In this post, we’ll unpack all you need to know about the concept of having a personal mission, defining exactly what it is, why it is the key to lasting happiness and fulfilment and more.
What Is A Personal Mission?
A personal mission is what represents an individuals ultimate purpose. It is how they want to make a difference in the world and it drives all of their decisions and actions.
A personal mission is your way of serving something that is greater than yourself. It has the power to literally transform your life.
“If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” ― Martin Luther King, Jr
The Secret To Lasting Happiness
The difference between a mission and a goal is that a goal is finite while a mission is infinite. A goal has an end while a mission has no end. A goal is attainable. A mission is unattainable. Why is this important?
We know that when you set a goal, your brain releases dopamine ― a pleasure hormone ― which motivates you to pursue the goal. However, because goals have an end, once you have achieved them, your brain stops releasing dopamine and so you no longer experience feelings of pleasure and motivation.
The advantage of having a mission is that it has no end and so it is something you can pursue your entire life. Therefore, it will provide you with an endless supply of pleasure and motivation which consequently lead to lasting happiness, contentment and fulfilment.
The Power Of Having A Mission
By setting a clear, obsessive and compelling future, it provides purpose, creates energy and evokes inspired action. It acts as an internal compass, directing our focus and guiding our every move. In fact, research has shown that on average, people with purpose live 8 years longer.
A mission also shields us from negative thoughts and emotions and broadens our perspective, allowing us to overcome inevitable challenges that may otherwise have overwhelmed us or obstructed us from living the life we desire.
Your “problems” are relative to the size of your goals. So the bigger your mission, the smaller your problems become. In fact, you can experiment with this right now. Think of a mission or a cause that you feel extremely passionate about. Now think of a problem that is generating stress or anxiety in your life right now. Now view that problem through the lens of your mission. Does it give you perspective? Does it make your problem seem less daunting? Does you feel empowered?
“When you dream big, your problems become small.”
Summary
A mission is our singular purpose in life. It represents what is most important to us in serving something beyond ourselves. A mission gives us meaning and acts as an internal compass that guides our thoughts, decisions, feelings and ultimately, the actions we take.
The significance behind having a mission is that it is something we can experience throughout the entirety of our lives and thus it is the key to creating lasting happiness, contentment and fulfilment.
