Looking Good at 85

“Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about the desert.  So here I am today, eighty-five years old!  I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.  Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day."  Joshua 14: 10-12

Take time to self-assess

It is an inspirational visual, an 85-year-old man speaking in a powerful voice and leading the way in the battle ahead of the younger know-it-alls.  The inspired fellows with him thought to themselves, "I want to be like that guy!"  Caleb, if just for a moment, reflected on his own life for the 45 years he was in the desert.  And through that, he reasoned with Joshua about the hill country before them.  Maybe he needed to convince Joshua or possibly reassure himself.  Either way, his zeal was contagious and convincing.  Firmly asserting his age, or despite his age, Caleb based his request for the hill country on knowing himself better than anyone, knowing what he could do and what he wanted.  He noted that he was just as strong as 45 years earlier and he still had an infectious energy, leading to the bold rallying cry of "give me this hill country!"

The ability to self-assess and reassess is a lifelong skill to keep in your tool chest.  Just as it did for Caleb, a periodic self-assessment will help you to prepare and make wise choices for future endeavors.  Now and then, we take an objective look at our marriage, family, and our individual lives, work, relationship with God, etc.  If we are amid a more transitional time, we will review more often than when our lives are more settled. It is always a good use of time.

We review what is working well and what we like about our current situation.  Then we will examine what is not working or where we would like to improve.  We will talk about goals and how to achieve them, reviewing everything from time and finances to how the goals fit into the bigger picture of our next few years.  To make deliberate choices on where you would like to go in life, what job to take, or even where to venture on vacation, an assessment of what is working for you, what skills you have or wish to have, or how much money is in the bank are critical pieces of information to confirm.

In our upcoming Launch Your Life book and accompanying Action Planner, we will have detailed exercises that will help you gain self-assessment skills, and provide you tools to help.  In the meantime, you will not be disappointed to make habit of taking time to self-assess, noting future goals, and formulating a plan to achieve them.  

What are your aspirations in the next couple of months?  Or how about the next two to five years?  Do you have overwhelming obstacles in your path to your objectives?  Do you need additional skills or someone to be your cheerleader?  If you need some help, please drop us a line and let us know.  Be like Caleb and look at yourself. You may or may not be 85 years old, but go get your “Hill Country” before you!