Feeding Your Flock, Flesh, and Flame

At the beginning of each year, goals, resolutions, and discerning aim for the year are top-of-mind.

If you have spent much time on LinkedIn the last few weeks, it’s covered with leaders’ 2024 reflection and 2025 vision casting — both personally and professionally.

However, as a young professional, it can be challenging to even begin the goal setting process for the following reasons:

• Overwhelm: “How do I vision cast for a year when I’m not sure what my next month will look like? I don’t have a family of my own yet or a business I have built so it’s hard to think so big.”

• Lack of Process Direction: “How do I reflect and create goals when I am unsure of effective ways to do so? I wasn’t equipped to set goals in college.”

• Lack of Representation: “How do I even know where to start when there isn’t much representation available to young professionals like myself to receive guidance from? I had advisors in college yet I cannot seem to find mentorship today.”

I write the above as I have found myself thinking similar soundtracks, too.

But… this is why The Yo Pro was created — “to equip young professionals in life and work.”

And this January, we desire to make that happen through goal setting frameworks, frameworks that aim to give you practical direction in areas of life that matter and that last.

ICYMI, The Yo Pro team wrote 2 other newsletters this month on goal setting. Check them out below:

• Footsteps in the Sand

• Intentional Living in your 20’s

So, with that, I invite you to reflect on three areas of your life from 2024: your flock, your flesh, and your flame.

And remember, these questions are not to cause shame, self-righteousness, or a chase for perfection. They are about honest reflection and evaluation to inform direction, all with an open hand.

Because ultimately — “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21, NIV).

So, grab a piece of paper and let’s dive in:

1. How did you feed your flock in 2024? Said differently, how did you pour into your community? A community can include but is not limited to family, friends, co-workers, church, shared hobbies/experiences.

2. How did you feed your flesh in 2024? Said differently, what areas of your life did you consume more than you created? What seasons of 2024 did comfort or distraction take priority over people, places, and experiences that matter? Check out this helpful video on the value of creating more than you consume.

3. How did you feed your flame in 2024? Said differently, how did you feed what drives you? How did you feed your passions and dreams? If you are a follower of Jesus, how did you fan the flame of your relationship with Him?

4. Based on the above, imagine it’s December 31, 2025. 2025 is finished. What would success look like for you when thinking about how you fed your flock, flesh, and flame throughout the year?

Stephen Covey is quoted saying “accountability breeds responsibility” and I’d add “which breeds action.”

Once you are finished with reflection and vision casting, we encourage you to share with a trusted friend to build accountability, community, and action around a vision for this year.

And know that we can also be a resource to you — feel empowered to share your responses to the 3 F’s with us as we do our best to read and reply to each email we receive.

Have a great week!

If you are looking for practical ways to flourish as a young professional, consider subscribing to The Yo Pro and sharing with your community using the buttons below.