There’s a quote I just love by popular LDS writer John Bytheway: “With nothing to shoot for, your life is shot.” So let’s talk about how to set reasonable, worthwhile goals that can give you something positive to shoot for.
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, the commandments of God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255–56).
* Shoot for Happiness
Could there be a better goal than that? Certainly we don’t want to shoot for misery or loneliness. Happiness is the ultimate goal. Even the journey would be joyous, because you can’t just one day arrive at happiness, but rather happiness would have found you, along the way.
* Shoot for Virtue
“Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God … ” (D&C 121:45). With our hearts and minds unspotted from the world, we can be worthy of God’s presence in our lives, and worthy of His great blessings. We’ll be happy knowing we are choosing the right. President Hinckley said “There is no limit to your potential. If you will take control of your lives, the future is filled with opportunity and gladness.”
* Shoot for Uprightness
“Choose the right, when a choice is placed before you,” goes the popular LDS Hymn. If we make the decision early on to choose the right at all the crossroads of our life, we’ll find ourselves worthy to stand tall, and happy, before the judgment seat of God.
* Shoot for Faithfulness
“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed … nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matt 17:20) Faith and hope are synonymous. If you have faith, you haven’t yet given up on this life and it’s potential for good.
*Shoot for Holiness
What does holiness mean? I believe it is in striving to be more like our Savior that we might find holiness. “I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect” (3 Ne. 12:48). Study and come to know Jesus Christ, and you will be well on your way to achieving holiness.
*Shoot for Obedience to the Commandments of God
“If ye love me keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) The basis of all the previous stars in our sky, keeping the commandments will bless our lives, lift our hearts and open our minds to the potential of happiness in our lives.
These are pretty heady goals, I’ll admit. But I’m not saying to go and do them, nothing failing, today. I’m saying to shoot for them. You don’t have to reach them, but in the striving, the reaching, you’ll stretch yourself beyond where you are today and through that reaching your life will be blessed and you will be happy.
