Teaching about setting goals

I taught at the Institute a class on setting goals. I told them  how there are short term goals and long term goals and even daily chores. All goals need to include spiritual as well as temporal things in our lives.  President Monson has declared to find time for our families, our jobs, for ourselves, our constant learning, our service in the community, but most of all, finding time for Christ.


  I showed the students the time capsule I made with the children in Primary and the things we sealed  inside like our testimony. I also show them my vision board and how it helps me remember the things that I want to accomplish in the future. It keeps me focus on the type of things I want to spend my time doing.


As I am writing this, a story from Steven R. Covey comes to mind as he shared at a time management seminar he used an illustration as he stood in front of the group of high-powered over achievers business students he said: “Okay, time for a quiz” and he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the class yelled, “Yes.” The time management expert replied, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not,” one of them answered. “Good!” he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?” “No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, “Good.” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!” “No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is, “If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all. What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life, time with loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all. So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question, “What are the ‘big rocks’ in my life?” Then, put those in your jar first.”


I am grateful for that parable because it helped me step back and think about what my big rocks are that I need to put in my jar first.  Once I remembered what my big rocks are in my life it made it a lot easier for me to assign a priority to all of those tasks waiting to get done. Elder Ballard suggested that we take time to ponder the order of priorities to reach our desired goals.


Here’s an idea for all of us:  What if we go gather some rocks from outside, get a sharpie marker, and then get an empty jar – then we can write on each rock using the sharpie what we want the “big rocks” to be in our life.  Then we can place it on our bedside table or bathroom counter or somewhere we will be sure to see it each morning when we wake up.  That can serve as a daily reminder for how we should prioritize each day….big rocks always come first! I saw this example in Puerto Rico as I attended  a relief society activity. We wrote special attributes like love, charity, faith etc.


I am looking at my big rocks on my vision board today and have realized that there are some things for sure I am doing and some I am not. Example: Item number 1. Temple attendance yes! and not only that but I am also a temple worker on Thursdays. 2. Reading the scriptures, daily prayers and family home evenings Yes! except when we forget. LOL 3. Diet and Exercising, Yes! I even have hired a trainer and go to zumba in the evenings and I only prepare food from scratch, no more canned processed foods 4. Travel, Yes! This year alone I have gone to Chile, El Salvador, Utah three times, Idaho, Nebraska twice, New York twice, and Miami too many to count! 5.piano is one I am neglecting a little so I'll get to it this week. 6. writing my book is another one that needs my attention and I will continue another chapter today as Daniel has gone out of town. 7. learning French has not been a big priority for me, it is more like a hobby so I can work in the temple with French speaking patrons. 8. Investing yes! My father always said: save your money to invest for a rainy day either start a business or invest it in the stock market or on real estate. I haven't started a business, I don't know much about investing in the market but I do know how to buy and rent out properties. Not the ideal business but it is something for starters. 9. Family History is one I am  neglecting too and I only have it in my vision board because it is one item in my patriarchal blessing. And there you have folks, those are the nine big rocks in my life at the moment.