"The two most important days in your life, the day you were born, and the day you find out why!" Mark Twain

 

Your life is yours to design and to make it can be all, however there are things we do not control, in fact looking at the word “Life” itself half of life is "if", i.e. if only I had a better job, boss, partner etc., being proactive is about taking the initiative and responsibility to direct your life, a good manta is, "if it is to be, it is up to me" 

 

When Alfred's brother died in a tragic accident got a copy of the local newspaper to see what they said about his brother he was shocked to discover that a dreadful error had been made in the paper, they had confused him with his brother and the obituary he was reading was his own, the headline read the merchant of death dies!

 

As a young man Alfred Nobel had been involved in the invention of dynamite and his premature obituary elaborated on the terrible death and destruction is powerful force had brought into the world. Nobel was devastated.  He wanted to be known as a man of "peace" he quickly realised that if his obit was to be rewritten he would have to do it himself by changing the nature of his life, so from that day he became obsessed with changing his legacy. So Alfred Nobel did just that I dare say that Alfred Nobel is better known today for his contribution to peace rather than for anything else that he did in his life. Your life is yours to design. Make it all it can be!

 

Well self-knowledge is incredible power. Do you really know yourself? Do you have a personal mission statement that defines your strengths and motivates you to be all that you were meant you to be? If you had trouble with that question you might want to try an interesting activity there will almost certainly help you to develop a clear sense of purpose and personal identity: Write your own obituary. I know it sounds strange even the little morbid but this exercise is not about dying it's about living. It will give you an opportunity to adjust your life describe the ideal you, and define what it is you would like to be remembered for. Why leave such important matters to chance? 

 

The late, great Stephen Covey, of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People fame said: “Writing and reviewing your mission statement changes you because it forces you to think through your priorities deeply, carefully, and align your behaviour with your beliefs”

 

Written by Jim Hetherton

 

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