November 5, 2007 - Issue #69
10 Elements to Consider When Creating Your Personal Vision / Mission / Operating Principles

In this Issue

Food for Thought

Keep it Simple

Announcing My Blog!!

Feature Article

10 Elements to Consider When Creating Your Personal Vision / Mission / Operating Principles

1. Be specific about your personal vision.
   This is your definition of an ideal world. The best way to start, is to fill in the blank on the following phrase: In my ideal world, everyone on the planet ____________. This should be your view from the highest level. Keep it expansive and idealistic. [Here's mine: In my ideal world, everyone on the planet lives life to their fullest potential and everything in their lives is their number one choice.]



2. Be clear about your personal mission.
   Once you've identified your vision, you will soon realize it is not a 1-person job! The next step, then, is to define your personal role in making that vision a reality. Think in terms of: To help create my vision of [fill in from step #1], I _____________. This should reflect your personal passions and skillset. Keep it short, powerful and memorable and focused on HOW! [Here's mine: I help people live their best lives! My mission is to provide the guidance, tools and support that individuals need to connect and stay connected to their own inner wisdom, strength and power, allowing them to live life grounded in their values, and enabling them to turn all their dreams into reality. ]



3. Define what your operating principles will be.
   The operating principles you choose to live by in order to more fully realize your mission and vision are the key steps for you to succeed in this endeavor. They are the standards of behavior you will hold yourself to in order to feel good about yourself, to feel "in" integrity. These are personal for everyone, but you can see mine here.



4. Make a distinction between having and being.
   When you are creating your mission statement and operating principles, look at what you've written. Is it mostly about physical things you want in your life (house, car, etc)? Is it about successes you want to feel (money, title, job), etc. As a rule, you want to avoid 'havings'. It's not that these are bad in themselves, it's just that they represent your current 'wish list' and do not truly reflect who YOU are.



5. Make a distinction between doing and being.
   Again, look at what you've written. Is it mostly about things you want to do or accomplish (climb Mount Everest, adopt a child, etc.). Again, these are good things, but the actual doing should come out of who you are -- your being! The doings are also temporary in nature. Once you've 'done' those things, what new things will you want to 'do'.



6. Make it reflect the quintessential you!
   When you have completed the 3 elements, you should feel good about you! Not because you've done something important, but because this document reflects who you are at your core. When you can see the quintessential you, you won't be surprised to read it 30 years later and find that it still defines you! It's been 25 plus years since I've written mine and I believe I've changed one word in all that time. If it resonates with you each and every time you read it, you know you've captured the essence of who you are.



7. Have it touch as many areas of yourself as seems appropriate.
   You especially want to make sure that you have covered the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realms of your life. We need to feel good about all four of these areas in order to feel integrated. When we feel integrated, we have a better chance to fulfill our mission and to live our best life, for that matter.



8. Don't be embarrassed about your 'high falutin' vision/mission/principles.
   For many people, it's not 'cool' to think about such serious issues as your purpose in life. While you can share this information with whomever you like, remember that it is a personal, private exercise. It's about creating the compass by which you live your life. When these guidelines are clearly identified, it's a lot easier to figure out if you've gone off-course, or in you're right on target. And if you have left the road, knowing who you want to be will make it easier and faster to get back on track.



9. Make it as long or as short as you need.
   There is no magic formula for creating your operating principles. There's not even a magic format. Just write down what standards you wish to hold yourself to in language and style that brings it home to YOU. This is a contract between you and you, so you are the only one who needs to understand the significance of the words on the paper. You may only need one word to bring home the truth to yourself. I'm a little wordier, but one thing I love about mine is that I can have the whole thing.. or just read the 10 principles, without the explanation. Through the years, I've come to know exactly what I mean by each of those shortened versions.



10. Be proud of yourself for this major life achievement.
    You deserve to be proud. Creating an affirming life document such as this is a signal to the Universe that you are serious about being your best self. When you live by it, it's even more powerful and turns a campfire into a bonfire. Help steer your own course and be the person you want to be. You deserve all the joy, happiness and pride preparing such a document can bring.

