If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Many of the best athletes visualize their performances before they compete. When I was a competitive swimmer, I was trained to close my eyes and visualize an entire race, imagining a perfect start, every breath, stroke and turn, and finally a perfect finish.
Have you ever done something like this? Maybe you prepared for a meeting by rehearsing it in your mind, the things you wanted to say, the questions that might be asked. Maybe you visualized ahead of time how it would go when you met your boyfriend’s parents for the first time or had a job interview. I visualize how I want my dog to respond to my voice and hand signals and how his training will be nearly perfected after putting in the necessary time. Visualization is a valuable way to prepare for the future by planning how you want something to go.
But what about your life’s vision?
I am currently listening to the audio book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. I have written goals before, but have never sat down and really thought about my personal life mission, which goes beyond writing, imagining and accomplishing goals. Covey describes a personal mission statement as a way of keeping your vision and values before you, helping you to integrate those values into your everyday life. It is a way of “beginning with the end in mind.”
Think about it, all successful businesses and organizations have well thought out mission statements. For example the Fargo-Moorhead Humane Society’s mission statement, according to its web site says, “Our Mission is to care for, protect and place animals for adoption in life long homes, and to prevent cruelty to animals by educating our community in the proper and humane care of all animals.”
Weaker, less organized groups don’t have a mission statement at all, or they just don’t take their mission statement seriously. Shouldn’t every person have a personal mission statement in order to be successful, balanced and fulfilled? And I’m not talking about a mission statement for your career or resume. I’m talking about a life’s mission statement, something that should include your career but not be centered around any one part of your life.
To me, this personal mission statement should help me accomplish my goals and dreams, focus on where I want to go and how I will interact with others. It should be a basis for my decisions and actions, but also something living, that I am able to modify as I change and grow throughout life.
It shouldn’t be that hard to recognize my own purpose (I believe purpose and mission are interchangeable), but writing my own mission statement seems like a very difficult task, something I have never forced myself to think about before. It will likely include my gift for helping animals, using writing to make a difference, traveling and exploring the world and spending quality time with friends and family. I am nowhere near the point of sharing my mission statement. That is my goal for this week, to take the time to realize my own purpose. I hope you do the same.
(Some of you may have noticed my Saturday posts are often loosely related or unrelated to dogs.)
(Image from cottagedaily.com)
No related posts.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
My life’s mission always changes but my mission statement is probably “Enjoy it, whatever happens!” I’m one that usually has small goals that work toward a larger one. I’m not really good at writing them down though…
Apryl DeLancey’s last blog post..Having The Dodger Blues
June 29th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I think my life’s goals change as I am on the fly in life, but happiness and contentedness, while helping others achieve the same level of satisfaction in life.
Big Ben Patton’s last blog post..Making Money Offline
June 30th, 2008 at 8:27 am
It’s pretty easy for me to be general about what my goals are, but when I try to get specific it’s difficult. Funny, I know that to get to a bigger goal with my dogs I have to break it down into small specific goals along the way, but I have a hard time applying that to myself.
Marie’s last blog post..Hectic week!
June 30th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I think right now, for me, the most important intention is to be open, to everything. As i experience more, clarity will follow.
But, when i was in middle school, and everyone was asking me what id do with my life (college, majors, marriage, yada yada), id decided all i wanted was to be in a place i loved, doing something i loved, surrounded by people i loved.
the executions a bit trickier…
K9 Amiga’s last blog post..The Little Things
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:33 am
I had a big mission-level breakthrough several years ago when I realized that my mental health is not for sale. People who take and don’t give, people who thrive on drama, and ungrateful types all got crossed off my list. That freed up so much more time and energy for myself and my loved ones. Not surprisingly, as soon as I did that, wonderful opportunities opened up and I proceeded to transform my life! I’m grateful to have learned that lesson. I know now that sometimes being “the bad guy” isn’t a bad thing. Can’t make everyone happy, but if I focus on what is true for me, then I attract elements to my life that match that truth. OK, ’nuff said, I won’t prattle on. But, since you asked… thanks Lindsay! PS: The best part is that some of the people that I had to step away from said years later that they were inspired by my actions and were able to learn and make similar choices themselves… win-win!
Bonnie Story’s last blog post..My Supervisor
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I know what you mean, Bonnie. I have become more aware of the people in my life who take and don’t give, who thrive on drama and are ungrateful. That’s amazing how your life changed for the better when you let these types of people go. Glad you are doing well.