Your own Mission Statement: Mission (im) possible?

Have you (the individual reading this blog) for a moment thought of what others might be thinking of you? Think about your parents, friends, spouse…and think about your colleagues at office. Can you know exactly what they are thinking of you? Chances are you won’t.

Luckily I was confronted to some bitter comments about my self, from my peers and my family. (Luck comes to me because I open up the discussion and say, “ I am ready to hear the truth”. Then I listen.

It is harsh and so irritating. Sometimes I become blank and keep silent. Ocassionally get agitated.

I thought, “How could they say that to me…after all I have done to them?”

Then the reality hit me …they did say that, and they meant it.

Ok…roll back to the moment just before I received the comments. I had very good feelings about them. But the moment I receive the comment, I became repulsive, protecting my self, defending, and saying things to win the accusation.

This is all true in every person’s life. Critique is the least expected thing in life, and they often come at times when we are in deep trouble.

Normally I take refuge in religion at those times. Yet the scar use to remain in the mind. Then I tried to ignore the comments. I thought it is the right thing to do.

Yet the comments kept on coming, with more venom.

So ignoring is not a sustainable solution.

My teacher gave me a copy of “First things First” in 2006. I read it like breeze. It was like it was written looking at my self.

It had many exercises to be done. I skipped most of them just for the sake of completing the book (the book was so irresistible).

After reading the book I felt I know the reasons for my problems.

3 months down the line, I confronted the same old pattern of problems. I knew..I knew exactly it was my time management – the culprit.

But hey… I thought I solved it 3 months back. I knew exactly what to do.

Reflecting back…I understood, though I have read, I did not apply. I did not do the time consuming exercises. I have taken a short cut.

Then I went back to the book. Carefully extracted the exercises and gave precious time off from the busy life. I remember how I closed the door and shut all distractions before all exercises were complete. It questioned my principles, values and wants. It drilled my mind to the deep end of the heart and mind, to capture the essence of my life – Why I exist in this world?

And at the end of it…I was holding my mission statement!

At first it was really embarrassing to read it. Because it sounded alien.

It was complete opposite of what-I-thought-I-was. But the book said “ it is normal, just believe in the statement you made”.

And my friends…I did.

And I am so happy that single statement guides me to do the best , the right thing, day after day. It enables me to take tough (but RIGHT) decisions all the time.

When I failed, I went back to the statement. Believe me “ it had all the answers”. That statement explained me, who I am, and whom I want to be.

It showed me- success is a small step towards my journey, don’t get excited, keep on doing the good things.

It showed me - failure is temporary, and I can bounce back, because my mission was establishing my character.

My advise: Borrow or buy this precious book. And do exactly as it says.