I love this quote by Bob Marley and it reminds me of someone I coached a few years ago.
This coachee had twice the IQ I had. His experiences in the business world doubled mine and I assumed his bank account was at least twice as mine. He also had a vibe that generated positive “fruits” (see yesterday’s message). He was someone whom on the surface seemed as though he was a guy I would hang out with. But he wasn’t happy and was in the middle of a life crisis because the company he had poured his heart and soul into had let him go.
Long story short, I was able to get this guy back up on his feet rather quickly once he realized that most everything he treasured and thought was important (income, degrees, intelligence, the cars he drove etc…) really weren’t worth much at all.
He got back on his feet by doing the same exercises I am taking you through.
During the early stages of my retirement I created a “life quote” that I asked my wife to have etched on my tombstone:
Anyone can be successful at the expense of others. The greatest are successful for the benefit of others.
This quote parlayed into my Purpose Statement for my life:
Through my gifts of teaching, leading, and inspiring, I will help others become more than they once thought possible.
My purpose statement did not crystallize overnight. It evolved as I figured out why I was alive and this step of beginning with the end in mind (creating a quote for my tombstone) created a desire to “live into” that quote.
In essence that quote represented what I wanted my treasure to be for the final 50 years of my life.
“Wherever your treasure is, there you heart and thoughts will also be.” (Matthew 6:21 NLT)
What do you treasure?
What do you dwell on the most? Therein lies your treasure.
Is your treasure all about pleasing you or is it about pleasing God and His world?
What would you like for your tombstone to say about you and your life?
As we are building our life playing field we eventually figure out that our guiding principles are like the rudder on a ship and tie directly to why we exist (our purpose) and where we are headed (our vision) and are often derived from what we treasure the most.
Once this person I was talking about earlier laid down his values and beliefs (guiding principles) his life took on a new purpose. He emailed me the other day to let me know he was doing quite well and had become passionate about helping the youth in his church.
You never know what God has up his sleeve for you until you become intentional about building a life playing field for Him instead of you…I write from experience.
More on guiding principles tomorrow.
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
