Keys To Discovering Your Personal Mission
Copyright 2005 So-lu'shunz Management Services
Purpose is what you're created for. Mission is what you're meant
to do about it.
Do I Have A Purpose?
You're not alone if you're facing the question of why you are
here and what you are supposed to do about it. In order to begin
the process of unwrapping yourself and realizing some answers,
you must begin with the assumption that you are here for a
purpose, that you are not a result of happenstance.
If you are concerned about stepping out on the uncertainty of an
assumption, I invite you to try an exercise. For the next 24
hours, take note of all the assumptions you act upon each day -
without certain knowledge or proof that they are dependable.
For instance, you assume the alarm will go off just because you
set it and it went off yesterday and the day before -
assumption. You assume the train will arrive on the platform at
the same time today as yesterday, though you surely have
experienced interruptions in the schedule. Yet you plan your
morning around the assumption.
These assumptions and many more like them are at the base of
countless plans you make each day. So just suppose that you're
not here for a purpose and you're not part of a greater plan,
but you have based your actions toward others and your plans for
the future on your belief that there was a plan. How fruitful
and fulfilling would your life have become, based on this
assumption, true or not? How much value would you have added to
the lives of those around you, having lived your life based on
this assumption?
Millions, perhaps billions of people struggle through life with
no thought what to do with themselves, no design. Decisions
concerning education, career, vocation, marriage, and family are
a source of constant stress and confusion - and all because they
have never been able to perceive of themselves as part of a
plan, as a gift to their world.
Though definitely not immune, people of faith have less trouble
with the basics in this area. But you needn't wait for all the
answers; you can begin to be a gift to those who occupy your
corner of the world right now - today. Assuming that the sheer
number of earth's inhabitants is a clue to your purpose, make a
conscious decision to focus less on yourself and your questions,
your uncertainties, your desires and begin to notice those
around you in a way unrelated to you and your perceived needs.
Begin to interact with them on the basis of their needs, not
your own.
The word mission comes from the Latin mittere, to send, and it
is the beginning of the adventure. Once we have accepted that we
have a purpose, that we are not an accident, then we can begin
the process of discovering what we're to do about it. If that's
a daunting exercise, let's begin with a few questions:
What are Your Gifts and Talents?
Everyone is born with talent. You may be unaware of your unique
talents, simply because talents are so much a part of us that
they often seem hardly worth mentioning. Begin the process by
asking yourself what you have always been able to do with little
effort? What do friends and family continually ask you to do
over everyone else? What activities are you consistently drawn
to? Write these down and begin to actively pursue opportunities
to exercise them. Just as you were born with muscle, but you
need to work each muscle for it to reach maximum efficiency, so
it is with talents.
Gifts on the other hand can be viewed as equipment, often not
appearing until later in life as our direction begins to unfold.
For this reason, we are generally very aware of our gifts. Once
identified, begin to think of these as tools. Look at each area
in which you are gifted and see how you can combine your gifts
with your talents.
What Fascinates You?
What do you never tire of discussing? Your ears perk up when
someone across the room begins to discuss it; you stop your
channel surfing when you come across it on television. You may
have a shelf full of books on the subject. Whether you have ever
actively pursued it or not, the subject is of perennial interest.
What's Your Passion?
Finally, each person has a fire burning in them, though for some
the fires have been allowed only to smolder. What is it that
would flare up and burn brightly if you gave it the slightest
opportunity? Is it a cause, a vocation, or perhaps there's a
book or a painting, just waiting for you to give it some time to
appear. Whatever it is that you find yourself daydreaming about,
consider giving it an opportunity to come to front of your life.
Begin by keeping a journal, because as soon as you begin to ask
yourself these questions, the answers will start to emerge - be
prepared to record them. Answering these questions, putting the
pieces together as they appear is the beginning of the process
of uncovering your personal mission, what you're here to do -
your destiny.
So make the decision to move away from the familiar and into
your adventure as only you were equipped to.