Higher Standards

I saw this image on a friend’s WhatsApp status and I proceeded to have a conversation with myself.

Okay, so maybe I don’t need a new goal. Maybe I need a higher standard, right?

Okay, now, for example, a goal says, “I want to achieve this.” but, a standard will say, “This is how I live now.” There’s a big difference there.

Maybe, Instead of saying, “I want to read more,” I can just go ahead and make a standard for myself, “I’m someone who makes time to read.”

So now, I’m setting standards about my reading habits.

We can take it deeper into things like relationships. Instead of, “I want a better relationship,” you can go ahead and make a standard for yourself, saying, “I expect to be treated with respect, and I give the same.” Or “I’m intentional about the people I allow close to me.”

Another example is our spiritual life and relationship with God. We can replace “I want to grow spiritually.” With a standard like; “My relationship with God gets intentional time, not leftover time.”

Goals have an end point. Standards become a way of living.

And sometimes, I think we set new goals because they are exciting.

Maybe we should ask ourselves this important question:

What have I already decided that I will no longer tolerate from myself?

That way, you pick yourself up from that point forward, not having to set fresh goals.

Don’t ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish?”

Ask, “What am I ready to live by?”