching along the way. Our journey has tested the resolve and focus of our hearts desire.

What about the obstacles? If you want to achieve your goals, you must embrace your failures and draw strength from them. You must not allow your failures to overpower you; they are simply obstacles that you must overcome in the strength that God supplies in abundance if we ask Him. We will never know what strength is ours until we entrust these challenges to the Lord. If you are able to move beyond your failures, then there is nothing you cannot achieve. What a friend we have in Jesus.

If however you give up, as so many do, at the first sign of failure, then you need to become comfortable with expecting nothing from your efforts. It is true that you can be fortunate to a certain degree. However if you place your trust in God you will be given strength for the journey and guidance in your goal planning then you will achieve.

My dear mother once said that if you’re on a lake and a storm is brewing, you should ask the Lord what to do but always added that He will always acknowledge your prayer for salvation then encourage you to row for the shore !

Getting going! Well on the 1st June 2010 at 5 pm Denise, the Children and I set sail on board the Queen Mary 2 for New York. It was exactly 25 years and 2 hours since we made our Vows and begun our planning. Our goal setting had become a reality. A wonderful voyage remembering the journey made by so many before us, including those on the Titanic and other ships lost in the Atlantic, in the safe hands of the crew and resting secure in the everlasting arms of Almighty God. Arriving in New York and seeing Liberty in the waking morning we thought (and thinking) about the immigrants who have come for many years to start life a fresh. Oh what fun we had in our planning and goal setting and what joy in achieving the journey together.

Where are we heading? I could have ‘spiritualised’ our journey to talk through biblical financial planning and quoted the apostle Paul at great length but instead I want to give you a more earthy view! I know, that you all know, how to set goals and priorities! We work with clients to set the goal, work steadfastly together to make it happen but maintain balance along the way- that’s the difference that counts!

Wishing you every blessing for a successful and peaceful 2011.