by Kevin
I would like to get existential with you for a moment, or is it too soon? If you ask me, I think we are ready! So, if you agree, would you mind answering these questions: Do you have a purpose? A reason to exist? Any motive for moving? I am sensing some uncertainty, so maybe I can help with the answer…..yes, you do!
For those who were questioning their quest, I believe it is not because you don’t have one, I believe it is because you haven’t identified it yet. But, believe me, you have one. Now, it’s time you put in the time to “find your why”. You may already know the “what” and the “how”. But, Why do you get up in the morning? Why do you drive to work? Why do you leave work (well, maybe that one is easier to answer)? There is a reason for these reactions. However, the reasoning needs reflecting.
To help with this existential exposition, take a moment to think about each of the following: What lights you up? What gets you excited? What have others praised about you? What are your strengths? What are your values? Are your answers found in your accomplishments? What roles do you currently play? Can you find your desires in those discussions? What challenges have you faced and overcome: divorce, loss, illness, job change in your past? Perhaps your mission is to help others overcome those same challenges? Most likely, you are already doing something related to your mission right now. And remember, you can’t do everything--so narrow it down!
Once you have responded to these questions, it is time to form a mission statement. The best way to easily draft a mission statement is to connect yourself with who--or what-- you are trying to serve. In my opinion, the most satisfaction you will have in your journey is to add value to someone--or something--else. That is one of the secrets to a successful life: so put it in your mission statement!
I thought it might be helpful for me to share my mission statement with you. This is actually the condensed version of my mission. I do have an expanded version I would love to share with you if you are so inclined to hear it. However, this version captures the idea of connecting myself with others.
So, here it goes: “I will be Intentional with my Growth so that I can Encourage others to reach their maximum potential”.
I would like to point out a few things that might be helpful to you as you draft your own mission statement. First, I used words that were extremely meaningful to me (which I capitalized for emphasis): Intentional (my favorite word of all time), Growth, Encourage, Maximum Potential (I know these are two words, but they go together so well!). Second, my mission statement captures my several roles in life (although not explicitly): husband, father, co-worker, mentor and friend. And lastly--and most importantly--reading it gets me motivated and excited! It is comforting to know that I am following my purpose if I am learning and encouraging, growing and giving, building and sharing…you get the point. I’m actually living my mission right now….through this blog. Simple, yet profound. It’s existentialism at it’s finest.
Adam, did you discover your purpose in life?
by Adam
Nothing like trying to, in a few hundred words, answer a run-of-the-mill, everyday question like… DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE. Thanks Kevin. Appreciate the low-key lead in...
My first instinct is: man, I wish I had a better answer! Maybe I should have dedicated my life to eradicating polio, sending humans to mars, or nudging beached whales gently back into the ocean. Unfortunately, I’m confronted with this upsetting fact: instead of working toward any of those things, I spent last night watching TV and eating a re-heated quesadilla. Now, here I am, facing this existential question from Kevin, without a demonstrable track-record for world-class selflessness or dedication to an unquestionably “good” cause.
If you’re anything like me, your head might go somewhere similar when you hear phrases like “purpose in life.” In my humble opinion: that’s ok.
Now, you might be thinking, “cool, I have the blanket endorsement of some internet loser who eats re-heated quesadillas, problem solved.”
First, let me just say… ouch! “Internet loser?” That’s pretty harsh.
Second, for the record: I don’t eat reheated quesadillas every night. Actually, not even most nights.
But, third, before you write me off, at least let me step onto my soapbox, and attempt to make my case.
Any good mission statement has to come from a place of authenticity. On its face, that probably seems like a perfectly logical statement. But, are you connecting with what it really means? Maybe you are! But, again, if you’re anything like me...it might be worth reading it twice.
Authenticity means it has to reflect what you want for your life, based on your values. We’re not asking you to pretend to aspire to things you don’t care about; in fact, please don’t! When you think about it like that, you’ll realize that you already have a mission statement lurking somewhere inside you.
Here’s an excerpt from my mission statement, just to prove my point:
“I will focus my deepest energy on being a consistent and supportive husband”
Including that in my mission statement wasn’t breaking fundamentally new emotional ground. In fact, I already stood in front of a crowd of my closest friends and family during my wedding, and said (basically) that same thing. But, by putting it in my mission statement, I elevated it to be next to things like:
“I will work to create supportive environments at work and at home, prioritizing people whenever possible.”
And
“I will strive to focus my individual efforts on creating things that solve problems and are built to last.”
See? Nothing groundbreaking there. No commitment to solve world hunger.
So, if all of that is just a written version of how I already felt… what’s the point?
The point is, I have something more substantial to guide me, something more than a scattershot collection of vague feelings that bubble up every now and then. I have a written statement that reflects what I decided, after deep reflection, are my true priorities in life.
Now, I’ll finally answer Kevin’s question: “Adam, did you discover your purpose in life?”
Yes! …and, No!
I know it's based on positive interactions with other people, using my noggin every once in a while, and having the feeling that I’ve really built something. So, in that way… yes!
But, in terms of specifics...no way! Every day is a new adventure, and I’m constantly weighing the options of what to do next. Maybe someday I’ll stumble into something that is universally recognized as having profoundly advanced the well being of humanity. Cool! Or, maybe I’ll just build a cool cabin out in the woods with some buddies. Also cool! If those seem like wildly different outcomes...its probably because they are! But, as long as the inputs (and the journey) are consistent with my mission statement, I feel confident I’ll have fulfilled my purpose.