Your Mission, if you choose to Accept is...
Recently, I used an app called Blinkist to digest the concepts in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey and I found one of the exercises really useful. I have heard similar Mission Statement identification techniques offered previously but, the one outlined in Convey’s book I think is simple, powerful and ready for it...effective. The idea is that many of us go about life without a clear, defined mission and in doing so we aimlessly walk through our lives without a clear purpose that allows us to focus on valuable action and identity. Think, trying to navigate a ship out at sea without a lighthouse or GPS. So, in order to not be one of those lost and aimless individuals I will briefly outline my take on the Mission Statement exercise:
Ask yourself, “When you die how do you want to be remembered? What do you want to be remembered for having done and contributed to the world and/or the ones you value? If you were to die today, what would be your legacy?”*
*I know these are potentially morose questions that require courage to address, however, using a sensation like death can distill down what's truly important to you.
2. Take a week to reflect upon these questions by having a note in your phone or physical notepad dedicated to brainstorming about these inquiries. These are big questions and they deserve a period of time to dedicate towards. Invest in your Mission.
3. Once you feel like you have answered these Death Legacy (cue dramatic piano chord) questions comprehensively, the next step is to turn the answers into a Mission Statement.
4. Now that you can “Begin with The End in Mind”, how can you describe in 3-5 sentences or less what your Mission in life is? And then, can you take an honest inventory of how your actions in the present either move you towards or away from accomplishing that mission. Reflecting on your movement towards your mission as a daily journaling prompt is a way to bring it into daily use.
5. Now that you have it, It's yours, if you choose to accept it.
I'd be honored to help you create and work towards your Mission, let’s talk.
- TM