Written by: Léa Agbo, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
People are particularly concerned by their lifestyle on long-term perspectives. However, we sometimes ask ourselves if our current way makes sense. This is quite essential, as people who live without asking themselves if they are on the right track are usually not fully living their lives as they could.
Everybody knows the word ‘optimization.’ Outside the marketing, managerial or economic contexts, we could use it as a ‘make things better.’ Thus, to look for our life mission would be the way to optimize our quest for happiness - a personal and deep wish to improve our current way of living to accede to the healthiest and wealthiest life being the fundamental part of it.
Our way could then be defined as what we like to do and also what emotionally, spiritually, or ethically feeds us the most without effort.
Let's start with a focus on the mission concept. The mission is filled with multiple goals with an essential meaning given to the unique point they should converge towards (our mission). That is to say; we set goals by placing a deep value on the ‘why’ for which we are doing it. Indeed, if our goals are not interconnected to achieve this end, it is at this point that we lose the sense of our value. Goals are also revealing because they help us identify our resources and even allow new ones. These resources were, of course, already in ourselves but still appear to us as news because we had never explored them before.
And so, what if our mission was ‘simply’ to exercise our talents? What if it was the fact of thriving in who we are, and then that as many people as possible could benefit from it? Sharing our way to improve our reality, our positive state of mind, reaching out to others, and being of service are things within everyone's reach. Sharing, caring, and supporting are the most inspiring actions there are. What is certain is that our first mission is to inject something positive into our daily life.
Why are we looking for our (own) way?
The answer is simple: to find our way is to find ourselves.
It is to give our lives meaning (again) and gain amplitude.
We are looking for it to avoid feeling cramped in our inner greatness definitely. This question is imposed on us to find what animates us and, consequently, to go towards the construction of solid bases for the life we choose. As a matter of fact, being on that journey, we notice more evidence of the involvement effect, and so we exercise more clarity in what we do and why we do it.
On the other hand, although envisioning or dreaming of our mission should be a pleasurable experience, that momentum can sometimes be dampened by the fear of all the things we have to put in place to realize it. Taking the trajectory of our way by identifying it could indeed be demanding, as it requires us to become a better version of ourselves. Indeed, it can be frightening to decide not to leave our life mission to the hands of time, the current context, or our environment.
However, because of that nagging feeling that has been in us for a long time, we want to go to the next level. We are now telling ourselves that it's now or never. It is time for us to move forward.
How?
Getting to discover our life mission is a fascinating adventure. At this stage, the interest is in knowing how to identify it to apprehend, accept, and implement it into our lives. Indeed, the real goal is not knowledge alone. This theoretical identification aims to put it into practice, and therefore to develop a better integration into our daily actions.
This consists of five major stages:
1. Knowing ourselves better. I know you already know this point, but let’s have a quick review. What are our potentialities? What are our limits? How do our emotional pillars work? Where does our energy go? How do we spend it?
To solve this Sphinx-like riddle, we can start by writing a few lines focusing on the following questions:
Do I think that I have an inherent duty and/or vocation?
What would I like to accomplish?
Do I have any specific aspirations?
Do I have a time perspective for my mission?
Do I have any particular talents that I can use to accomplish my mission?
What role do I wish to fulfill within my mission?
Answering these questions will help us to be able to draw a global picture of ourselves, including what it takes to go for it (our life mission).
2. Observing. To us, our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and attitudes seem to be appropriate reactions to the various stimuli we are subjected to. If this were not the case, we would act differently.
This is why this is a question of looking at our way of functioning to enter our field of consciousness. It all starts with this ability. It is about developing that inner observer that we all have and allowing it to be fully operational.
The point here is to put our finger on what genuinely makes us vibrate. The more regular the practice of the observation phase is, the more it is possible to identify what makes us happy through our talents.
3. Accepting. The process continues with the acceptance (of oneself), which counterbalances the essential observation phase.
It has been noticed that the previous step can sometimes lead to a negative attitude of criticism towards oneself. Such a position is both ineffective and unjustified. Acceptance (of self) is thus what will induce inner peace and insight into action.
We should avoid judging ourselves, as there is neither good nor bad in what we do. It is simply our responsibility to express the best of us.
4. Taking action. The three previous stages will allow us to understand better our personality and behavior in a concrete and lively way.
The acceptance phase is having, for its part, positively directed our energy. It is now possible to take action, which results in change(s). Indeed, it becomes much easier to be pragmatic while being benevolent with ourselves.
