"Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds." George Elliot
Much of our problem with time management is that we have not given enough thought to who we are and what makes us unique. We highly recommend you consider developing a personal mission statement.
A mission statement is simply a set of guiding principles which clearly state how you are going to live your life and for what purpose. It is short, it embodies your personal values and like a GPS it keeps you going in the right direction.
If each of us is on this earth for a reason, then it holds true that there is a unique purpose for each one of us. Life is about finding that reason for being and then living that reason out. We've all seen some sad lives. They are the lives of woulda, coulda, shoulda. Looking at these lives, you see a person who feels that they never really found their purpose. Somehow throughout life they just missed it. On the other hand, we all know of people whose lives are on fire... they easily inspire us.
We encourage you to take the time to be introspective. Look back and identify the golden threads that run through your life. Discover your uniqueness through dialogue and appreciative inquiry, either with a family member, friend, spiritual group or coach.
Putting it into Practice
Name what is important. Before getting started, write out those things that are most important to you. Keep them foremost in your mind as you proceed.
Create a mission statement. Begin by writing down as many guiding principles as you can. Principles are the types of things that you want to govern your life. Here are a few examples: If I take on a job, it is worth doing well; I'll associate only with positive and inspiring people; I'll be respectful and polite but never be pushed around; I'll stay fit -- strong people are mentally tough. You get the idea...
We set the stage for our life. It is our belief that we are expected to be co-creators in our own life's story - to follow our own dreams, to believe in our self, and to make a difference. Whether you are 17 or 70, we recommend you to take time to uncover your life's mission. Here's a clue: your signature strengths and your dreams go hand-in-hand. We owe it to ourselves, to go after our dreams and find our reason for being.
Staying on your chosen path. You may want a mission/purpose statement but you will actually have to take the time to dialogue about it, write it down and memorize it. Whatever you come up with, you will need to take the time to refine it as much as possible. A good mission statement is less than 25 words -- something you can easily remember. Then when something unexpected happens, or you are pulled off course, you can simply go back to your mission statement and return to your chosen path.
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