Here’s another question from a reader who’s having trouble building his life AND career around the things he loves most and reaching his unique potential right now:
He says: “I want to spend more time doing the things I love, like writing, and that seems to be the most important thing. But right now I am so busy with family and friends and home that I just can’t spend enough time writing to suit me. What should I do in times like these?”
To answer this question, look back at your mission statement. That’s the beauty of such a statement, it lets you make decisions based on your true mission or purpose in life.
If you haven’t developed a mission statement for yourself, try this one:
The purpose of my life is to reach and enjoy my full unique potential at any given time and to help as many other people in the world as I can do the same thing - live up to their own full unique potential at any given time and enjoy doing so.
Since your family and home seem to be needing so much of your attention right now, look at your mission statement and design your time based on your mission.
Since you wish to reach your unique potential at any given time, right now your unique potential may not be as a writer - because you won’t be helping the people you need to help (your family) at this particular time if you’re busy writing.
Instead, you probably need to reach your unique potential as a spouse, parent, grandparent, etc. right now, devoting your time and energies to this.
Still, you should let your family know that you have other goals to attain, and these goals involve having the time to focus and write.
Help your family realize the importance of these goals - not just how important these goals are to you, but how important they are for the people who will read and benefit from your writing, too.
Discuss your mission statement with your family so they understand your purpose in life.
They’ll realize how important they are to you, just from reading your mission statement since part of your purpose in life is to help everyone reach his own unique potential.
Encourage your family members to develop their own mission statements - or use the one provided here - and design their days around their own missions in life. Once they start doing this, they’ll realize how we all need to work together, giving each other time for private endeavors, yet also making time to be together and help each other.
As your family sees you “living” your mission, and not just talking about it, they’ll grow to respect your mission and want to help you accomplish it.
Living in accordance with one’s mission statement is not a struggle.
Whenever you feel yourself struggling in life, go back to your mission statement and use it to help you LIVE your mission.