The change we are making consolidates much more constructive management of the future, and we will now concentrate our energy on our life mission. Keep in mind that the word ‘energy’ is a synonym for involvement and is similar to vitality or an enterprising spirit. It is the fuel that activates our talent for seizing or creating opportunities. A great success goes hand-in-hand with the physical, intellectual, and cultural energy that drives us to get to the bottom of our actions and projects constantly.
5. Enjoying the perfect match between what we have achieved and who we have become. It is important to know that wondering about our way, as a life mission, is already an act of awakening in itself.
Several ingredients are indeed necessary to find one's way. It is, of course, more appropriate to have confidence in one's ability to choose, have the courage to make important decisions, act and react, understand, and adapt to the changes that are offered to us.
It should also become our reality that we deserve the best and deserve to (always) be happy.
At this stage, we have already experienced being more confident because of the victories we have had. This is what drives us to keep experimenting and succeeding.
However, it is essential sometimes to review our progress to help us realize what we have achieved. This brings us joy, a taste for perseverance, and this certitude that we are on the right track, as we can now see that we have become a better version of ourselves.
How long does it take to find our (own) way?
When we are focused on a question we would like to get an answer to, we have to be pragmatic. If we are sufficiently involved in finding what will be our next life, it is a question of months.
If you spend 3 months thinking and writing about what is right for you in terms of well-being, career, family, etc., then spend another 3 months setting up, develop and put into practice what you previously thought about, you will have quick results.
During the first 3 months, you should focus on describing your goals with as much precision as possible. Those will, of course, be in total alignment with your convictions and values - convictions being a positive belief about who we are and what we can become. It precisely determines what we will become. People who succeed know what they want and are convinced that they can get it.
Convictions have to be distinguished from values considered ethical, moral, or practical fundamentals. It is essentially a positioning to help us to adjust and make decisions. Therefore, knowledge of the values we hold dear is one of the most fruitful elements in our quest for success and happiness.
The next 3 months are a good time to think about ‘How do I do it?’ Ask yourself the following questions, and you will have your answer: What ingredients do I currently have available? Do I need more ingredients to make my recipe succeed? How or where do I acquire it?
Throughout this journey, clarity will come. Thus, your life mission will come to you as a matter of course. Remember, the coherence of our goals and the fact that we feel fulfilled lead us to our way.
Did you say ‘benefits?’
The benefits of still looking for or finding our life mission are very powerful:
We gain in decision-making maturity.
We take action - Each of our steps brings organization and reinforces the structure of our life.
We seriously increase our self-esteem (just by taking stock of the last few months)
We know ourselves better and more deeply to innovate, create and apply what is best for us.
We are in total agreement with ourselves, and, above all, we find our authenticity along the way.
How do you know you’ve really found your (own) way?
When we feel that we have found our way and are fulfilling our life mission:
We have energy - We are dedicated to everything we go for
We find joy from our ambitions
We have found a healthy life balance
We are curious and full of aspirations
We feel aligned with what we do, and we genuinely enjoy it
We are regularly inspired
We feel at peace with our past, our present, and our future
We listen to our intuitions
We feel that we advance on our way with ease (obstacles fall easily)
We have developed a daily awareness that allows us to readjust when necessary
We feel that what we do allows us to shine more in our mission
We are natural and enthusiastic
We have fluid relations
We have confidence in the future
But what if?
But what if the idea was, above all, to find out how aligned we are with our way in our current level of consciousness? After all, this is essentially a matter of (personal) perception.
We could also ask ourselves: Does a ‘universal’ and unique life mission exist for all of us? In this case, there wouldn’t be an ‘own’ way but a collective one, converging to the unique concept of ‘doing good around us.’ Some will say that we should consider the lifestyle, the context, the culture, etc. Maybe. Maybe not! Nevertheless, thinking about this possibility can only do one thing: make us grow.
Léa Agbo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Léa is an entrepreneur and infopreneur, a certified coach in positive psychology, and a specialist in cross-cultural business. With over 10 years of experience in personal development, her focus is for you to become a better version of yourself.
A wide range of clients, including entrepreneurs, require her services to smoothly optimize their lives and/or business projects, have more confidence and energy to pursue their goals, and build real, constructive, and consistent self-esteem.
She specifically coaches entrepreneurs on the cross-cultural aspects of their businesses and is the author of the ‘Globalisation Programme.’
Léa holds a master’s degree in Strategic Business Management and Entrepreneurship. She is also a Certified Operational Manager.
Léa is the Founder of AGBO Business Consulting, a company aiming to challenge you to the next level.
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