Category Archives: Mission

Have You Chosen Yet?

Choose Your Hero's Journey

Create Your Mission

One of the most common themes in superhero movies is an “origin story.”

We like to see how the hero “became” a hero.

The general progression is first there’s a story about the hero in his or her prime.

Then maybe another story or two. And then the origin story.

Even in modern movies, origin stories are often times the LAST of a franchise.

Even for ultra bad guys, like Darth Vader, first we see the bad guy, then we get the origin story.

A catholic priest explained to me this was precisely how the “story” of Jesus unfolded.

The first written gospels (Mark and Luke) started in the peak of his ministry. Later they touched on his “origins” (Matthew). Still later, they finally got to the beginnings (John).

Why do we tend to progress through this familiar process? Hero in his prime, then the origin story?

Maybe because we are keenly interested in our origins. First we figure out who we are, then we begin to wonder where we came from. 

Perhaps we feel this can help us better understand the complexities of life that we encounter on a day to day basis.

If we know where we came from, and why we are here, then we’ll maybe have an easier time dealing that stuff we don’t really want to deal with, but have to.

The great promise of life is that to a large extent, we get to DEFINE why we are here.

We are given a great deal of instincts, but even a greater range of learning abilities.

We don’t have wings, but we’ve learned to fly. We don’t have gills, yet we’ve learned to travel great distances underwater.

Our true purpose is that we are to choose our purpose.

To dream big, and then boldly move into our future with nothing but an expectation that we’ll learn more as we move forward.

They say that most people live lives of quiet desperation.

As if many of us are waiting for somebody to come and tell us what to do. Where to go. How to get there.

Once you realize that person is YOU, then it becomes clear.

Where do YOU want to go?

All you need to do is choose, and get going.

How Will The World Remember You?

Get Going On Your Mission

Make Your Mark

It’s pretty good when you have one of those days where all kinds of cool and unexpected things happen.

You leave the house maybe on a Friday night, thinking you’ll hang out with your friends.

Then you meet some interesting people who invite you to a party.

Then at the party you meet other people and go somewhere else.

Kind of like being in some kind of magical “activity stream” where things just keep happening.

Other times it can be pretty boring. Once I was dating this girl, and we had fallen into a rut when we’d go out. She started to accurately predict all the places I’d take her.

Part of the human experience is to let your “explorer” out once in a while. Sure, playing it safe is just as valuable. 

Too much of either can get you into trouble.

Play it too safe, and life passes you buy without you really noticing. Become too much of an explorer, and you might get stuck on an island or end up at the bottom of the ocean.

A good way to change things up is to plan spontaneity.

Meaning at least once a week, schedule a few hours to yourself, and specifically NOT make any plans.

Just go out, and go to places you’ve never been before. Talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to.

The secret of living a fulfilling life is a combination of having a solid plan, AND being able to change gears when an opportunity shows up.

Those that start their own businesses, for example, (and do well) are the folks who have a general idea of what they want, but don’t hesitate when the market goes in a different direction.

Work is another example. You might start out with one type of job, and end up doing something completely different. Something that gets you far more money, and far more recognition of your true skills.

But this WON’T  happen if you are too “risk averse.” You’ve got to take SOME chances. You’ll never make your mark on the world by playing it safe.

Think of it this way. For every inventor, or artist, or musician or explorer that did something amazing, there’s millions, even billions of people who are glad they did.

Which means when YOU fully express your true calling, you’ll actually be helping millions, if not billions of people.

By playing it safe, you’re letting them down.

The world is waiting.