Finding Your Purpose
If you could do anything in the world, what would you do? Why would you want to do that? Does your current occupation help you to achieve that goal? Or do you think your goal is unattainable, and you've decided that good enough is just your lot in life?
The problem with these questions is that many of us do not know how to answer them. Perhaps you've been at your current occupation so long that you couldn't even fathom doing something different. Maybe, like many others, you are at your job because you need a steady source of income to make sure you and your family have the necessities of life. We all have our reasons, but are they good reasons, or are they excuses?
Many successful organizations have a vision and mission statement. As individuals, we should have something similar. We should each have a purpose statement in our lives. In Laurie Beth Jones' book, The Path, she says, "A purpose statement is, in essence, a written down statement for being (1998)." She goes on to say, "Clarity is power: Once you are clear about what you were put here to do, then "jobs" become only a means toward accomplishing your mission, not an end in themselves." These sentences hit me hard. It is such an empowering thing to know your reason for being. Each of our lives has a purpose and meaning. Sadly, many people never find that meaning. Some find that meaning later in life when they reflect on things they wish they had done. Admittedly, it is not something that I thought about until the last few years.
When I was in Peru from 2012-2013, I was given the opportunity to clean up and paint walls with some church members in one of the many poor areas in Lima. I couldn't believe the conditions that so many families found themselves living. Many neighborhoods didn't have running water because poor people from rural areas moved into the city and made houses out of whatever material they could afford or find. This is where I learned that my purpose on this earth is to help people and to share the reason for my hope. From that point on, I knew that everything I did in the future would revolve around serving others.
Being a leader in the Army or any profession lends itself quite nicely to serving others. Quality leaders always serve the needs of their subordinates. Teaching, coaching, and mentoring are all a part of service to others. Indeed, to do these things requires a tremendous amount of self-sacrifice to ensure the team's well-being. If you aren't willing to make those types of sacrifices for your team, maybe leadership isn't for you, and that is perfectly fine.
The goal is for each person to find their purpose. Once you know what that purpose is, do things that will help you to achieve your goals. Remember, your job is only "a means toward accomplishing your mission, not an end…." Your time on earth is precious and limited, so stop wasting it on things that won't help you reach your end goal. I pray that you will take steps to find your purpose soon.
~Rey