I believe very strongly in having a life mission statement. In a previous post I mentioned how I use the acronym P.E.A.C.E. to help me fulfill my life mission a day at a time. My mission statement is pretty simple “To make a difference in God’s world in all of my roles and responsibilities.” During the mission statement development phase it is imperative to identify your roles and responsibilities and prioritize your life. If you don’t name your responsibilities and prioritize them there is a good chance you will be wondering in the desert for 40 years without a purpose like our ancestors in the Old Testament. I see so many people living their lives that way today…chasing their tails. Their kids grow up their spouse leave them for someone else and they wake up one day (if they are lucky) and say “what was I thinking?” Take it from me, life is too short to live without a purpose. But for the grace of God…
Prior to my crash and burn 21 years ago, my number one priority was to make as much money as possible and to have as much fun as I could and yes I was married with a son. I worked hard and played hard, my life was all about me. At this stage in my life I felt like “Nowwhere Man” by the Beatles. “He’s a real Nowhere Man living in his nowhere land making all his nowhere plans for nobody.”
I can remember going through my mission statement exercise years ago. My number one priority then and still today is my spiritual fitness. If I am not spiritually fit then all bets are off as far as how well I can fulfill the other priorities of my life. My sobriety is also dependent upon my spiritual fitness. My spiritual fitness program consists of a daily time of prayer and study, a conscious contact with God throughout the day and a willingness to help my fellow man in need. My ability to be an excellent husband, dad, son, brother, worker and leader is contingent upon my spiritual fitness.
My next priority is to my family with my wife coming first. I see so many families in trouble today where either of the spouses spend more time and energy with their friends or their children or their children’s friends than they spend with their spouse. Of course after my wife comes my kids. And after my wife and kids come my role as a son, son-in-law, brother, uncle etc… I also consider the recovery community as being a part of my family and I always try to be there for those in need. One of my responsibilities as the leader of my family is to make a living and provide for them.
God has blessed me so much in my role as a worker and he has entrusted me with running a company where a couple hundred people work. So after my spiritual fitness and my family comes my responsibility as a leader at work. I take great pride in trying my best to provide a safe, fun and challenging work environment for my employees. I also have a responsibility to the customers my company provide services to. There are obvioulsy additional roles and responsibilities that go along with each of our priorities.
I have found in order to be a great spiritual being, husband, father, family man and business leader I need energy. My spiritual routine is the start of this energizing process but I have found that it is important for me to exercise daily, eat right and get appropriate rest.
I could write all day about this stuff but I think you get my point. If you feel like your life is out of order and heading nowhere try developing a mission statement and prioritizing your life, it will make a difference. If you want it to be a worthwhile mission statement ask God to help you develop it.
P.E.A.C.E.
