"Major" Check-ins.

It is important to remember that we’ve inherited many of our “preferences”. From the time we are young, the collective tells us what we are supposed to want and often lays out a very one-dimensional path to perceived success/fulfillment. 

Moving along this path with minimal reflection on how it is aligning with deeper aspects of the Self often leads folks to creating a life that they want nothing to do with. This is particularly true when major life decisions are made (marriage, family, job) in congruence with a timeline that the collective has messaged is acceptable. 

To combat this type of passive thinking/decision making, I’ve found that periodic major life check-ins are extremely helpful - these are times when I assess the “set-up” of my life. I look specifically at how well my day to day actions are lining up with larger life tenets I’ve established.

In order to do this, I had to first create a personal mission statement. The exercise of writing a mission statement helps to define the things in a person’s life that hold significant value. Mission statements are also useful in that they can serve as a “guidepost” or a metric that a person can test options against, i.e. when considering future professional options, an individual will have something concrete that he or she can measure possible paths against.

A host of resources exist that can be helpful in developing a personal mission statement, but just a few words of advice if you decide to embark on this exercise - first, actually use it. When making a bigger decision, sit down with your mission statement on hand and measure your options against it. Further, “check-in” with your mission statement even when you are not weighing a heavier decision. On that note, once it’s written, post it somewhere visible or keep it somewhere where you will see it often. Finally, although a mission statement should be fairly timeless, update language as needed as you develop, pivot, and grow.

“Don't let your special character and values, the truth - don't let that get swallowed up by the great chewing complacency.” (Aesop)