A Million Good Causes – Only One of You

November 14, 2007

Elephant Burgers

This month I asked a colleague, Sarah Sharp, to write an article for this section of the Blog-Zine. Sarah has an exceptional telcourse she offers about simplifying your life by focusing your time, energy, and commitment on things that align with your mission. Enjoy! –Steve

We only have one head, but most of us have too many hats. Our society tells us that multi-tasking is the only way to get things done, so the more hats we can wear at once, the better. We get so busy planning and coordinating, running and supporting, heading up and volunteering, we end up with our heads spinning and the hats falling all around us. All of us, at some point, get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life; we lose sight of why we are here and what is important. I’m not talking about the meaning of life for all humanity, though that may play into it. I am speaking of what you, as an individual, value and desire, what you want to contribute to the people in your circle of influence – a personal mission statement.

A mission statement that summarizes your core values and how you exercise those values in your daily living can vastly simplify your life and de-clutter your calendar. It gives you a standard by which to measure the worthiness of an activity, position, or any decision which would require your valuable and finite resources of time, energy, or finances.

Ask yourself, the next time someone is asking for time, attention, or money from you, “Does this request honor my life’s mission?” For example, if your mission is teaching children, do you have the time and resources to support adult literacy? The answer may be no. Is it a worthy cause? Most definitely. But I am willing to wager that someone else’s life mission encompasses what yours doesn’t, and it will all work out in the end.

Saying no to worthy causes just because they are not your #1 passion may seem selfish and cause false guilt; however, saying no to other things opens up your resources to pour yourself into the things you really have a heart for. When you are working at what you are passionate about, you do not burn out as quickly, your enthusiasm spreads to others, and more work gets done for that good thing that you are truly here to contribute to the world. So, find your mission for your life, and live it!
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Sarah Sharp, Personal Life Coach, has made it her mission to help unite people with their fullest potential, and then teach them to do the same for others. She is available for individual coaching, group coaching, and speaking engagements. Her clients find focus, motivation, confidence, and the power for sustainable change. She is especially passionate for helping ministry and volunteer leaders and organizations, and people in crisis and life transition. To learn more or to receive a complimentary one-on-one coaching session, please contact Sarah at (608) 516-3256 or [email protected].

Posted in Elephant Burgers, Zine 2: November 2007, Zines in 2007