Key to a Happy Existence

The following was printed in the January Primetime issue put out by the Antigo Daily Journal. I found it inspiritional and am reprinting it here with permission of the editor:

'Living our Purpose' Key to Happy Existence

One of the most important things we can do for ourselves to help ensure our overall health and well-being is to live our purpose. Each of us comes into this world with unique talents and gifts. Some of us are gifted musically, some of us are gifted in the healing arts, others in academia or teaching, still others are mechanically inclined. When we use our talents and gifts in a way that has personal meaning and purpose, we often feel fulfilled; content with our lives and ourselves. When we ignore them, we will inevitably experience problems. Oftentimes it takes a personal crisis for us to recognize that we have turned off or ignored pieces of ourselves; the loss of a loved one or our own serious injury or illness. It is only then that we are able to re-evaluate where we are in our lives and decide whether we are willing to make adjustment.

The Chinese define the word "crisis" as "opportunity." During periods of crisis we are given an opportunity to make necessary changes. While we often do not recognize this while we are in the midst of the crisis, looking back, many people will make comments such as, "I wouldn't want to go back to that time, but it was the best thing that could have happened to me." The crisis gave them the chance to step back from themselves and those things that seened so very important. The crisis allowed for the realization that many of the things that we work so hard to achieve in this life, actually hold very little meaning in the long run.

Our motivation in continuing to live life the same way is the faulty belief that doing so will bring us happiness. The constant efforts we put into acquiring money and things, to make sure we look good to our friends and neighbors, to follow the standards our society agrees are so important; these constant efforts most often do not lead to happiness at all, they lead to living a life of chronic stress and dissatisfation. As a result, this stress and dissatisfaction create physical and emotional distress. Doctors and allied health professionals are kept extremely busy with patients being treated for stress related disorders - headaches, muscle tension, heart disease and hypertension, diabetes, the list goes on and on.

It is not necessary to wait for a personal crisis to examine ourselves and make necessary changes. One tool that some professionals use to assist people in discovering and living their purpose is the personal mission statement. A mission statement is simply a statement of purpose. Many businesses and institutions use them to define themselves and keep themselves on track - to make sure they are doing what they set out to do. A personal mission statement works the same way. It is relatively simple. All that is necessary is a pen, a piece of paper, and about 30 minutes of time during which you will not be interrupted. On the piece of paper write, "I was put here on the Earth to . . . . . " Next, spend some time in quiet reflection. Then spend the next 15 minutes completing the sentence. Write without editing, whatever comes to mind. Do not worry about grammar or spelling - just write. Allow any and all thoughts and feelings to work their way onto the paper. Then read what you have written. Is it reflecting that changes are in order? If so, what is the next step? Make a plan. Enlist the help of a friend or a professional if necessary. It is the beginning.

Living our purpose takes a willingness to break long-held patterns and beliefs about who we are. It is not easy, it requires a life-long investment of time and emotion. It will bring you closer to living a much more satisfying and personally fulfilling life. Lving in accordance with who we really are is imperative to our overall health and well-being.

Laura Waldvogel, MSE, NCC
is affiliated with Langlade Memorial Hospital

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