Personal Mission Statement as a Compass

During a significant transition period in my life, I felt like I had lost all direction. I had just gone through a difficult divorce, I had recently finished all my doctoral coursework and was supposed to be starting a dissertation, and I had just sold the house that I lived in for over twenty years with my former husband and children. Though I felt mentally and emotionally exhausted beyond just about anything I had known, this difficult period of my life was also an opportunity for me to grow and to establish a clear path for myself. I decided to develop my own personal mission statement.

The process of developing a short, clear statement took me over two months of hard work. I brainstormed everything I enjoyed doing including work and activities. I read my old diaries and started keeping a journal. I reviewed all my academic work (what courses I had taken, degrees earned, etc.) and summarized other training I had completed. I considered my own learning styles and preferences as well. When I started looking at all the pieces of my life, a clear pattern began to emerge. I loved teaching, writing, researching, and sharing information about communication. I also was a lifelong learner - I had a passion for learning and continually exploring. I knew I was not someone who could sit at a desk and be happy. I liked to keep moving. I was also a spiritual person.  I needed to put these self-discoveries into a succinct statement or two. Here is the personal mission I developed for myself:

It is my personal mission  (1) to be a positive influence in the lives of others through communication-related activities, teaching, writing, and encouraging and (2) to engage in life-long learning with others through spiritual, intellectual, creative, and physical activities.

I first wrote this mission statement in 1996. I review it periodically and have only slightly modified it since that time. Whenever I feel as though I am being pulled in too many different directions, I review my personal mission. If someone wants me to do something that takes a serious investment of my time or resources (including energy), I make sure it is consistent with my personal mission before taking it on. If an ideas start popping into my head that could prompt me to take on a significant new activity or endeavor, I make sure it is consistent with my mission before I get too serious about undertaking it. My personal mission statement is like a compass for me.

Do you have your own mission statement? How has it worked for you? Do you review it regularly?

Too Many Choices

When I was in my early twenties, I had a reoccurring dream that I still vividly remember. I had climbed up into a plum tree in our backyard to pick fruit. As I reached for the first piece of fruit, I saw a more perfect plum hanging next to the first one. When I reached for the second plum, I saw another plum that looked even better. As I tried to decide which fruit to pick, the plums began to whither and fall off the tree. Because I could not focus on what was in front of me, I ended up with nothing.

I have had more careers and interests than I can count. My thoughts are easily distracted. I start one project but then want to jump to the next one before the first is completed.

Other people think I am very organized and focused. They don't know how hard I work to keep
myself focused.

Nearly every morning, I make a list of tasks and activities that I want or need to complete during the day. I usually group and prioritize these tasks. As I complete them, I cross them off. If I get too distracted, I look at my list and tackle another task. It is a tool that seems to work for me. I need a certain amount of flexibility to breathe. At the same time, I need to create enough structure for myself so that I feel like I am being responsible and using my time wisely. I do manage to get a lot done when I make my lists. I have learned to be my own taskmaster.

Are there other list makers out there? Do the lists help?