Purpose, Values, Mission and Then Goals

It may seem obvious and silly even to bring up knowing what success means to you, but think about choices you’ve made in the past that had you scratching your head later on, wondering why on Earth you chose that. This is the difference between acting on impulse and acting on self-knowledge and a deeper understanding of your true self and the world around you. Imagine you’ve just bought a magnificent sailing boat, trained to the point of mastery, assembled a brilliant crew, and you’re ready to go anywhere. Freedom is the order of the day: you have as much time as you want, as much money as you want, and you can go anywhere and see anything. Sound like a good time is pretty much guaranteed? Sure, but there’s more: there’s a difference between just having a good time, and having a deeply fulfilling experience. The latter takes reflection (inward and outward), planning, preparation, training, and committed execution. A good time is icing on the cake. We are inundated with talk of goal-setting, achievement, getting things done, and generally doing. That’s all fine and good, and if that’s where we’re focused, we’ll accomplish a lot. I’ve taken vacations where I don’t remember a moment, because I was doing everything, seeing everything, and getting on to the next thing, without taking a moment to connect up all my doing to who I am, what the experience meant to me, why it was important. You know, “If this is Belgium it must be Tuesday.” I’ve also had vacations that are as vivid as if they’d happened yesterday, because they were an expression of my deepest self. Maybe I focused the experience on artistic growth and learning (London theatre tour), or exploration and adventure (snorkeling in the Florida Keys), or professional advancement (performing in the Festival d’Avignon). There’s nothing wrong with setting and achieving goals, especially if you thrive on accomplishment and productivity. But before you focus your attention there, consider the fulfillment piece. Look at why you do what you do. What’s meaningful for you? What will you remember forever? Here are some guidelines to help you find clarity about Purpose, Values, Mission and then Goals: Purpose – Viktor Frankl was a holocaust survivor, psychotherapist, and author of Man’s Search for Meaning. He presented his patients with the most fundamental of all questions: “Why do you not commit suicide?” It may seem like a morbid question, but those who never ask it claim only existence as their purpose. Those with the courage to revisit it continually throughout their lives give themselves the opportunity for a fulfilling life. In our sailing voyage metaphor, our purpose is pretty obvious: to sail. Now take it a step deeper: yes, to sail, but for the sake of what? To explore new places? To connect and transform people? To immerse yourself in the vast expanse of nature? To promote safe and harmless forms of energy? To connect with a higher power? Sit with a relaxed body and a clear mind and write out as many concise purpose statements as come to you. Exhaust yourself – leave no stone of purpose unturned. Values – Values represent what’s most important; those things that bring you alive like nothing else. What gives you an overwhelming sense of love, or peace, or excitement? These are all expressions of your values: they’re like light bulbs plugged into your core, waiting to be electrified. What would be most thrilling to you on your sailing voyage? Honoring your sense of Adventure? Conditioning your mind and body? The way the open sea offers expansion and complete freedom? Make a list of your top values that reflect what brings you most alive. Mission – This is the complete picture. Actor and Civil Rights activist Ossie Davis said, "We can't float through life. We can't be incidental or accidental. We must fix our gaze on a guiding star as soon as one comes upon the horizon. And once we have attached ourselves to that star, we must keep our eyes on it and our hands on the plow. It is the consistency of the pursuit of the highest possible vision that gives you the constancy, the encouragement, the way to understand where you are and why it's important for you to do what you can do." Your mission is your “guiding star.” Write a mission statement for yourself that encompasses your purpose and values. Make sure it’s broad enough to include everything and specific enough that it guides your every action. Let it thrill you, even scare you with its magnitude. It should be awesome in the true sense of the word. Then post it on your wall or some prominent place, where it will continue to stir and inspire you. Goals – Now you’re ready to set some milestones that will get you where you long to go. Make them creative, fun, specific, and most importantly, exciting; an expression of your purpose, values, and mission. They should motivate you with a sense of accomplishment. Congratulations. In just a few minutes, you’ve developed a great deal of clarity and insight into who you are and what makes you tick. You now have a basis for making every choice in your life and career. And you have the tools to deepen your commitment to a life of fulfillment.