When the renowned composer Ludwig van Beethoven was thirty-one, he began to grow deaf. A man whose greatest passion was music would soon no longer be able to hear it. As might be expected, Beethoven was devastated. He called his deafness a “disastrous affliction”. He spoke of ending his life.
But instead, Beethoven overcame his anguish. He lived another twenty-five years and produced some of his greatest musical accomplishments. Beethoven wrote, “Only art, it was, that held me back. It seemed impossible to depart this world until I had brought forth all the things I felt inspired to create”.
Despite his devasting physical disability, Beethoven had a purpose that permitted him to overcome his limitations and stay focused on his mission.
King Solomon, writing in Proverbs (29:18) states, “Without a vision, the people perish.” Having a purpose, a vision, a mission that drives us makes it much easier to keep going despite our difficulties.
What is your purpose, your mission, your vision? Is it starting a business, getting a degree, writing a book? Maybe what drives you isn’t professional but personal. Raising your children, helping them get a college education, buying a home, starting a garden, addressing a social problem.
Most of us have several roles in our lives and each of these roles has its own set of goals. It is easy to become so consumed with the responsibilities and obligations of everyday life that we don’t spend much time thinking about our big-picture goals and the driving purpose behind each of our roles. We generally put most of our energy into simply doing what we need to do each day, without thinking much about why we’re doing it.
Until, that is, disappointment, setbacks, or tragedy come along. It is easy to give in and give up when we are faced with circumstances that seem to defeat us. Knowing our mission, our vision, our reason for getting up each morning can help us overcome the feeling of defeat, look beyond the circumstances, and keep moving forward.
We are better prepared to face our difficulties with success if we keep in mind what is important to us. To paraphrase Beethoven, “We can’t give up until we accomplish all we are here to do”. It is important to put effort into identifying and clarifying our goals, our ambitions, and our life mission. We should do that for each of our life roles. Writing down our thoughts will help us refine and remember them.
Ask yourself questions and record your answers relating to the various roles and aspects of your life. Think in terms of the present, and the future. Where do you want to be 5 years from now and what should you be doing now to get there?
- In your career: Are you interested in promotion, working in a different location, do you want to switch professions?
- In your primary relationships: Do you want to find a partner, get married, make some new friends, maybe end a relationship that isn’t working?
- Your family responsibilities: Do you want or have children? What contributions do you want to make to their wellbeing and future?
- Financially: Do you need to save for a special purchase, wish to buy a house, set aside money for retirement?
- Physically: Do you want to start a workout program, take up a sport, lose weight?
Take some time to really think about these areas of your life. We all tend to think we have more time to achieve our goals than we really do. When setbacks and difficulties appear, it is easy to lose our sense of purpose and direction. If we don’t make an intentional effort to identify our mission and goals, and to envision our future, life tends to derail us.
The world would have missed out on some incredible musical compositions had Ludwig van Beethoven given up and given in to his deafness. He had a vision and was determined to accomplish it despite his physical limitations.
What difficulties, disappointments, or negative circumstances are holding you back? Are you comfortable with letting them keep you from your purposes, goals, dreams for yourself and others?
Keep your vision at the forefront of your life. Don’t let your goals and dreams parish when life’s inevitable roadblocks obstruct your path. You’re not finished yet. Keep pressing on. This world still needs what you have to give. Remember Solomon’s wisdom, “Without a vision, the people parish.”
Kent Shafer 