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Finding Your Meaning and Purpose"Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it." ~ M. Scott Peck This is an excerpt from:
Finding your meaning and purpose in life is a foundation for being motivated and having a happy and prosperous existence. Determining one's unique, worthwhile path is challenging and fulfilling. Strive to:
There are many great books for finding purpose and meaning in life. Some key ones are: As a Man Thinketh by James Allen, 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson, and The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck. Please see Appendix B: Books for Further Study for suggested reading on this crucial topic. Searching for meaning is a core of the human condition. Those who find their calling usually live a more focused, happier, healthier, and prosperous life. Now, let's explore the importance of setting goals.
SMART Goals - Determining relevant goals and habits is foundational for creating a meaningful existence. SMART is an acronym used for intelligent goal setting, first introduced in a 1981 paper called "There's a S.M.A.R.T. way to Write Management's Goals and Objectives" by George T. Doran.10. SMART Goals are widely used in companies worldwide because of their common sense practicality. They are equally useful for setting personal goals. SMART stands for setting Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-based goals. • Specific - Determine clear goals. For example, if you want to learn a new skill, you could aim to study at least 10 hours a week for the next eight weeks. This might include watching training videos, taking a course (or courses), and reading books, blogs, and articles. Each of us is different. You may be eager to learn and want to invest ten, twenty, thirty, or more hours per week. Or you may only have five hours available to learn. The decision is yours. When you achieve goals, consider creating new ones. It feels good to set and accomplish goals. It is part of who we are as humans.
If you are strong-willed and enjoy long-term goals, consider making a bucket list of what you want to accomplish. It is akin to creating a map to find your dreams. You can do it at any age.
John Goddard was a famous adventurer and motivational speaker who decided early in his life to make a bucket list of goals he wanted to accomplish. That list became an inflection point that guided Goddard throughout his life. At age 15, John Goddard wrote down the 127 goals he wanted to reach in his lifetime. The categories were wide and deep. Here are just a handful of his goals.
Explore: The Nile, Amazon, and the Congo. Six decades later, John Goddard exceeded 100 goals on his bucket list. It all started with a list of goals he created at the young age of 15. I read about John Goddard in a Reader's Digest article many years ago and was impressed with his will and accomplishments. I hoped then that one day I might meet him. That wish was granted years later when I had the great pleasure of dining with John Goddard and his daughter at his home. It was a wonderful experience. Before dinner, John showed me around his home and took me into a room with fascinating worldwide artifacts. He gently joked; the mood was light, and he walked me over to where a primitive sword was hanging on the wall. He reached over, pulled the sword halfway out of its sheath, and said: "This sword must draw blood if it is ever pulled out of its sheath!" Then, he slowly put it back. Although it was a bit dramatic but playful, his message was clear. Don't remove a sword unless it is meant to be used. The same philosophy can be applied to anything important in life. Finishing what we start is crucial to being successful. John Goddard's zest for life and adventure has inspired many people. When a writer asked about John's age, he responded: "In our family, we don't keep track of years; we keep track of experience. Age is only important in terms of wine and cheese!" ~ John Goddard Whether fifteen or eighty, making a bucket list helps engage us with an interesting future full of purpose and enjoyment. Establishing good habits to accomplish goals is important in moving one's life in a proactive and positive direction.
Creating and keeping good habits requires discipline, accountability, and flexibility. Steven R. Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is an excellent read on creating positive habits. It was first published in 1987 and has timeless advice.13. Another excellent read on habits is the book Atomic Habits. The author, James Clear, argues that taking small steps to improve habits and establishing systems (which are about processes) is more important in leading to good habits than goals. Goals and systems can both be useful. Use whatever works best for you. "Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character." ~ Stephen Covey
Thought Provoking Questions
• Do you know your meaning and purpose in life? These are heady questions that many people never ask themselves. However, a life of excitement, adventure, exploration, knowledge, wisdom, and wonder awaits those who do.
"People should pursue what they're passionate about. That will make them happier than pretty much anything else." ~ Elon Musk
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