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Like many organizations, some people have mission or vision statements.
However, also like many organizations, while these can be good, they can also be overused, overly vague, or overcomplicated. This can make them useless when actually trying to serve their purpose, namely to inspire or assist in decision making.
This doesn’t mean that the idea is bad, however. Having something simple and overarching by which to evaluate possible choices can be a great way to maintain focus and ensure that you’re living the life you’d like to be.
So how do we get these advantages of having a yardstick by which to measure without leaving it vague and formless?
Choose a single word.
Whether you call this an ideal, a mantra, a goal, a mission, a vision, a core value or whatever, this is a value by which you’re looking to evaluate the things in your life. For GTDer’s out there, it’s like a one word summary of your 50,000ft level.
Each time you find yourself trying to make a larger decision, this can serve as the yardstick by which you measure it’s alignment with how you’d like to live your life. For example, if you were thinking that your yardstick would be “balance”, each time you’re setting a goal in your life, you can refer back and ask yourself, “Does this improve my balance?” For each project you might be starting, ask, ‘Does this project help me work towards my yardstick?”
Now, this doesn’t need to be a constant for your entire life, change is something we should try to embrace. However, the ways in which this changes will more likely be evolutionary instead of revolutionary. There are situations, generally life-changing situations which change the rules of the game, so to speak, in which you might find you do need to drastically change your direction. But for the most part, this would be something that would be refined or evolve to meet new situations, not crumble in front of them.
So take some time to think about what you might be looking for in your life. This can be the first step in defining your idea of success.
On a related note, Alexandra Levit has posted what success means to her over at Water Cooler Wisdom. What does it mean to you? Share it below in the comments or write a post on your own blog and drop a link here.
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Comments
06.19.08
Forgive the banality of this word, but: possibility.
I like to think that no matter how much I get dragged down, that anything is possible.
06.19.08
@Milena
I actually really like that! And not only can it give you a light in the darkness, but I think that it can be a great way to look at success.
I see that as each time you "reach" your goal, you give yourself more options, more possibilities. It becomes the ultimate (good) self-fulfilling prophecy!
06.19.08
It sounds like your suggestion is to think of a keyword that helps keep things in perspective, whether for one specific goal or to guide your entire life.
Eternal is the only word I can think of that effectively embodies everything, from small things I do everyday to major life decisions.
Trying to see things from an eternal perspective ("long-term perspective" is a less religious alternative with similar meaning) definitely helps me accomplish my long-term goals.
I really like the focus your suggestion can bring to shorter-term goals. If you're goal is to get in shape, it might be fit, muscular, or sexy. If you're trying to impress your boss, it might be dependable, capable, or resourceful.
It's always tempting to complicate things, and focusing like this to simplify things can be really powerful. Good post.
06.20.08
Nice article, though I'd like to raise a countering view to balance.
I worry about focusing too much on a single goal, as we can get lost and pursue the goal without thinking if it we are making a good change. Some doctors worry hypertension medicine, for instance, lowers blood pressure without lowering the risk for the diseases associated with hypertension. The doctors miss the point which is encouraging lifestyle changes to reduce the measures (blood pressure) and the diseases.
And you can probably guess my one word: health. Almost nothing in life can be enjoyed if in poor health.
06.20.08
@Bart
You make a good point, taking this down to a (slightly) lower level, into medium- and short-term goals.
But I agree, in many things, simplicity is key. Overcomplication just seems to increase the signal-to-noise ratio, making it that much harder to get anything done.
@Presh
Good choice in health, it's very true, and I think, overlooked/taken for granted far too often.
And I would agree, I think what you're saying is that we need to make sure we're maintaining perspective. Focusing on one thing too much can give you a bit of tunnel vision.
07.02.08
This is something particularly valuable for negotiating, always keeping in mind what do you stand for and what outcome do you want to achieve.
I think it would be hard for 20-somethings to choose one word to live up to. We still have a lot of maturity to take on before we find that "life mission worth dying for".
In the side note, I have to admit that in recent days I am applying similar concept more and more often to remind myself what I am up to. I made a "focus board" for myself, and I put there mostly behaviors I am implementing into my life and I review it several times a day. Works wonders.
Other example might be a situation when you need to perform better or break through some of your mental limitations. This goes down to affirmations sort of speak. Today I wanted to run 1/3 more than usually. I kept two words in my mind - psychology and goal. It was too easy :)))
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