By choosing their own "what" with the purpose of serving others, teens will find a higher degree of motivation in life, and a greater desire to find a school or training institute to start learning the knowledge necessary to serve others skillfully. When a teen's motivation to study in school is low, usually it's because the teen has little or no idea of what he wants to do later in life. Help him choose the serving question (what), and watch him get excited. You'll see a more intense and motivated son or daughter.
The "what" question is not the "how" question. It's very important to choose these two areas separately and in order. The "what" or mission is an over-all theme or broad area like "helping people who are sick." The "How" includes any one of hundreds of ways to get our mission accomplished. If our mission in life is to help people who are sick, the next question will help in choosing the method or specific way of getting our mission accomplished.
2. What method will you use to accomplish your mission? Here is where we get much more specific. Here is also where we choose the type of schooling or specific training we need to accomplish our mission. For example, if our mission is to help people who are suffering physically, we may like to choose any one of many vocations: doctor, dentist, nurse, physical therapist, hospital administrator, pharmacist, or relief worker.
The list can be a mile long. But with a clear mission in our minds, our motivation to find the best place to learn how to get our mission done greatly increases. Our ability to listen and learn increases. Our intensity, our creativity, our enthusiasm for whatever it takes to succeed increases. The joy of serving comes alive with a clear mission and method to accomplish our mission.
Examples of Life-Missions
Helping others with their physical pain …
Helping people find shelter, such as a house, that they will enjoy …
Selling products that protect people's eyes, ears, etc …
Protecting others from world enemies …
Building places for people to live or work, such as homes or offices …
Making products that ease others' load in some way …
Planting food to feed people or selling food …
Designing or creating products that get others where they want to go …
Selling products to maintain a person's house or business …
Bringing others enjoyment and encouragement, like being an actor or speaker …
Helping people figure out how to love and honor each other more.
© Copyright 2006 Smalley Relationship Center