Related Quotes

Vision/Mission/Operating Principles

Welcome Mat Guest Article

My 7 Keys To Finding Mr. Right
by Marna Goldstein Thall

Now that the wedding is over, life is back to normal and I'm inspired to share with you some thoughts on relationships.

I know I typically talk about living thin-but today for some strange reason, I'm particularly interested in talking about relationships.

I've been in a bunch of relationships, but why does this one work over all the others I've been in?

Are you trying to figure out some things in your relationship?

Here are a few things I have learned in my long journey to finding my husband:

1. Do you have similar values - in your core, are your values similar?

2. I truly believe that love is not enough. I've been in love before but those relationships would have struggled because the only thing we had was love. Do you have similar friends, families that love and support you, a community, similar religion...I believe other connections need to be in place to keep you tied together besides your love.

3. Do you trust your partner 100%? I've been cheated on, I've been lied to, I've been kept in the dark...and they all suck! Does your partner reveal everything to you? Do you feel that you could trust your significant other with anything and everything?

4. Do you feel your best when you're with your significant other? Okay, I'm not saying we don't get irritated with one another, because we most certainly do, but I feel like the sexiest, happiest, cutest thing around. When you're together, do you mostly feel happy, joyful, and supported to be your best self?

5. Does your partner want to be with you? I know this sounds silly, but I've been with people who have enjoyed being with me, but my husband LOVES being with me. He loves our partnership, couldn't wait to get married, lives and breathes for my happiness (as I his), and it's not unhealthy in nature...it's just that we're each other's top priority-no questions asked. You want a partner that you don't have to guess with; that you just know loves you to pieces! You deserve it.

6. You can move through fights. I'm a tough cookie who's quite stubborn and you may be too. I have found that the difference between my current relationship vs. others, is that we can move through fights easily. We get angry (well me mostly), we talk through it and pow -it's done. If you can't move through fights and find that it takes days to recover or the silent treatment takes hold for days, etc...it should be easier!

7. Which leads me to the seventh and final major learning- A relationship should be pretty darn easy. Most relationships I've been in have been pretty tough, and when you're with the right person, it's pretty darn easy. It's not to say you don't have your moments, but mostly, things come easy.

Working Towards Wholeness Action Step

Wholeness Key:Focus on the Elements.
Element: Positive Self Regard.
Action Step: Be proud of who you are!

1. Take a clean piece of paper. Divide it into two columns.



2. Take a deep breath, slowly filling your lungs. Hold it as long as you can. When you exhale, let the exhale be loud. When I do this with my clients, I ask them to let me hear that exhalation over the phone. And do that slowly too!



3. In Column 1, write the following statement: "I am [insert name] and I'm proud of it." Use your whole name, your first and last, your nickname or just your first name. It has to be the name that most reflects who you are. For me, that would be I am Louise Morganti Kaelin and I'm proud of it". It could have been "I'm Louise Kaelin, I'm Louise, or even I'm Weezie (but careful there.. only my sister-in-law is allowed to call me that!), but Louise Morganti Kaelin is the name that resonates most with me at this point in my life.



4. Across from that, in Column 2, write your first thought or feeling in making that statement. Be honest with yourself, and as specific as you can get. Even if it starts out a little vague, as discomfort or happiness, the next time see if it can get a little more specific. The more specific you can get, the better chance you can move through it.



5. Leave a space.



6. Repeat steps 2 through 4. Do this as many times as it takes for you to truly be proud of who you are. When you feel like shouting it out to the world, you can call this exercise finished -- for now, anyway. It's an exercise that bears repeating frequently, as we have a habit of 'keeping ourselves in check'. Our fear that we're getting too big for our britches often makes this pride seem sinful or vain. It's not. It's being honest about yourself. It has nothing to do with other people.



7. Reflect on the exercise. Take a new piece of paper and write down your thoughts, feelings and any awarenesses you might have had.
   

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