Do you have a life statement?

Have you read the mission statements of famous organizations? They are impressive and had they been achieved, we’d have a planet full of content beings with far less conflict, malnutrition, hunger, poverty, illiteracy… you name it. Deprivation would have been non-existent. The reality, as we know, is different.

We need to remember, though, that most mission statements are from earlier times. Visionaries from past generations wrote these statements and toiled to make their vision a reality. The world has changed since then, and we have different issues gnawing away at the planet now.

Many in today’s productivity-obsessed world attach themselves to some grandiose statement because they happen to get their wages from an entity with that mission. This is because they have never considered their own needs and are unclear about their identity. They cling to whatever ‘mission’ is fed to them, ignoring the fact that they are individuals with unique aspirations, needs and dreams.

“There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” – C.S. Lewis

The entity is not you. It can never be you. It just happens to be a part of your life for a time. No third-party statement, however inspiring it may be, can substitute for one that you design to serve your needs. Isn’t it time to craft a personal statement envisioning how you want your life to happen? Unless you are true to your needs, you will be unable to participate wholeheartedly in another’s vision.

“There comes a point in your life when you need to stop reading other people’s books and write your own.” – Albert Einstein 

It is entirely under your power to burnish and polish this statement in a way that will benefit you. The can happen only when you prioritize yourself above all – not an inanimate entity, not anyone else, not because someone tells you to or because ‘this is the way things are done.’ Is there anything more horrifying than having someone breathe down your neck, telling you how to live your life?

Unless you take control of your life and set clear boundaries, there will always be enthusiastic naggers ready to jump in, spout platitudes, and dictate what life statement you should make. Catastrophizing and hunkering down in your comfort zone is another way to bury your life statement.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” – Dr. Seuss

Once you are ready to take charge of your life, you will realize that your statement will be different from those of inanimate entities. Your major drivers will change as you evolve – as they must – and your personal statement will evolve as you grow and develop.

Life is full of unpredictable external variables depending on factors you cannot control but your personal statement is based on the one controllable variable you possess – You. Growing involves a conscious striving to move a little outside your comfort zone and court new situations. The alternative is to stay where you are, clinging to whatever you think is life, however uncomfortable you may be.

Fear makes you believe that you need to ‘settle’ for a sad existence disguised as life or make you believe that you will always be at the mercy of others to make your life happen the way it should. Acknowledging your fears will make them melt away, leaving you free to compose your own life.

“I have no fear of making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own.” – Jackson Pollock

In the end, after enslaving yourself to the mission of some inanimate entity, you are left feeling hollow, wondering why you still don’t feel fulfilled. Perhaps because you huddled inside your comfort zone, fearful of stepping out or exploring, never prioritizing your true needs or embracing change.

Fulfillment only happens when you understand yourself and work towards shaping your life the way you want it to happen by controlling your inner climate. It does not happen by living life in fear or blindly following a formulaic life path.

Make your life statement happen your way before someone else assumes the right do so without your permission. Otherwise, it will flow away, and you will be left wondering why you never enjoyed experiencing it.  

Step out and play a bold, fearless hand with the cards you are given. Then watch your life blossom in fabulous ways.

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” – Anais Nin