What will I become?

I began my day this morning with an oversized cup of coffee and an article on the advantageous habit of goal setting. They both got me pretty excited. In a comprehensive step-by-step guide, the author laid out directions for quantifying and organizing ambition and desire. "Man," I thought, "this is gold!". And it really is... provided you can clearly define what you want to accomplish in your lifetime. Though I gave it an honest attempt, I just couldn't seem to reach an appropriate level of concreteness. I want to be happy, successful, and healthy. Well, DUH. Who doesn't? It did not take much time before I realized that what I thought were goals, were really just ambiguous ideals. Then I got scared. Why couldn't I set long term goals for myself? It's not that I lack ambition, I'm just not a hundred percent ready to commit to a single life path. Some would say I lack direction. I say I'm keeping my options open.

Anyway, I was saved later in the day when I came across a chapter in "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" that encouraged readers to "think with the end in mind". In other words, what do you want people to say about you at your funeral? That you earned 6 figures, benched 350, and had a 60" 3-D television? Doubt it. Most people fall back on their core values when answering this question, and what could be more important to honor? According to Covey, author of "7 Habits", establishing these values is paramount to setting clear cut goals. After all, setting and meeting a goal that is inconsistent with our principles is clearly a waste of precious time. You can climb the ladder as high as you want, but if will do no good if its leaning against the wrong building.

So, I set out to define my values in a personalized mission statement. I recommend this activity to anyone and everyone, young and old, especially those who are unsure of their direction in life. Write your statement, print it out, and read it every day. If you are not shy, share it with others to ensure accountability. While I am still goal-less, I now have a set of values that I can use to guide my decisions. If I follow the rules I have set for myself, I have no doubt that goals will eventually emerge from somewhere within.

If you do decide to try this, please tell me how it goes! I find each and every one of you who reads this to be extremely interesting and valuable, and feedback would be of considerable value.

My Personal Mission Statement

If I am to be any one thing, let it be kind. May the people I come across, whether it be for a minute, a month, or a lifetime, feel better about themselves having met me. I hope to never forget that even the briefest encounter can have a lifelong impact.

I will not just live, I will live with consciousness, always striving for a better understanding of myself and my surroundings.

I will give money the respect that it deserves, but it will never have power over me.

I will use my knowledge and understanding of past experiences to effectively plan for what is to come, all the while maintaining a continuous appreciation and awareness of the present moment.

I will work diligently every day to become something more than what I was the day prior. For me, the most difficult envy to cope with is that which we have for a former self.

I will address those who oppose me with tact and my most open mind, focusing primarily on the opportunity for cooperation and mutual growth.

I will know when to apologize.

I will be flexible and adaptable in my opinions, as well as my actions. From here forth, if I am ever described as stubborn, it is time to reevaluate.

I will read. A lot. I will teach what I have learned.

I will live on my own terms, proactive to the end, never letting another person impose upon me their own definitions of success, wealth, prosperity, or happiness.

I may never adopt religion or concretely acknowledge the existence of god(s), but I will always remember that such concepts are of the utmost gravity to many people. No matter how difficult I find them to understand, I will respect all types of spirituality.

I will not take for granted the fact that my body is a miraculously complex system that has remarkable potential for longevity, as well as decay. I will treat it in a way that favors the former.

I am an adventurer and I will never, ever, stop exploring.

I will be courageous.

I will be humble.

One day, I will have mastered the intricacies of my life enough to invite another person to be a part of it. I will be a devoted husband to a talented and passionate wife. Together, drawing from our collective knowledge, wisdom, and life experiences, we will raise a family.

I will be a father, and one day I will teach my children all that I have learned. This will be the most important work of my entire life.

I will die one day, and if I have my way, my friends and family will hike in my honor into the Kawuneeche Valley outside of Grand Lake, Colorado. My ashes will dance weightlessly in the summer breeze as I am reunited with my grandfather and all those who went before me. People will say in earnest that my time on earth was well spent, that I was kind, and that my thirst for adventure was never truly quenched.