Evaluation

Interestingly, today's reflection begins on a train, not quite like the one brought to mind by the end of the reflection.  The Little Engine that Could is a story that we teach to little kids, but often forget as adults.  How many times do you need to remember the mantra:  "I think I can.  I think I can!"?

We've come to the portion of goals where we begin to evaluate our results.  If you've been accountable throughout your journey, you've got a fair idea of where you are, how you've done, how many times you've "fallen off the wagon", so to speak, and how many times you've "climbed back on" (to completely mix my metaphors).  Now it's time to actually sit down and focus on the short-term and long-term goals.  Look at timing - are you accomplishing what you wish as quickly or more quickly than you wish to?  Does something need to be adjusted?  Look at those times you've failed in your goals - was there a similar trigger each time?  How can that be changed?  Look at the times you've begun again - what caused you to do so?  Is there a way to keep that attitude prior to failing?  An interim goal to be added to help?  And look at the bottom line - where were you when you started?  Where are you now?  Is there a positive or negative change? 

And here again is where feasting and fasting come in.  Goals are (fortunately) not set in stone.  Time, circumstances, and reality all play a part in adjusting them.  And they do need adjustment periodically:  do you need to fast more (cut down on excesses) to achieve your goals within your timeline?  Do you need to feast more (celebrate the little successes in order to reach the big successes as an incentive)?  Do you need a combination of both?  Should we again be looking at balance, and getting ourselves to a place of balance through the focusing provided in feasting and fasting?

Do we need to change the mantra from "I think I can" to "I know I can" and move forward with that premise?